By: Staff
Ghost Girl by Ian Rae is a masterfully crafted album, packed with exceptional compositions that showcase the artist’s remarkable ability to blend emotion, technique, and storytelling through music. While we’ve highlighted a few standout tracks, we strongly encourage you to experience the entire album to fully appreciate its depth and immersive quality.
We started with, "The Sound of Distant Laughter" and it immediately sets a whimsical, enchanting tone with delicately cascading piano lines that shimmer like sunlight on water. The performance evokes the lighthearted spirit often found in impressionistic and neoclassical styles, reminiscent of the playful charm in children's music. Sweeping violins soar through the mix, creating an expansive, airy atmosphere while allowing the piano to remain at the forefront. The composition feels deeply narrative, as if painting vivid imagery of children laughing and playing. The layered counterpoint and dynamic interplay between instruments make for an exhilarating yet heartfelt listening experience. This is a piece that captivates young listeners while simultaneously impressing adults with its depth and sophistication.
"Let Me Down Gently" opens with a mesmerizing display of rubato, as the delicate yet expressive piano phrasing draws the listener in. The pacing is both gentle and exhilarating, demonstrating Ian Rae’s command over dynamic contrast and phrasing. As the piece unfolds, its jazz influences become unmistakable, with lush harmonies and fluid melodic lines. The subtle presence of brushwork on the drums adds a soft yet rhythmic foundation, further enhancing the piece’s warmth and intimacy. This is an absolutely gorgeous performance, effortlessly blending classical sensitivity with jazz-inspired fluidity.
"Phantom Sausage" is as intriguing as its title suggests, beginning with delicate piano strokes that immediately create a sense of anticipation. Each pause between phrases heightens the listener’s excitement, building toward an unfolding story told entirely through the keys. As the composition progresses, the tempo increases with a thrilling momentum, accompanied by gentle yet expressive violin textures in the background. The way Ian Rae constructs each phrase gives the piece a natural, narrative arc, a beginning full of wonder, a complex and dynamic middle section, and a graceful descent back into calm. The exhilarating climax toward the end stands out as one of the album’s most compelling moments.
We finished this amazing work with "Wondrous One" and it bursts forth with a bright, effervescent jazz energy, where the horns take on an almost vocal-like quality, singing through each phrase with expressive clarity. Learning that this piece is a reimagined version of his own earlier composition only deepens the appreciation for Rae’s ability to reinvent and reinterpret his own work, breathing fresh life into familiar melodies. The interplay between the piano, horns, and gentle drum accents creates a beautifully cohesive soundscape that is both intricate and effortlessly inviting. His performance reaches a level of brilliance that transcends mere technical prowess—it’s a masterclass in emotional and intellectual engagement. This is music that speaks to both the heart and the mind, resonating with listeners of all ages.
Ian Rae describes himself as someone “out of the ordinary,” but in truth, his artistry is nothing short of extraordinary. His musicianship and performance skills exude an energy, emotion, and authenticity that make every note feel personal. The way he commands the piano invites the listener into what feels like an intimate, live performance, one where each stroke of the keys is infused with intention and passion. Ghost Girl is not just an album; it’s an experience, one that leaves a lasting impression and solidifies Ian Rae as an artist of remarkable depth and vision.
Ian Rae is a truly remarkable artist whose dedication, talent, and passion for music have made an extraordinary impact. This latest album, Ghost Girl, marks his 14th release in just over three years, a testament to his relentless creativity and love for composition. Spanning twelve tracks, the album showcases his ability to seamlessly traverse multiple genres, from cinematic, film-style themes like Who Can Reach the Farthest Star and Sitting on a Gate to jazz reinterpretations of his own compositions, including Let Me Down Gently and Wondrous One, the latter now in its third recorded version. His music is as diverse as it is expressive, even embracing whimsically titled pieces like Phantom Sausage, adding to his signature sense of originality and charm. With a catalog of playfully named works, including The Man Who Lost His Shirt at Monty Python and The Enchanted Hedgehog, Rae has proven time and again that he is an artist who refuses to be confined by convention.
What are the odds of an independent artist going from complete obscurity to over 2.7 million streams in less than three years? Or amassing an incredible 750,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify? Ian Rae has done exactly that. At 78 years old, this Glasgow-born, London-based pianist is defying expectations and redefining what’s possible for independent musicians. Encouraged by his daughter Fiona to explore TikTok, Ian began sharing his music online, gradually building an audience through live performances and engaging content. Though he initially played covers, his viewers quickly became enamored with his original compositions, urging him to release them on streaming platforms. His debut album, Beyond the Clouds, has now garnered nearly 650,000 streams, with its title track alone surpassing 365,000 plays. His ability to connect with audiences—both through heartfelt piano performances and his humorous, lighthearted presence—has made him a social media sensation, with his “silly songs” on TikTok and Instagram racking up an astonishing 65 million views.
A lifelong musician, Rae has been playing piano for 68 years, having written his first song at age 14 while playing rhythm guitar in his band, The Bluestars. That song, Just a Dream, has since been streamed 20,000 times, proving that great music stands the test of time. His career spans an impressive range of accomplishments, from composing musicals performed at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon and the Minack Theatre in Cornwall to creating library music for Sony/EMI, which has been featured on radio and television. His influences reflect his deep appreciation for melody and sophisticated harmony, drawing from legends like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Bill Evans, The Beatles, The Hollies, The Carpenters, and contemporary composers such as Yiruma and James Newton Howard.
Despite his growing success, Ian Rae remains an artist with an immense generosity of spirit. His earnings from platforms like TikTok, Spotify, and Apple Music have contributed over £30,000 to charity in just three years, proving that his music is not only a gift to listeners but a force for good in the world. His compositions, some of which are available as free sheet music downloads on his website, continue to inspire musicians and fans worldwide.
Never one to take himself too seriously, Rae has always had a knack for turning moments of frustration into creative triumphs. When he grew tired of constant requests to play Yiruma’s River Flows in You during his TikTok livestreams, he responded in the best way possible, by composing his own playful take, Puddle Outside, which has since amassed 30,000 streams on Spotify. His reach continues to expand, with his music being streamed in 137 countries in just the past month alone.
With the release of Ghost Girl, Rae has once again proven that age is no barrier to artistry, innovation, and success. His music speaks to the heart, engages the mind, and brings joy to listeners of all ages. Whether through intricate jazz improvisations, cinematic compositions, or simply the warmth of his piano playing, Ian Rae is an artist who stands out—not just as a musician, but as a storyteller, an innovator, and an inspiration to all who discover his work.
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