Brìghde Chaimbeul
+ soccer Committee
Scottish artist Brìghde Chaimbeul (pronounce as Bree-chu Chaym-bul) has been making waves since she was very young. First, she played the piano and violin, only to switch to bagpipes later on. Her debut “The Reeling” (2019) immediately made it to the year lists of The Quietus. The album was an immediate hit for anyone who loves challenging, boundary-pushing music.
Caroline Polachek fell for her sound: “I have a weakness for bagpipes: whenever I hear them, I tear up. I’ve played “The Reeling” to death – so lots of tears.” This praise led to a collaboration on Polachek’s track ‘Blood and Butter’.
On her next album “Carry Them With Us”, Brìghde worked together with Colin Stetson. She found inspiration in the Scottish Highlands, where she was born and raised. She said the following about it: “My music is rooted in dark Highlands folklore including seductive men who transform into creatures that drown women and humans desperate to communicate with birds”.
What makes her so unique? She is innovative on one of the oldest instruments in the world and she manages not only to create drone-like texures with her traditional, folky approach, but also trance-like, almost electronic moods. Just listen to her latest album “Sunwise”, which came out in the Summer of 2025. With a lot of passion, she managed to expand her creative boundaries even more, presenting one of the most urgent and exciting albums of the year. Recommended to fans of Lankum, Colin Stetson, Anna Von Hausswolff and ØXN.
