Second Q&A Session - December 2005.
(1) I would like to ask Donnie if he prefers living on Skye to living on the mainland, and what are the biggest drawbacks about living on an island.
Donnie - I love Skye very much and having grown up here as you might expect it is very much at the centre of my life and the way I feel about things.However I have to say that that would be the case regardless of whereI found myself,as my thoughts would rarely be far from Skye. There are always positive and negative aspects about living in any place and there is of course a marked difference between rural and urban life. There are aspects of both which I enjoy but I am at the heart of things very much a rural person and I love the wild open spaces.
(2) What would you find in your cellar/loft if you would tidy up?
Donnie - Thankfully not a great deal as I undertook a major clear out of accumulated junk - which is actually a very liberating thing to do. We accumulate so much that we never actually use or need so it is good to be brutal in just getting rid of any necessary baggage.I suppose the most significant things you would find in store are things like my Gold, Silver, Platinum Discs and various awards from over the years - these are things that are important for posterity and part of family history. Also old photographs and one or two things like ornaments from childhood which you just want to keep as a link with that time in your life which is so important.
(3) Did you ever consider to sing a German song on stage in Germany?
Donnie - Unfortunately I have never performed using German language although I always thought that the Runrig song Alba would have worked well in German
(4) Why does it seem that Gaelic songs are almost always so sad, so longing, full of emotions and somehow dramatically, aren't there cheerful songs as well?
Donnie - I think many traditional Gaelic songs are written around events, with
themes such as loss, displacement, love lost, battles, tragic events etc so
they do tend to have powerful and often melancholic mood - however there
are also a lot of songs based around work and songs for dancing which
are generally lighter. In fact some of the Puirt a bheu l(mouth music) is
based around complete nonsense and stories with a real sense of fun or
the ridiculous. Whilst I greatly appreciate many of them and particularly
some of the singers who perform this often very complex rhythmical
pieces my own preference is for the powerful and beautiful melodies of
the ballad type songs in the tradition. I have sung some pretty daft
lyrics with some of these songs like:
"'What will I do If I lose my horse' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" There is of course no sensible answer to that.
(5) What was the last book you read ( except "A Waxing Moon" of
course )
and would you recommend it?
Donnie - Jim Hunters new book tracing the Clan Macleod and a wonderful book called 'Four Letters of Love' which is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
(6) Who's your favourite writer / author?
Donnie - My favourite writer is probably George Mackay Brown although I also love Somerset Maughan, Hemingway, Orwell and many others.
(7) Favourite soccer team / favourite Rugby team?
Donnie - Aberdeen FC / Scotland Rugby Team.
(8) I would like to know what kind of food Donnie likes and also his favourite restaurant?
Donnie - I absolutely love sea food but most especially pan seared scallops
Three Chimney's in Skye
Harbour View in Portree
Kinloch Lodge in Sleat
La Sept in Edinburgh
The Loon Fung in Edinburgh
and home where my wife Teresa is a fantastic cook having trained
professionally.
(9) Which of his own songs does he like best and which does he enjoy most playing it live in concert?
Donnie - Difficult to say - usually the ones your are currently working on but Weaver of Grass, Garden Boy ,Fields of the Young ,Heart of America would be amongst my favourites - She knows love - I always enjoy live.
(10) If he could choose any musician to work with, who would it be?
Donnie - I would love to sing with KD Lang and Brian Kennedy.Singing with Karen Matheson and Marie Brennan was also very special as they both have such beautiful voices - instrumentally I would love to have Aly Bain play on something with me and also Fred Morrison on pipes. I am very lucky to have the current band members who are all really top players in their own right - fantastically talented musicians.
(11) Would he ever consider a Runrig reunion?
Donnie - Think these things are difficult as things change with time and perhaps everything has its time.
(12) Has he ever thought about taking his music to North America??? Or is this of no interest?? There are a lot of Celtic/Scottish/Irish Music fans over here and there a lot of semi decent artists, but none of his calibre. Just wondered if this had even ever been a thought of is he satisfied with Britain and Germany mainly?
Donnie - I would love to perform in North America and Canada but it is simply that the right opportunity has not yet arisen but I would be very open to that.
(13) What does he feels when singing "Thairis Air A Gleann"? And will he ever sing it in a concert or record it?
Donnie - It is simply one of the most beautiful songs that I have ever had the pleasure to sing and it gives you such a deep sense of things - like all good songs it really sings itself and you just have to make sure you dont get in the wa - I would love to perform it live again and perhaps it would be great to do at Celtic Connections ?
(14) Would he consider to include a ( short ) unplugged session in his concerts?
Donnie - Yes.
(15) Umm, I thought about this for a long time and kept thinking I wonder if he ever gets tired of being asked the same old question, what he likes/dislikes, favorites, etc. So I wondered, what is the question that he'd like to answer that no one ever asks?
Donnie - No - perhaps what does Runrig mean became a bit tiresome but no
nothing really.
(16) Has Donnie ever taught any of the short courses at Sabhal Mor
?
Donnie - No.
(17) On the Gaelic Heart cd, is there a particular reason for four verses of An Eala ?
Donnie - No.
(18) How long does it take him to write most of his songs? Does he have any method he uses to write songs?
Donnie - Each one is different.
(19) What was his favourite moment during the 2005 Scottish concerts?
