Creative Scotland Crowdmatch has provided £1,110 of match funding
Claire MacKay Debut EP 'Wild Poetry' fundraiser
Cromarty, Highland Council, United Kingdom
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Aim
I've been writing songs for a year and it's time to record and release them to the wild. I aim to record & release my debut EP- Wild Poetry
I am fundraising to record my debut EP
W I L D P O E T R Y
I am so grateful to Creative Scotland for agreeing to support my project, subject to the terms, which are that they will match every £1 with £1 if my crowdfunder reaches more than 25 individual pledges and also meets the campaign target.
That means that every contribution will effectively be doubled, and I am delighted to have their backing for this project.
Fàilte \ Halò! \ Welcome!
A year ago, I embarked on a songwriting journey that has been the fulfilment of the dream of my lifetime, that I never had the courage to begin... until now.
It began in September 2025 at Moniack Mhor on a residential songwriting retreat with the wonderful Boo Hewerdine & Yvonne Lyon. I've since been on songwriting camps with Hen Hoose in Glasgow, and also worked with Findlay Napier on my songwriting. I've had singing lessons with Hannah Tuulikki and collaborated with some incredible musicians. I'm very fortunate to be working with some incredibly talented people on this project.
I'm a qualified herbalist and have over 16 years experience as a clinical herbalist and researching the ethnobotany of the Highlands and Islands. I'm excited to explore the healing traditions of the Highlands through the context of music.
Music and healing for me are complimentary and I draw a lot of inspiration for my songs and lyrics from the Highland landscape around me: the plants, sounds and sense of place, and also the heritage and history of the people.
Wild Poetry features a song about the story of Elspeth Reoch, a young woman accused in the Orkney witch trials. The song explores the use of Melfour (yarrow) in Orkney as a love charm.
For me personally, this is also a healing journey of sorts. A way back to myself.
In my 20s, I lost confidence in my music, and never felt ready to share my songs publicly. I've been so fortunate to have met some great mentors in this last year who have given me encouragement and also practical advice. I am also excited to have the support of some wonderful established musicians, who I hope to collaborate with on this project.
Making this EP will help me to understand the process professional songwriters go through to create records, and will allow me to explore my sound in a more expansive way, with other musicians and with the support and guidance of an experienced professional producer (Mark Ellis Productions). It will also be an opportunity to get to grips with the fundamentals of releasing music across a variety of platforms and obtain industry skills necessary for professional musicians.
An EP is also an opportunity for me to introduce my music to the world and develop my creative identity, in a manageable way.
Fundraising for my debut EP will allow me to make sure everyone working on the project is fairly compensated, and will also mean achieving the best possible sound on my record.
Once complete,Wild Poetry will be digitally released on all streaming platforms and available to download from Bandcamp.
Funding Wild Poetry will allow me to produce 4-5 songs.
It will cover:
- 3 days in a professional recording studio
- Working with talented collaborators to bring my songs to life, including musicians that I already have lined up and also a professional producer.
- Mixing and Mastering of tracks to a professional standard.
- Art work for the EP and also digital assets
- Special Launch & live performance to promote my EP
- Distribution and online promotion across all Streaming platforms.
Since many of you will know me as @Outlanderherbal on Instagram, for my work as a herbalist, I am hoping to share herbal inspired gifts that bring together my passion for plants and Nature, and wild crafts, and also the themes of my musical project: Wild Poetry.
Have a look below at some of the offerings I have put together as part of this fundraiser. I'm drawing on all the resources I have, from my herbalism, poetry and love of visual arts and hope there is something for everyone.
I can't express how grateful I am to even the smallest contribution towards this creative endeavour of mine. Your support means so much to me, as I find my way back to connecting to what means the world to me, through the music I've been quietly holding inside, for so long.
Slàinte leat! // Go Well!
Claire 💚
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 3rd November 2026 at 11:31am