Siobhan Wilson on her love of nature: ‘Flowers became like my little friends’
The natural world is a huge inspiration to singer-songwriter Siobhan Wilson. After a few years of olfactory research, wildlife photography and song crafting, she tells Megan Merino that the time was right to get her new work in front of an audience
Wildflowers have inspired great Scottish folk music through the generations. From ‘Flower Of Scotland’ and ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ to ‘Flowers Of The Forest’, indigenous plants are deeply rooted in our folktales and national identity. Scottish singer-songwriter Siobhan Wilson is adding to the canon with her three-volume epic Flowercore, each inspired by her discovery of wildflowers during regular lockdown walks in the Borders with her dog McTavish.
‘I was forced to retreat into the countryside because I couldn’t afford the city rent so I ended up in a really rural place,’ she recalls. ‘I would go outside with McTavish all the time and his nose was always on the floor. He was a puppy and really interested in new things. Every time he came across a new wildflower and started sniffing it, I would vicariously discover it through him.’ Wilson began photographing and even drawing the different species of flowers she came across before eventually penning her Flowercore discography. ‘A lot of the flowers I’m writing about people may call weeds; that’s actually what inspired me about them the most,’ she explains. ‘They create their own path. They’re essentially nonconformists and rebels.’Now the source material for three albums and a brand new Fringe show, her love of native flora seems to be the creative gift that keeps on giving. ‘This is the first time that Flowercore has been brought onto a stage. It’s a chance for me to transfer this obsession with wildflowers and this vast source of inspiration onto the live stage and communicate that with an audience.’ The show will feature live vocals and instrumentals by Wilson while projections dance around the room. ‘Some of the videography that’s been supplied is by Edge Photography who is a Glasgow-based videographer, and I’ve also got some colourful flower pieces by painters who live in Scotland that I’m going to show.’
Special guests will join her on stage throughout the run, including Scottish rising star Niamh Corkey and Australian duo Charm Of Finches. ‘Corkey has got an absolutely beautiful voice. She’s written music herself inspired by nature, such as a song called “The Garden”. But she’ll join me to add some ethereal harmonies. Then the same thing will happen with Charm Of Finches. When we all sing together, it blends really nicely, so I feel really spoiled that I’ll get all these amazing women to sing on stage with me for a whole week.’
In what will surely be a breath of fresh air amid the Fringe chaos, Flowercore functions as Wilson’s ode to the natural world; a thank-you note to the wildflowers that got her through difficult times. ‘I went for months without really seeing friends and family, and the flowers became like my little friends. I would get to know their rota and which spots they appear in every season. If you can tap into nature’s calendar, there’s this really spooky thing that happens: you just feel profoundly happier.’
Siobhan Wilson: Flowercore, The Gilded Saloon, 17–22 August, 3pm.