Donnie - Mauchline Holy Fair was so different from anywhere else I played but it was great fun.
(20) Favourite place to visit on holiday?
Donnie - Nepal.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Q&A Session - December 2004.
(1) Can you give any details about your plans to release any
albums in 2005?
Donnie - I have had tentative discussions with the record company about a
future studio album and whilst much of the material is now in place, it looks like being a late spring/early summer release at the earliest. There was some discussion about a live album but I felt that it was important to have a new studio album released first.
(2) The fans are desperate to get their hands on a copy of the Flower of Scotland song you have been singing at concerts recently. Are there plans to release it as a single in the future ?
Donnie - There has also been some discussion on the possible release of Flower of Scotland as a single although no final decision has been made as there is a link with the SFA to be considered also and what input, if any, they may wish to have.
(3) WIll you be performing at Celtic Connections 2005, and have you got any plans yet for touring in 2005?
Donnie - On the live side there is on-going discussions looking at various options for next year including some English dates. I can confirm that there will be no appearance at this years Celtic Connections.
(4) Have you any plans to record another Gaelic album in the future? .
Donnie - I will always have an interest in the possibility of an all Gaelic album and particularly the opportunity to look at traditional material - there are however no current plans for this.
(5) Where do you see yourself being in 10 years time ?
Donnie - I have absolutely no idea, alive hopefully - enjoying life to the full - working productively - writing - painting - performing - playing a full and meaningful part in Scottish life - seeking out warm and dry climates for at least some of the year - enjoying family life to the full !!!!!!
(6) Would you ever consider including a slow or unplugged section in any of your future concerts, or possibly doing an unplugged concert without all the band behind you?
Donnie - I would enjoy doing an acoustic tour and perhaps introducing fiddle and
perhaps accordian into the line up. It would be a very different type of presentation and would require to be more intimate - something I would definately enjoy musically.
(7) On the messageboard most fans said they would love to see you perform the Runrig song "Going Home" again. Would you consider including it in any future set at your next concerts.
Donnie - Going Home is a great song which I have always enjoyed and I have of
course introduced it on occassions - could re-appear at some point.
(8) Do you think you would ever sing any new material written
just for you by Calum & Rory?
Donnie - I would always be happy to sing songs by Calum and Rory, whom as I
have said on many occassions, I regard as being two of the best songwriters Scotland has produced.
(9) When did you start writing songs and why did we never hear any of your songs during your time with Runrig?
Donnie - I have always written throughout the years and did present some songs
to Runrig in the past - both Garden Boy and Fields of the Young were presented to Runrig but were not considered suitable for the band at that time.
(10) What was your favourite concert either solo or during your time with Runrig and what is your favourite venue?
.
Donnie - Loch Lomond, Edinburgh Castle, Fife-Aid, Murrayfield with U2, Skye
Gathering Hall Portree, St Magnus Festival, Edinburgh Playhouse, Barrowland
with Big Country, Royal Albert Hall London and many many more-lots of European Festivals over the years.
(11) What was the most memorable concert your have ever attended?
Donnie - Van Morrison in the Royal Ulster Hall with the Chieftains - KD Lang in
the Royal Concert Hall Glasgow - U2 at Murrayfield - Big Country at the Playhouse Edinburgh with 'The Crossing' Tour and Lou Reed also at Edinburgh Playhouse.
(12) Do you notice any differences in audiences in different countries?
Donnie - All audiences are different in nature and atmosphere but we/I have always been very fortunate to have been met with great enthusiasm and support wherever I have played.Glasgow Barrowland always used to manage to create a pretty electric atmosphere!!
(13) In what way does the opinion of the fans have an effect on his decisions?
Donnie - The opinion of fans can have a very strong influence and it is important to remember that once a song is out there people can and do take ownership of it in a very special and individual sort of way - sometimes in ways that can be deeply profound - that is always humbling and inspiring for a writer / performer.
(14) Who would you most like to perform with on stage?
Donnie - I would love to sing with KD Lang and or Brian Kennedy, both outstanding
singers. I would also love to involve Aly Bain in something in the future as I absolutely love his playing.
(15) Who would you most like to have a meeting with past or present and why?
Donnie - My parents both of whom I lost in the space of 11months - God would be
good just to chat things through with - then George Braque and Paul Cezzanne on the painting side of things.
(16) Where / How did you learn to sing and have you ever received professional coaching?
Donnie - I was taught in the first instance by my mother, who was a singer and then by a wonderful singing teacher Mrs Mackenzie known as Mrs La La.
(17) If you could influence just one thing in the world what would that been?
Donnie - The equitable distribution of the worlds resources and the eradication
of poverty and hunger in the lives of so many.
(18) What are you doing polictically thesedays?
Donnie - A lot of work in the political field in relation to education, language and arts and culture.
(19) What music CD's are you currently listening to in your car?
Donnie - Snow Patrol, Rachel Walker
(20) How do you spend your freetime?
Donnie - With the family/painting/ writing and discussing ideas with good friends.
(21) Finally Donnie, one of your fan's children has said that the owner of
The Bay chip shop in Portree looks like you - has anyone ever mentioned
that before to you?
Donnie - I have heard it said but would say the likeness is pretty superficial apart from our colouring and shared habit of frowning !!