She has been nominated for the coveted 2016 “Female Vocalist of the Year” award by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), an award that she has won three times throughout her career in the music industry. “I am always surprised, after all these years,” she said. “It has been a long time since people have been recognizing me, and it’s a great honor.”
Lynch will be releasing her new studio album, North by South, on September 16, via Compass Records.
In this collection, produced by Compass Records co-founder Alison Brown, Lynch pays homage to her favorite Canadian songwriters on a set of bluegrass and new acoustic tracks. After her recent marriage to a Canadian, she selected songs that were penned by Canadian songwriters such as Gordon Lightfoot (“Worth Believing”) and Ron Sexsmith, and hence, she found the inspiration for this project. “It’s a collection of songs written by Canadians,” she said. “My wedding has been a wonderful adventure, and an education beyond what I can imagine.”
While it was difficult for Lynch to select a personal favorite tune, one that stands out to her is Bruce Cockburn’s “All The Diamonds in the World.” “I love them all. The tracks are just wonderful,” she said.
Several acclaimed musicians who lent their talents on this project include Bela Fleck on banjo, Jerry Douglas on dobro, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, and David Grier on acoustic guitar. “We had Bela Fleck play banjo on two tracks, so we have something to please the bluegrass radio people, but the album is mostly Americana due to the nature of Canadian writing,” she said.
To learn more about bluegrass star Claire Lynch, check out her official homepage.
