The nu-folk kid on the block

Great things are expected of singer and songwriter Rachel Sermanni, who is only 19, says Ed Power

IT’S a small world, if, like rising Scottish folkie Rachel Sermanni, your family roots stretch to an obscure village in deepest Tuscany. “My grandfather moved to Glasgow to open a fish-and-chips shop,” says the husky voiced, hazel-eyed crooner. “It’s remarkable, because Paolo Nutini’s family are from the same town. As is the family of [Scottish violinist] Nicola Benedetti. I have no idea why, but we all originate from there.”

Nutini is a superstar and, it seems, Sermanni, a native of the Scottish Highlands, is on a similar trajectory. Only 19, she’s been championed by Mumford and Sons and, still at school, performed at the prestigious Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. With her debut album, Under Mountains, just released, Sermanni is widely tipped as the next big thing in ‘nu-folk’.

“It’s so exciting the record is finally coming out,” Sermanni says. “To be honest, it’s also somewhat of a weird feeling, because the material spans such a long period for me. Some go back five years or so, to when I was a school-girl. A lot of my life is in there. I’ve carried the songs around with me, because none of them were actually written in the studio.”

Sermanni has been compared to singers Joni Mitchell and nu-folk figurehead Laura Marling. To Irish ears, her breathy vocals also have something in common with Lisa Hannigan. Her acoustic musings are outwardly simple, yet suffused with mystery. She has a talent for obtuse lyrics, so that a song will take on a different meaning every time you listen. Having Mumford and Sons as cheerleaders is enormously helpful. The band’s Ben Lovett discovered Sermanni while she was performing at a showcase in London. There and then, he offered to sign her to his Communion imprint.

Overnight, Sermanni’s profile exploded.

“They are such inspiring people,” she says of the Mumfords. “I went down to London and met so many different musicians. It gave me an enormous boost. The change of scenery also assisted my songwriting. It sounds strange — I realised I could be loud if I really wanted to. It gave me permission to do that.”

Given the buzz, it’s a surprise that Sermanni doesn’t have a big record label behind her. Instead, after putting out several singles with Communion, she has chosen to release her album herself. She relishes the freedom. She is pragmatic enough, too, to understand that, with the industry in an apparent death spiral, few young artists are being signed. She could wait for years for a major to take an interest. Or she could just get on with things.

“I’ve never thought about that too much,” she says. “I suppose, you could argue I am releasing my record at a difficult time, the way everything is going in the business. It doesn’t affect me. I never let the whole industry side of things influence my writing.”

Sermanni cut her teeth as a sought-after support artist. It is increasingly fashionable for bands from the rest of the UK to tour rural Scotland and the islands. Usually, they prefer a singer-songwriter as their opening act, rather than a noisy rock band. This presented Sermanni with opportunities.

“Strangely, you don’t have too many singer-songwriters in the Highlands,” she says. “It tends to be mostly groups. As one of the few, I would keep getting offered all these support slots. It was brilliant, because you learn so much. Whenever anyone was casting around for a singer-songwriter, I was top of their list. You receive lots of encouragement that way.”

A rural upbringing can be claustrophobic, especially if you aspire to a career in music. You rarely get to see your favourite bands and there aren’t many record stores. “Of course, there’s an upside, too,” says Sermanni. “I’m lucky, because it’s a fantastic environment in which to grow up. I have great friends and a very supportive family. You also have lots of music around. As a child, I played tin whistle. My dad taught me some tunes on guitar. This is when I was about 14. I started writing my own songs not long afterwards. I began to perform at my local pub. By three o’clock in the morning, everybody would be watching. It really boosts your confidence.

“I had my first taste of how music can change your life and bring pleasure to people. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

* Rachel Sermanni plays Hole in the Wall, Kilkenny, Sept 29; Crane Lane, Cork, Sept 30; Whelan’s, Dublin, Oct 5.