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Anam Danu

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Trust the process

March 24, 2026 in Flotsam and Jetsam | Permalink

“Slow down. Calm down. Don’t worry. Don’t hurry. Trust the process.”

Alexandra Stoddard

In my recent missive concerning our plans for 2026 I included this brief note:

  • There will certainly be more music making this year and there are indeed already things upon which I should be reporting. Look for further postings soon.

Look no further.

The Chanteuse and I have been searching for some time for a guitarist to recruit to the Anam Danu cause. After what has felt like a long and intensive search (because it was!) we are thrilled to announce that Clive Scott is officially joining Anam Danu in that role. We have already been working together for a while on some new music and we cannot wait for you all to experience this new sound.

Clive previously played with the local Victoria band Aston Martini. We asked him to share a bit about himself and his musical background. Here is what he had to say!

“I grew up on a farm near Innisfail, Alberta. I remember always loving music and was first exposed to formal music training in grade 5 in the school band program where I learned to play saxophone and read music. At 16, I started learning the guitar and was immediately hooked. While I loved playing and jamming with others, for many years as a professional pilot, my irregular schedules precluded playing in bands. I was able to get back into bands in 2020 when I moved to part-time work. I am currently playing as the guitarist in Vanilla Riot, a popular Victoria-based band featuring two female vocalists and covering rock, post-punk, and alternative hits. I am excited to be playing in Anam Danu – the songs are beautifully written. I love the melodic structure and stories they tell. It is quite different from music I have played to date. What would one call it – ‘West Coast contemporary’? There are influences of jazz, folk, rock – all at once. Challenging and rewarding to play and wonderful to hear.”

Welcome aboard Clive – and thank you for your kind words.

There will be music to follow soon. As ever – stay tuned…

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Winds of Change

June 25, 2025 in Flotsam and Jetsam | Permalink

Things might appear to have been a little quiet on the Anam Danu front of late – since the release back in October last of our fourth album – ‘Euphoria‘. Well, that’s the way it might look, but in actual fact there has a constant stream of activity that will eventually surface as new releases, new directions and new developments.

As a case in point we are about to release a new single!

‘Winds of Change‘ is a song that was written back in 2019 and which appeared on our eponymous first album. As part of our general re-working of songs for potential live performance we decided that the track was even more relevant now than when we first wrote and recorded it – and that we should re-visit the song.

This we have duly done and we hope that you will agree that it has come out rather well. Herewith the notes that I wrote regarding the track back in 2019.

“I was watching a documentary on the TV (I forget now the exact subject!) but something in it reminded me of MacMillan’s ‘Wind of change’ speech, The phrase not only stuck in my mind but immediately turned itself into a melodic motif. Within a couple of days it had grown organically into a complete song.

‘Winds of Change’ started with the now familiar image of the haze of smoke in the air from the wildfires that are these days a feature of North American summers and grew into a protest song – not just on behalf of the climate but also encompassing the West’s apparent inability to conduct its political affairs with any degree of decorum or dignity… or competence“!

‘Winds of Change‘ will be released to the usual download and streaming sites on July 11th, but if you just can’t wait until then you can find it now on Bandcamp here.

Do let us know what you think.

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Seaside

April 11, 2025 in Flotsam and Jetsam | Permalink


We are blessed beyond measure, those of us who live here on the Saanich Peninsula to the north of Victoria, British Columbia. In many respects a self-contained community, we can feed ourselves on the provender from the local farms, feast on the bounty of the ocean and raise celebratory glasses of the ambrosia from the nearby vineyards.

Our local seaside town – Sidney by the Sea – offers an increasing array of emporia, some decent places at which to dine and, of course, the much-loved Mary Winspear Community Centre, which includes the lovely Charlie White Theatre. This small but well-equipped space seems increasingly to be the place to which we turn to look for theatre and music.

It seems appropriate that the peninsula also boasts its own monthly community magazine, the which bears the simple sobriquet – ‘Seaside‘.

Unlike many local newssheets – the which seem to major on advertising flyers and syndicated news stories – ‘Seaside’ is a quality product, well researched and written, which strongly features the local community.

