Angus country singer and fiddler Laura McGhee has raised enough money to record her new album.
The Monifieth-born musician and songwriter was attempting to raise $2,500 to begin the recording process in Nashville and release her album Life is Bigger Than a Dream in late summer.
Laura set up a Go Fund Me campaign and she exceeded her goal which allowed her to start work this week with Mike Loudermilk who has worked with many top country artists including Chet Atkins, Crystal Gayle and Tracy Lawrence.
She said: “A huge thank you goes to all my supporters.
“I am happy to announce that I have exceeded my goal of $2,500.
“I started the recording this week and it is going really well.
“I will be leaving the funding site open and doing a special reward for anyone the donated $100 or more.”
The album will share the story of how it felt for her to leave Scotland to venture across the Atlantic to pursue her dreams.
Laura self-funded her latest EP – How Leaving Feels in 2014 – and after touring and promoting it in the USA and UK she was ready to complete the project and release it as an album.
The funds which have been raised will be used solely for studio costs as she will be independently funding the production costs, pressing and manufacturing of the finished product and covering costs for promoting the album.
Laura said: “It is important for me to make this music as it has been close to my heart for the last few years and shares many personal stories and feelings of my journey so far.
“I feel this record has been a long time coming and hopefully you will relate to the lyrics and my life mantra Life is Bigger than a Dream.”
Laura’s Scottish roots have played a pivotal part in her transatlantic success, with her Celtic/country music drawing a large following.
Trained as a classical violinist at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Laura also had strong musical roots in traditional and folk styles from early youth. Born and brought up in Monifieth, she first showed an interest in music at Seaview Primary, going on to Monifieth High and then to college to take her honours degree and postgraduate qualification.
In the interim, she played in many traditional competitions and festivals, winning several awards, for composition as well as performance.
Her first album, Green Eyes, was released in 2006, and she has previously performed with Shane MacGowan of The Pogues, Rod Stewart and Pete Seeger.
