I Am The Song – a new song for the Dementia Inclusive Singing Network

Fri, 14th Jun 2024

At the start of June, members of Musselburgh-based dementia-inclusive singing group ‘Let’s Sing’ met award-winning singer/songwriter Boo Hewerdine, at Castlesound Studios in East Lothian to record ‘I Am The Song’.

‘I Am The Song’ is written by Boo Hewerdine and will be available for use by our network of singing groups across Scotland from the beginning of July. Included in the final recording were vocals from members of Let’s Sing, guitar and vocals from Boo Hewerdine, vocals from award-winning singer Hannah Rarity, and percussion/drums by Iain Sandilands.

Let’s Sing led by song leader, singer, and composer Penny Stone, meets weekly in Musselburgh, East Lothian and supports people living with dementia in the local community by learning and singing acapella harmony songs together. Working with Penny and Stephen Deazley, who is Luminate’s Community Music Consultant, the choir recorded I Am The Song in just two hours.

I Am The Song builds on the success of Travel These Ways – our earlier collection of songs created during the pandemic for people living with dementia. Travel These Ways included two songs by award-winning musician Karine Polwart and is still available online to download from our website.

The Dementia Inclusive Singing Network includes singing groups and choirs based all over Scotland, as well as other community groups and care providers who recognise the benefits of singing, and the positive difference it can make to health and wellbeing.

The final recorded versions of I Am The Song, including an accompaniment for groups to sing along with, downloadable lyrics, and sheet music, will be free to use and available on the Dementia Inclusive Singing Network’s website on a Creative Commons licence, from the beginning of July.