Songs of Separation

It was organised by double-bass player Jenny Hill and brought together ten female folk musicians from Scotland and England for one week in June 2015 on the Isle of Eigg.

Travelling a lot between her home in Eigg and her work in England, Hill reflected on the different ways that the issues around Scottish independence were presented and received in the two countries.

[7] The two a capella tracks were recorded in the island's Cathedral Cave[broken anchor], used for secret Roman Catholic services during the 18th century, which can only be accessed at low tide.

[1] This category was decided by a popular vote, so it was a significant achievement for a short-term project with a previously unknown name to win against four established performers in the genre.

[26] In The Guardian, Robin Denselow gave the album four stars and called it "a varied, thoughtful set that stays well clear of political sloganeering.

On Folk Radio UK, Helen Gregory's detailed review comments on the marginalisation of women's voices in politics and the particular contribution of each track to the project's theme, concluding that it is a "superlative and essential record".

[32] FATEA Magazine also has a detailed track-by-track analysis, and praises the "brazen and multifarious approach to separation", polished arrangements, and thorough research, calling the album "immensely successful".

",[34] Norma Waterson "it is one of the most interesting pieces of music I have heard in a long time... puts me in mind of the Lewis Psalm singers but also those women singers of Russia and Georgia",[35] Rachel Sermanni "This album is a work of wild beauty",[36] Sarah Hayes "a stunning blend of voice, groove, nature and experience",[37] and Maddy Prior "Created in three days and recorded in three days?

[39]Four live dates in Scotland and England took place in January 2016, including a concert during the Celtic Connections festival, which Colin Irwin described as "joyous, thought-provoking, passionate, stirring, charming and beauteous" and observed that "the empathetic chemistry here was genuine.

"[40][41] The BBC Radio Scotland programme Travelling Folk on 7 February 2016 included a live session from the collective and an interview conducted by Bruce MacGregor.

Guest musicians performing at this event were Karan Casey from Ireland, Georgia Ruth and Gwyneth Glyn from Wales and Julie Fowlis.

For example Jenny Hill recalled a journalist asking them why the participants were all women, and Kate Young responding "Why are Treacherous Orchestra all men?

",[46] drawing attention to the acceptance of the gender imbalance in traditional music to the extent that the 11-member all-male Scottish folk big band Treacherous Orchestra was unremarkable.

In 2017, the year after the album release and live shows, Jenny Hill presented ideas on "Closing the Gender Gap" to the Traditional Music Forum.

[49] The following year Karan Casey, who had sung with the project as a guest at its Cardiff concert, created FairPlé, a sister organisation in Ireland.

Individual members of the project have also commented on its contribution to their musical development; for example Rowan Rheingans has credited her subsequent songwriting success to Karine Polwart's encouragement.

The Glebe Barn, location of the project on Eigg.
The Cathedral Cave, location of some live recordings.
Loch nam Ban Mòra ( Lake of the Big Women ).