Maryen Cairns

For over 30 years, singer-songwriter Maryen Cairns’s allegorical folk-pop has offered a form of literate escapism for her worldwide fanbase. “I feel driven to create songs that people can disappear into. I want to pluck them away from reality so that they can lose themselves for a few minutes,” says the Guernsey-based artist.

In turn, her singular musicality has taken Maryen on a fantastical journey of a music career. This has included releasing 7 critically-acclaimed solo albums; being produced and mentored by Rolling Stone's producer Chris Kimsey; a professional association with former Marillion lead singer Fish; and many other adventures.

Today, the restless creative shows no signs of slowing down. She is issuing a newly-recorded series of live albums that reimagine her classic recordings, beginning with One Woman Band, Live at Echotown Studios, Vol 1 which is Maryen’s first vinyl release and came out in May 2024.

Maryen is a solo artist, a multi-instrumentalist, a producer, and a storytelling songwriter with a flair for compelling narrative arcs, character development, and transporting imagery. Her work is both delicate and powerful, featuring her folksy guitar accompaniment, her crystalline piano playing, and her stunning vocals replete with a unique intonation and invigorating register swings.

Her latest era of creativity has been inspired by a 10-date, one-woman-show tour of the UK that took place in August of 2023. The concept initially blossomed from Maryen’s desire to connect with her audience during the pandemic. The story goes Maryen started a couple of initiatives during lockdown, including The Cairns Club, a series of emails with stories and pictures from Maryen’s musical life, and a popular livestream series. For these special streaming shows, fans wanted her to perform intimate, stripped down renditions of her classic repertoire, and Maryen began to experiment. “I am a believer that good songs can shine, presented just with voice, and simple accompaniment,” Maryen says.

Right after the final date of her one woman tour, Maryen went into a nearby studio for two days with producer Chris Kimsey. There, in front of a small audience, Maryen performed 30 songs from her back catalog. Often, Maryen would sit on a cajón and pivot between a guitar and piano, and perform impressive one-woman band feats. Nine songs from these sessions were cherry-picked for One Woman Band, Live at Echotown Studios, Vol 1.

This intimate music making has been the direct result of a self-growth evolution for Maryen which will continue to shape her artistic continuum. “When I was younger, people knew me deeply through my music, but I wasn’t as open to connecting as I am today,” she says. “The connection I now have with my audience has breathed new life into my music.”

Discography.
Albums:
The Pictures Within (1992)
For Eternity (1994)
Stories From Beneath (2004)
Stories From The Red Tent (2012)
Femina Australis (2016)
Come To Me (2019)
ANEW (2022)
One Woman Band, Live at Echotown Studios, Vol 1 (2024)
Singles:
Too Young To Die (1992)
Breaking (1994)
The Red Tent (2012)
The Devil’s Fly (2018)
Steam (2019)
Hope (2020)
The Haunted Lane (2021)
Spirit (2021)
Spill The Tea (2022)
Slice of the Pie (2022)
Kids from the 'burbs (live) (2024)
Flew Away (live) (2024)
Give To The Chase (live) (2024)

Compilations:
Handing Down The Knowledge (Songs for Homebirth) 2009
Reflex Magazine 1992

Other Artists Albums Featured:
FISH - Internal Exile (1991)
Adrian Borland - 5:00 AM (1997)