Under the Radar: Rachel Jack

Working in tourism and the oil industry is not a conventional path to becoming an accomplished artist, but Rachel Jack’s five-track demo impressed the judges enough to award her the Paolo Nutini Songwriting Scholarship. This led to a one-year Masters at the University of the West of Scotland, which saw her working with a huge range of musicians and cemented her passion for musical storytelling.

Her Calgary Tapes EP, released on 20 July, is a selection of acoustic songs which are effective stripped back, but could be equally convincing with a full band. Recorded with Gordon Maclean at An Tobar Studios on the Isle of Mull, they make for effortless and enjoyable listening. Jack will be performing a streamed show in the net shed of her fisherman father on 23 July with another session set to be broadcast by Discovery Music the following week. Expect to see her live soon, and a new EP recorded with Stanley Odd drummer, Samson, in the autumn. www.racheljack.co.uk

Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run the Born To Be Wide music industry seminar and social events. For more information visit www.borntobewide.co.uk

The Musicians’ Union represents over 30,000 musicians working in all sectors of the music business. As well as negotiating on behalf of its members with all the major employers in the industry, the MU offers a range of services for self-employed professional and student musicians of all ages. Visit the MU website to find out how the Union helps musicians in the live arena, the recording studio, in education and as writer/composers. www.theMU.org

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