AN EAST Lothian-based musician and artist has launched his debut album, which is a tribute to his late brother and mother.

Philip Joseph Rae, a singer songwriter from Musselburgh, performed songs from A Marvellous Work and A Wonder (KFM Records) at the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh.

The album draws inspiration from his childhood in Aberdeen, Scotland’s natural environment, and musical influences such as Bill Callahan, St Vincent and Sufjan Stevens.

The songs on his eight-track solo album traverse topics covering the range of human experience: addiction, heartbreak, love, grief, faith and self-esteem.

Tracks include “hauntingly beautiful” She’s Animal and the “melancholy” of Sun Keeps Rising, an exploration of grief and hope following the untimely death of his brother, musician Jason Rae, from an accidental overdose of methadone and alcohol in 2008.

The album was produced and manufactured in East Lothian, recorded and produced by East Lothian-based producer and musician David Jack, and released by Pencaitland-based KFM records.

A limited-edition pink vinyl has been pressed by Seabass Vinyl of Macmerry.

At the launch night, Rae performed songs from the album, accompanied by Haddington musician JJ Wilson and Pencaitland singer Jane Jack. The audience included members of the Scottish music industry, friends and family, and the general public.

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Rae, who moved to Musselburgh 10 years ago and works for the Post Office in Edinburgh, said it was intended to celebrate the culmination of “four years’ hard work”.

He said: “I have been writing songs since the age of 14 and was in a string of bands in Aberdeen in my teens and early twenties.

“I have a writing credit on Corinne Bailey Rae’s Mercury Music prize-nominated album The Sea for the song I Would Like to Call it Beauty, which was created in the aftermath of my brother, saxophonist Jason Rae’s, [Corinne’s husband] tragic death.”

Rae’s album was record of note on The Roddy Hart Show on BBC Radio Scotland in September.

Rae said: “I have been working on some of these songs since I was 16, that are deeply personal and through them I have been able to traverse grief, struggles with addiction and chart my journey towards contentment.

“I feel incredibly grateful to have been able to work with Scott Macdonald of KFM Records and David Jack, the album’s producer, to bring these songs to life, and feel very proud of this album, which I view as a tribute to my brother Jason Rae and my mother Lily Rae.”

His mother passed away a few years ago after an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Rae said: “I love that we were able to record, produce and manufacture this record within a three-mile radius in East Lothian, and it was such a great experience to work with the team at Seabass Vinyl to bring the vinyl to life.

“I did all the design work for the record myself and, as an artist, it’s so satisfying to work in a medium that can incorporate visual art, music and performance.”

He said: “The gig went really well. It was a lovely evening well attended and it ended with the crowd singing along to my song Three Drunken Brothers – a very moving experience.”