Karine Polwart is a Scottish singer-songwriter. She grew up in the small Stirlingshire town of Banknock and had an interest in music from an early age. She has described her whole family as being interested in music and one of her brothers, Steven, is also a professional musician who plays guitar in the Karine Polwart band, whilst her sister Kerry is developing her own musical career with the group The Poems. Despite an active musical career from a young age, including forming her own band KP and the Minichips at age 10, Polwart was discouraged from studying music at school and ended up studying politics and philosophy at university. After graduating with a First Class Degree in Philosophy, she moved to Glasgow to study for a Masters in Philosophical Inquiry. Her first job after her studies was as a philosophy tutor in a primary school, a job she describes as giving her a “massive buzz.” After this she spent six years working for the Scottish Women’s Aid movement on issues such as domestic and child abuse and young people’s rights and these experiences have influenced her songwriting.
Polwart initially gained prominence as lead singer of the group Malinky. With the release of their debut album Last Leaves in January 2000, Polwart left her job to concentrate on her musical career. After successful periods with Malinky, macAlias and Battlefield Band, and contributions to three volumes (Volumes 7, 8 and 9) of The Complete Songs of Robert Burns project, she decided to embark on a solo career. In 2003 she released her first solo album, Faultlines whichwon the Best Album award at the 2005 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. This award, along with 2 others at the same ceremony, increased Polwart’s profile not just in the folk community but also in the wider musical arena.
In April 2006, Polwart released her second solo album Scribbled in Chalk. This album was heralded with much critical acclaim receiving impressive reviews from the musical crtitics. A UK wide tour followed as well as appearances on BBC 2’s Culture Show, Simon Mayo’s Album show on Radio 2, Mike Harding’s folk show on Radio 2, BBC Radio Scotland on the Janice Forsyth show and the Janice Long Late show on Radio 2. In 2007, Polwart playing once again at Celtic Connections both with her band and collaborating with other artists including Dick Gaughan and Roddy Woomble. She took time off from live performance during 2007 as she was pregnant with her first child. During this time she recorded two albums: Fairest Floo’er comprising mostly traditional songs, and This Earthly Spell, containing only original compositions. Polwart also sings with Corrina Hewat and Annie Grace in, what they describe as, a “girly trio.”
Polwart released her fifth studio album, Traces, in August 2012, to a strongly positive critical response. It became her first official UK Top 75 entry, entering the albums chart at number 57. The album included a new recording of “We’re All Leaving” (previously recorded as part of the Darwin Song Project) and nine new songs, including tracks inspired by the Occupy London protests (“King of Birds”) and Donald Trump’s contested golf course development in Aberdeenshire (“Cover Your Eyes”).
Polwart releases music through her own Hegri Music imprint, named from the Gaelic word for heron. Polwart describes the heron as her favourite animal and her song “Follow the Heron”, which she has recorded both solo and with Malinky (on the 3 Ravens album), has been much covered by artists. The CD booklet for Polwart’s Scribbled in Chalk includes a heron hidden in one of Sarah Roberts’ illustration. She is a supporter of Scottish Independence, and campaigned on behalf of the Scottish Green Party in the 2014 referendum. She also appeared, alongside other commentators, in the 2014 documentary film Scotland Yet, due to her involvement with the Bus Party 2014.