For this reason it was a considerable pleasure for Anam Danu to feature in a recent edition. We are most grateful for the generous exposure.

Rather than reproduce the article here, those readers who are interested may find it at the ‘Seaside’ website here.

Thank you for your support!

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‘Euphoria’ – first reactions

December 11, 2024 in Flotsam and Jetsam | Permalink

I posted the following today on the Anam Danu website – for those who like to keep up with such things:

Photo by Andy Dawson Reid
Since ‘Euphoria’ hit the digital download and streaming sites a great deal has been going on. The album received its first – and very positive – review on the well respected Music Review World blog. You can find the whole review here – but here are some tasters:

“Every once in a while, in the world of music, you will come across an act that defies all of your current assumptions and thoughts about the flow of today’s music. They will blow you away, for good or for worse, in their own interpretation of what makes art ‘art’ itself. In today’s review, the act that’ll shatter your own preconceived notions shall grace you with a tapestry of music that I frankly have not heard synthesized in this manner before.”

“The whole album is quite strange to comprehend, because it captures the zeitgeist of a lost art scene and musical sensibility very well in this day and age without compromising any ounce of authenticity.”

“It is also very warm and polished in its execution, making me wonder if this was the missing soundtrack to a revivalist 80s/90s heartfelt movie.”

“The two vocalists’ voices also bear a very interesting contrast, as they possess very different vocal ranges and tone too. It’s an interesting mix of voices, that venture from determined to even slight Irish inflections at times.”

“Score/Excellent: Anam Danu returns with their newest release, titled ‘Euphoria’- an album sure to provide you with Euphoria. It is filled to the brim with serenity and character all in one, within a dynamic musical soundscape that stays true to its thematic origins and intent.

In further interesting developments tracks from the album have received a number of plays on Campus Radio stations across Canada and even a couple in the US. Some of these plays came about as a result of Anam Danu having signed up to Earshot.Distro – the digital distribution service set up specifically to help Canadian stations to source new Canadian music. Other plays, however, came about as a result of the radio presenters’ admirable diligence in seeking new material.  I asked Johnathan Whitehorn at Western Radio how they came to play ‘Plant a Seed (and Watch it Grow)’ and he told me:

“I go through new Canadian releases on Bandcamp every 3 days. Around 300-600 releases. A few stick out. Like yours.”

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Euphoria release

November 5, 2024 in Flotsam and Jetsam | Permalink

This news item appeared recently on the Anam Danu website:

Siobhan and Andy of Anam Danu have written, recorded, and self-released three original albums over the past five years.  Back in 2023, they decided to focus on growing their creative partnership.  They enjoy being in the studio, but like many musicians, they know that performing live is the true test of their music.

They realized that the music they create as a duo often needs more musicians to perform it live.  Over the last year and a half, they searched for other artists who could help bring their ambitious work to life.  In late 2023, they met Adrienne Dyer, whose beautiful soprano voice added a powerful element to their music.  Together they started to create fresh tracks for a new album.  

“Euphoria” explores what it means to be a mature adult in today’ s challenging times.  It includes songs about storytelling and creativity, the value of long-term friendships, teaching and learning, the search for our roots, and the important choices we make as we grow older.

Most importantly, it highlights the need for joy.

Siobhan, Adrienne and Andy are particularly grateful to Mairéad for her gorgeous and striking cover art, which encapsulates the essence of the album perfectly.

“Euphoria” will be available for streaming and download from November 22nd. 

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The long haul

October 7, 2024 in Flotsam and Jetsam | Permalink

I posted this update on progress towards the release of the new Anam Danu album – ‘Euphoria‘ – on the Anam Danu website. For completeness I thought I would reproduce it here:

 

Progress continues toward the release of the new Anam Danu album – ‘Euphoria’.

The ten chosen tracks have been polished and given final mixes and the whole sent off to our mastering studio of choice – CPS Mastering in Vancouver. Brock McFarlane (who has mastered all of the Anam Danu albums thus far) has now sent us the first mastered copies and we are in the process of listening intensely in as many environments as we can – preparatory to signing off the album and sending it to our distributors and CD manufacturer.

