Seylan Baxter is one of the small but growing number of players reintroducing the cello into Scottish traditional music. She makes the most of the versatility of the instrument, which can sound fresh and exciting when asserting its right to play fast reels and strathspeys, and hauntingly rich and intense in slow airs. The cello is more traditionally used as accompaniment and in this she excels too, with new ideas for each melody, at times subtle, at others funky, but always sensitive.
Seylan’s voice is a bit reminiscent of the cello too – mellow, emotive and lyrical. She brings traditional Scots songs to life with thoughtful interpretations that always remain true to their folk origins.
Seylan also plays a 5-string electric cello made by Ned Steinberger and has introduced that into duo gigs, making the most of the extra F string to add a rich bass and enjoying the freedom to move about while playing.
She was recently given a double bass and is enjoying experimenting with it! It's not a cello but playing it seems to come quite easily...
A former language teacher, Seylan took quickly to the teaching of traditional music. She is currently the cello tutor for the Glasgow Fiddle Workshop and has taught Scots song with the RSAMD’s Youthworks programme. She will soon be publishing a teaching manual for cello accompaniment to Scottish fiddle.
Some recent collaborations outside the duo with Cheyenne have included recording and performing with award winning Spanish folk group, Acetre, a performance with the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band and Jim Malcolm, and she features on Iain Ingram’s album, “Words o Fiction”.
She plays on the forthcoming solo album by Ewan MacPherson of Malinky and Fribo and is looking forward to several other collaborations which are in the pipeline. She has recently begun a new collaboration with North Uist based Ruaridh Pringle: Tattie Jam
Seylan is from Milngavie, a small town just outside Glasgow, and she also studied Scottish Music at the RSAMD.
Myspace site: www.myspace.com/seylanbaxter