Head in the cosmos, feet planted firmly to the ground, Edinburgh-born Ailsa McEwan (alias Ailsa and the Seahorses) has always been caught between worlds. Her distinct brand of emotionally-charged indie speaks to the metaphysical, grounded by the earthly warmth of hushed, honest vocals. Marrying the atmospherics of dreampop and shoegaze with the singer-songwriter tradition, her music - a blend of mysticism and concrete poetry - sets her apart for its unique and mesmerising sound. Her career so far has seen her play established festivals such as Kelburn Garden Party and Lindisfarne Festival, as well as appearing in the BBC Scotland television series Street Symphony with Emeli Sandé.

Ailsa began her songwriting journey as a teenager making low-fi GarageBand recordings on her brother’s laptop when he left the house. In her early 20’s she took her cosmic bedroom pop to the stage and quickly captivated local audiences. Her songs, centred around hope in the face of mental challenges, channelled the emotional vulnerability of her idol Jeff Buckley, the dreamy melancholia of The Smiths, and the haunting existential poetry of Leonard Cohen. The effect of her quiet, bewitching vocal style - frequently compared to Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star - has been described as “like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold November evening” (Out of the Bedroom).

For a time, Ailsa lived the nomadic life of a street musician and took her music across Europe, her native UK, and Canada. Her independent approach to life with a focus on authenticity is reflected in her work; her first release, 2019 4 track EP The Centre of Everything, was recorded almost entirely with a USB microphone in a wardrobe.

Ailsa’s travels led her to the creative city of Berlin where she lived for five years. The pandemic years birthed her debut album, Hermit - recorded with a 4-piece band at the Famous Gold Watch Studios.The project was made with love and determination. With the help of her bandmates, it was funded through a combination of crowdfunding, and Ailsa’s joint career as a toilet cleaner. Listed in Sound & Vision’s top 25 debuts of 2024, the deeply personal but universal LP resonates with fans of introspective and indie music.

Whether performing intimate solo shows or playing spacey band gigs with a changing line-up of musicians, Ailsa has always kept things real. Taking life in all its beauty and pain, her music, although nostalgic, looks to a brighter future - towards healing and growth. Creating something beautiful from the rubble and sharing it with the world, her songs speak to those who have grown through turbulent times.