Rhona Macfarlane is a rising Scottish singer-songwriter whose emotive voice and evocative storytelling have been described as ‘casting a gentle spell over her audience.’ Macfarlane creates a deeply immersive and emotional soundscape, whether through gentle guitar and intimate vocals or expansive, cinematic arrangements with soaring strings, crafting worlds that feel both vast and personal. Her work has been described as “building an atmosphere of tranquillity and respite”, drawing listeners into a space of reflection and serenity.

Hailing from the small North-east seaside town of Montrose in Scotland, Rhona Macfarlane was brought up in a musical household where creativity was boundless. Her early years were spent immersed in music, whether that was through Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell or Rickie Lee Jones on the record player, or the sounds of family playing piano, violin, guitar, bagpipes or clarsach. With ancestors from St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides, Rhona’s childhood included frequent trips to Harris where she was surrounded by folk music and her Grandmother’s Gaelic songs. She began learning violin and piano at an early age and into her teens picked up the guitar and began songwriting.

Through songwriting opportunities such as “Hit the Road” and classical music experience with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland she quickly became enchanted by the world of songwriting while also developing a deep passion for the violin which she subsequently went on to study at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This environment influenced her songwriting to hold elements of classical music, the folk tradition of storytelling at its centre but in turn manages to deliver it in an entirely modern light.

Macfarlane released her highly anticipated debut album, As The Chaos Unfolds, on January 24th, 2025. The album, recorded in the Autumn of 2023 at Watercolour Studios in the serene Scottish Highlands, was co-produced by Macfarlane and Matt Ingram. As The Chaos Unfolds is an evocative collection of songs that captures the essence of a “coming of age” experience. Written during her mid-20s—a time of profound personal change—the album delves into themes of love, identity, mental health, and the often-chaotic journey of navigating early adulthood.

Latest singles from the upcoming album have received widespread support from the likes of BBC Radio 2, Radcliffe and Maconie on BBC 6 , BBC Ulster and numerous BBC Scotland shows such as single of the week on the ‘Afternoon Show’, Ricky Ross ‘Another Country’, Travelling Folk, Iain Anderson and BBC nan Gàidheal. Tracks have also received recognition and support from Spotify editorial playlist ‘Scotify’ and the likes of Record Of The Day, Americana UK and CLOUT.

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