CARDROSS fiddle player Ryan Young has admitted he’s a little nervous as he gets ready to launch his self-titled debut album.

Ryan, who was recently voted Up and Coming Artist of the Year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, produced his album of reinvented traditional tunes with triple Grammy award-winning Jesse Lewis.

And despite his nerves, hopes it will give listeners the chance to hear a different take on traditional Scottish tunes.

Speaking to Advertiser Entertainment, Ryan said: “My album is all about the feeling and emotional response I have to these older, Scottish traditional tunes. I’m hoping that’s what people will hear.

“Although not technically a ‘live album’, every track was recorded with each instrument playing together, so what you will hear is a flawed, human performance, but I feel that’s where emotion in music lies.”

Ryan was accompanied by James Ross, on piano, and Leo Forde, on guitar, and is confident in the choice of tunes for the album.

He said: “Almost all of the tunes are very old, some of which may not have been heard in recent times. I think the tunes I’ve chosen are great and that’s because traditional Scottish music is great, so I’m looking forward to people hearing some tunes they might not have heard before, as well as my take on some more popular tunes. I hope they’ll like my playing too but I’m confident they’ll like the tunes.”

With the album set to be released on Friday, August 11, Ryan reflected on the experience of producing an album and explained that the hardest thing was being to self critical, which was when having Jesse Lewis was a great help.

He explained: “I am very self critical of my own playing, so I find it very difficult to accept whether something is ‘the take’ or not. That’s where having a producer is really beneficial.

“I left all these decisions to Jesse more or less because I would never be satisfied if I was in control. The album is all based on feeling, with Jesse choosing takes that ‘felt the best’. There were times where I had to sacrifice technical perfection for feeling and the ‘buzz’ of a live performance.”

Jesse Lewis recorded and produced the album, and described Ryan’s playing as “soulful, beautiful and intoxicating”.

He said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with someone so clearly passionate about, and dedicated to, his art. There’s so much talent in this young man already, I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.”

Ryan is thankful for all the help and support with the release of his album and extended his thanks especially to Jesse Lewis.

He said: “The past year has been extraordinary and I feel I’ve grown immensely as a musician. Jesse has spurred me on to find new possibilities in my music and helped me find confidence I didn’t know I had.”

Ryan is also a Celtic Connections Danny Kyle Award winner, and a finalist in BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Music Awards. He has performed on the BBC Hogmanay Show and at T in the Park, sharing the main stage with Paolo Nutini. Guitarist Dennis Cahill will accompany Ryan at his CD launch at Feakle Festival, Co. Clare in August of this year.