简介：RobinLaingisaScottishfolksingerandsongwriter.RobinisoriginallyfromEdinburgh,andEdinburghwillalwaysbehisspiritualhome.HisaffectionforthatcityandindeedScotlandisevidentinthesubjectmatterofmanyofhissongs.RobinnowlivesintheidyllicsettingofruralLanarkshire.Alreadyheissniffingoutthelocalsongsandfindingpossiblesubjectsforcomposition. UntilSeptember1996,Robin'smusicalactivitiesweresemiprofessionalandfittedintoalifedominatedbyabusyprofessionalcareerasDirectorofamajorScottishmentalhealthcharity.Stillhemanagedtodoafairbitoftouringandreleasetwosoloalbums,"EdinburghSkyline"(1989)and"WalkinginTime"(1994).HewasalsoinvolvedintwoCDprojects"TheMusicandSongofEdinburgh",and"TheMerryMuses".InSeptember1996Robin"downshifted"toafulltimecareerinmusicsomethinghehadwantedtodoforsometime. SincebecomingfulltimeprofessionalRobinhascreatedaonemanshowonthesubjectofScotchwhiskycalled"TheAngels'Share",hasreleasedanotheralbum(basedontheshow)andhastouredextensivelybothintheUKandabroad.HehasalsobeenrunningtraditionalsongclassesinLanarkshireandhasbecometheConvenerofaneworganization,TheNewMakarsTrust,whichaimstopromotesongwritinginScotland. TheAngels'SharecombinedtwoofRobin'spassionsfolksongandwhiskyapowerfulcombination!Whennotexploringthepurelyculturalaspectsofwhisky,RobinissometimestobefoundontheTastingPaneloftheScotchMaltWhiskySociety.It'sadifficultjob,butsomeonehastodoit!DuringtheEdinburghFestivalFringehehasjoinedforceswithJimMalcolmtodo"Whisky,WomenandSong"attheSMWS. Intermsoffolkmusic,Robin'srealinterestisinfolksongandespeciallytheoldScotsBallads,or"MuckleSangs"astheyaresometimesknown.However,healsohasatremendousrespectforthesongsofRobertBurns,(notjusttherudeones),andthetraditionofScotsfiddlemusicthathascomefrompeoplelikeWilliamMarshall,ScottSkinnerandtheGowfamily.Robin'sinstrumentistheclassicalguitarandsomeofthesefiddletunestransferquitewell. Inthefolktradition,Robin'sinfluencesareTheCorries,EwanMcColl,LizzieHigginsandHamishHenderson,allfordifferentreasons.Hehasmanyotherinfluences;musically,fromclassicalcomposerslikeBachandMahler,inpoetryfromTennysonandinsongwritingtermsfromPaulSimonandStanRogers,tonamejustafew.AlloftheseinfluencesfindtheirwayintotheprocessthatproducesRobin'sownsongcompositions.Theyhaveavarietyofstylesbecauseofthis,andtendtohavetheirmainstrengthinthelyricalsideofthecomposition.Thesongsareconstructedwithcareandattentionandagreatdealofselectionalongtheway.