Just Us Folk

Family and music have always been an important part of Lucy MacNeil’s life.

For 35 years, she and her brothers have toured the world as the Barra MacNeils, selling countless albums, performing sold out concerts and winning numerous awards. Her first solo album, Angels Whisper, came as a result of a five-song EP Lucy and her husband, Rob Durando, put together for their wedding guests to take home in 2017.

“It was a nice surprise for everyone,” she said.

“During the pandemic, we did a lot of playing together, so when that was over, we decided to record David Mallett’s song ‘Hope For One And All.’ It really spoke to me because, at that time, everybody was looking for hope.”

Lucy and Rob began performing the song live and posted a video of it on Facebook. The response was very positive, so they continued to post songs online. A year later, they were at Jamie Foulds’ Soundpark Studios in Sydney, NS to record ‘Hope For One And All’ with a string arrangement by Lucy’s brother Stewart, who also produced Angels Whisper.

Even though this is Lucy’s solo project, family members still play an important part of it. Stewart plays on it, as does brother Boyd and husband Rob. Lucy’s daughters Amelia and Kenna provide background vocals on four songs.

“They’re very musical, with great voices, but they’re not into music,” Lucy said.

“They’re very sensible in getting their own careers. But the blend of their voices with mine worked so well, it was a nice memory to make with them.”

Memories are another important element of Lucy’s new album. Her mother, Jean, suffered with dementia in the years before her death in 2023, and the album is dedicated to her.

“Rob and I sold our home two years ago and moved in with Mom and Dad to help Dad, who was the main caregiver,” Lucy said.

“We moved in August, and she was gone in January. But it was a special time. My mother played piano every day, and as long as music was playing, she was in her happy place. When there wasn’t music, she wanted to go ‘home’ to Washabuck (Cape Breton) where she was born.”

The situation with her mother brought home the realization of how much music can be hardwired into you.

“I grieve for people who don’t have that with their family,” Lucy said. “Music helped us so much. It’s an incredible drug for the brain.”

The final tune on the album, ‘Moments We Remember’, was written with Lucy’s mother in mind. It starts with a solemn solo fiddle, then picks up tempo when the guitar comes in, reflecting her mother’s memory returning, before finishing with the solo fiddle once again.

“In September, after we moved in, we were sitting on the deck and she started singing these songs from earlier in her memory, including one from when she was first married,” Lucy said.

“It’s about Cape Breton, and I had never heard it before, so I recorded it and added it to the end of the tune. It’s a nice way to remember her.”

The Barra MacNeils have released 17 albums from 1986 to 2018, and while Lucy was part of the creative process of these recordings, doing a solo album was very special for her.

“It was nice to have my own project,” she said.

“Everything that’s there is of my choosing. I had a say in what I liked and didn’t like. I wanted to keep it fairly simple and scaled back. I like how it turned out. There are many songs like ‘Do You Love An Apple’ by The Bothy Band that I didn’t get an opportunity to play with The Barra MacNeils. There’s only so much we can do on each album, and there are multiple soloists, so you can’t fit everything in.”

To celebrate the release of Angels Whisper Lucy is embarking on a 10-day tour in September and October.

“It’s kind of hard to believe,” she said.

“I’m looking at the poster with a bunch of dates on it, and it’s exciting. To me, it’s a bit of a challenge but I think I’m up for it, and I’m looking forward to it. I’m kind of letting myself go a bit, be freer and make some friends as I go out there.”

For more on Lucy MacNeil and Angels Whisper, go to https://lucymacneil.com/.