Gaelia

On December 2nd, 2022, legendary Scottish singer songwriter Donovan released a new studio album titled "Gaelia" digitally, the CD version will follow tomorrow, December 16th. Announced recently, the album was previewed with “Rock Me”, a steady, rhythmic song featuring a guest appearance by Pink Floyd icon David Gilmour. Gilmour appears on 2 songs on the album, the other being “Lover O’ Lover”.

Says Donovan in a statement about the record, "The fusion of my gaelic roots styles, with my poetry and melodic composition, signature finger style guitar phrasing, classical gypsy strings, vocal emoting and gaelic rock, is a complete success for me on 'Gaelia'. I have fulfilled my service again, as a living shaman poet. All the guests excelled, and Dan Fitzgeralnd co-producing with me, enhancing the songs with their superlative talents, and great respect for all I have achieved in bringing world wide appreciation for our gaelic tradition, thank you all!".

As for how the collaborations with Gilmour came about, Variety quotes Donovan as explaining it like this, “I met up with David at Lord Michael and Lady Marina Cowdray’s country estate”, he says. “These two dear, noble friends of Linda and mine were holding amazing salons where the most futuristic creatives in music and awareness would gather. Soon Linda and I were headed with Michael and Marina and his holiness the Tibetan Gylwang Drukpa of Ladakh up into the Himalayas to found a school in Ladakh. But back to the salon. That night at Marina’s”, he continues, “David and I chatted about how he had bought my cottage in the 60's when I married Linda and moved on. Why, I asked? He said my album track ‘Three Kingfishers’, off my ‘Sunshine Superman’ album of 1966, had launched him in a celestial music direction, and so when I was selling my cottage, where so many of my songs were written, he wanted to be in my creative space. Makes sense in a Floyd sort of way”, he notes. “David had already learned to fly, he wrote a song about it, too, and flew himself in to Ireland for the session. David brought his guitar roadie, who set up 2 amps in the studio, handed David his pink Strat, and his unique signature sound enthralled us all”.

Also appearing on "Gaelia" are Sharon Shannon, Nigel Kennedy, Steve Cooney, Dan Fitzgerald and many more.