We also now have the cover art for the release. Those who have followed Anam Danu’s exploits will know that we like to commission local artists to create the cover for each release. In this case the wonderful artwork that can be seen on this page is by Alberta artist – Mairéad – who has, in our view, captured the intent of the album perfectly.

Of Mairéad Siobhan writes:

“Mairéad is a multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Alberta, Canada.  She expresses her art in paint and textiles.  As a visual artist, she creates vibrant multi-media paintings and collage.  Her love of detail, color and texture is evident in her one-of-a-kind unisex handbags, backpacks and wallets.  She is an expert knitter whose cable-knit outerwear is beautiful and expertly made.   Mairéad creates custom dog sweaters and jackets that are both stylish and playful.  She is passionate about interior design and customizes existing pieces through upholstery, refinishing and fabric furnishings”.

 

Not long to wait now! I will post the release dates for ‘Euphoria’ just as soon as they have been confirmed.

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Tech bro!

August 13, 2024 in Flotsam and Jetsam | Permalink

“The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do”.

B. F. Skinner

Before I retired from The School back in the UK I persuaded one of my chaps there to build me a new computer for my studio. For those readers unfamiliar with such things, modern digital studios are based entirely on the computer, which not only handles all of the recording and editing tasks, but which can also (by means of samples and virtual instruments and processors and so forth) generate orchestras on demand… apparently out of thin air!

As the techniques required for such feats become more complex and sophisticated over time, so the processing power required to effect them increases. At the same time, any computer that has been in use solidly for a considerable period (more than a decade in the case of my studio machine) tends to become increasingly prone to failure – the which could result in the loss of precious and irreplaceable creations.

The long and the short of all this is that the time has finally come for me to replace my studio computer.

No big deal – you might think – but there are serious implications in so doing. My machine is used primarily for the creation of music – but also for my online teaching at the College. As indicated in my last posting Anam Danu is currently in the process of finalising a new album. The fall term – one of the two in which I teach – starts at the beginning of September. There is a relatively brief window in which to get everything working correctly.

Replacing a computer is not – in this case – a simple matter of buying a new device, plugging it in and firing it up. My musical pursuits require the use of a considerable number of musical applications, virtual instruments, sample libraries, software appliances and suchlike. All of these need to be installed on the new machine and all of the musical and other data that now virtually fill my old machine must be transferred to the new beast.

These are definitely non-trivial tasks and there are many potential pitfalls along the way which might cause important functions not to work correctly. These must all be patiently trouble-shot until everything is as it was before – but considerably faster and with storage capacity for much new creation over the coming decades.

You might get a sense from this brief discourse as to why I have repeatedly put off effecting this transfer over the past couple of years. I have – however – now reached the point of no return and all must be completed and tested in the shortest of orders if disaster is not to ensue.

Fingers firmly crossed!

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Anam Danu update

July 29, 2024 in Flotsam and Jetsam | Permalink

I normally restrain myself from posting too much to this forum on the subject of my musical endeavours with Anam Danu – out of deference for those who have no interest in such matters. However, there has already been much activity this year and it felt to me that an update was probably a little overdue.

I posted this item to the news feed on our website at anamdanu.com:

 

The recent lack of activity on this news feed should not be interpreted as a sign that nothing is happening. Anam Danu have been busy behind the scenes; with results that are already becoming apparent.

A quick glance around will reveal that the website itself has undergone a considerable face-lift. We like to think that it is now fresher, cleaner and somewhat easier to navigate. Do let us know what you think.

You will also observe that we three have recently done something that we had studiously avoided doing for the past four years – to wit: participating in a photo shoot. Such things do not come naturally to any of us, but we hope that you find the results helpful in gaining a clearer picture of who we are.

In our last news update – which revealed the arrival of our new member, vocalist Adrienne Dyer – we also announced that work was well underway on our fourth album, with an intended release date later in 2024.

Well – we are still on target for that release, having written and recorded ten tracks for the album. We are currently mixing and sequencing them, following which they will be sent for mastering. Cover artwork has been commissioned and the pace is picking up.

If you would like to be notified when the new album becomes available – which for subscribers will be in advance of the general release date – subscribe to the Anam Danu newsletter by using the link below.

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Getting started

January 26, 2024 in Life as we know it | Permalink

Start by <a href="http://www.nyphotographic.com/">Nick Youngson</a> <a rel="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/">CC BY-SA 3.0</a> <a href="http://pix4free.org/">Pix4free</a>If you have a dream, you can spend a lifetime studying, planning, and getting ready for it. What you should be doing is getting started.

Drew Houston

In these recent posts – ‘Adjusting the Sails‘, ‘One and One and One is Three‘ and ‘The World of Work‘ – I sought to bring the gentle reader gently up to date with how things had come to rest for The Girl and I at the culmination of a particularly – er – ‘eventful’ year (though aren’t they all nowadays!). What I have not yet done is to peep out from underneath the metaphorical duvet – to see if I can detect good news anywhere betwixt where we are now and the distant horizon of 2025.

So – this is what we know currently about what 2024 has in store for us…

In terms of travel 2023 was – for us – a complete shocker. Without incessantly ploughing the same furrow it is worth reminding ourselves that there was a point last year when we seriously thought that our travelling days were over. Not so – you will be happy to hear. We are already well advanced with the planning for another expedition for April/May this year.

“Which exotic part of the globe will you be visiting?” – I hear you cry. Well – I’m sure we all have our own definitions of ‘exotic’. This is one of ours.

The Girl and I have for a considerable while now felt drawn to visit the mystical realm of Scotland. Even casual viewers of these witterings will be aware of my love for – and great pride in – the home of my ancestors (the which I inherited from my father). My family travelled many times to the highlands for holidays just as soon as we were old enough. My father was a great hill walker and he and I (and sometimes my younger brother) climbed many a peak in different parts of the land. I have regularly over the years visited both Edinburgh and Glasgow for work and – with my theatrical hat on – ventured to the Edinburgh Fringe on more occasions than I can now enumerate.

The Girl has toured parts of Scotland just once before – with a good guide and great friend – but she and I have not been there together and we feel a very strong urge so to do.

Anyway – more on that trip as it unfolds…

In ‘The World of Work‘ I wrote:

“During the autumn just past The Girl reached the conclusion that her eight years at the volunteer service was enough. As it happens the service was undergoing some restructuring and she was able to do a deal whereby she would hand over the reigns to a full-time replacement, with a negotiated package that would enable her to take some time to figure out what – if anything – she wanted to do next. She is thus once again retired (for now!)“.

Following what might just be the shortest retirement ever… The Girl has just this week started an exiting new venture, about which I can currently reveal nothing at all, but concerning which I suspect a great deal will be said in the months to come. Watch – as they say – this space!

I have already dropped huge hints about creative developments in the musical department. We are firmly expecting a new album to put in an appearance at some point this year – and if we could play live somewhere to welcome it, then that would be splendid.

As ever at this time of the year there are many other exciting prospects bubbling under and – though there are also many very good reasons to feel nervous about 2024 – I like to approach the year under an umbrella of optimism. (Google assures me that – somewhat to my surprise – I am not the first to coin that particular euphemism. Oh well!).

Very best wishes to you all for 2024.

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The Journey Home

June 19, 2023 in Flotsam and Jetsam | Permalink

I mentioned last month – in the second of two postings bringing the gentle reader up to speed regarding the musical progress effected by The Chanteuse and I – that we would shortly be releasing a second single this calendar year. Well – ‘shortly’ is now here and our new single can be found on all of the usual streaming and download sites. Full information, samples and links can be found on our website – but for those who would prefer to get the necessary without further ado – read on:

The second Anam Danu single of the year (following January’s release of “Perfect“) is “The Journey Home” – which was released to streaming and download sites on June 16th.

“The Journey home” concerns three different types of journey; The first considers the emigrant returned home to the land of his or her birth – the second refers to the rediscovery of one’s culture – the third to that part of a life that follows the turn for home.

The finest wisdom that we can offer is that each of these journeys is best accompanied by a friend!

The track is a re-worked and extended version of the song that appeared on our first collection, “Winds of Change”. It features – for the first time on an Anam Danu recording – a musician other than The Chanteuse and I. In this case Victoria violinist Kate Rhodes does the honours on the fiddle.

Do please listen and (hopefully) enjoy!

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