Sealionwoman
SEALIONWOMAN - Perform live at the state51 Factory - Two Sisters / Butcher's Broom / Bracken / This House (Sealionwoman Mix) by Gazelle Twin
Sealionwoman, is Scottish vocalist Kitty Whitelaw and English double bass player Tye McGivern. Together they craft a unique and defiantly uncategorisable sound. Whitelaw’s rich and beguiling vocal delivery and McGivern’s atmospheric, inventive approach to his instrument creates melancholy soundscapes, torch-song transgressions and rapturous drama. In late 2018 they released their first album “Siren” with Antigen records. Their second record “Nothing Will Grow In The Soil” was released by State 51 in the autumn of 2024.
Kitty and Tye have been collaborating for many years and have played numerous live venues in the UK including EARTH Hackney, Union Chapel and Cafe Oto. They have also had the opportunity to support incredible acts such as Meursault, Tanya Tagaq, Bohren and der Club of Gore and Colin Stetson.
Latest News
Sealionwoman
Return to Scotland
Its been a few years since Sealionwoman played Scotland so they are thrilled
to announce that they have be invited to play all day music event
“Interesting Things” 4th October 2025 at the Stirling Tolbooth.
Re-Wire
Festival
In April, 2025 Sealionwoman were invited to play internationally acclaimed music festival Re-Wire at The Hague, The Nertherlands.
More about Re-wire HERE
SEALIONWOMAN LIVE AT BERGHAIN
In January 2025, Sealionwoman were invited to play international music festival CTM festival in Berlin at the renowned club Berghain.
More about CTM HERE
SHADOW DOGS
Sealionwoman were invited to do their own interpretation/mix
of a Gazelle Twin track from her album “Black Dog” for an album of
mixes and reinterpretations.
SHADOW DOGS
1. Black Dog - Gary Numan & Ade Fenton Mix
2. Two Worlds - Keeley Forsyth Mix
3. Fear Keeps Us Alive - Beak> Mix
4. Sweet Dream - Mark Jenkin Mix
5. This House - Sealionwoman Mix
6. A Door Opens - Marta Salogni Mix
7. Author Of You - Penelope Trappes Mix
Listen to the record HERE
Nothing Will Grow In The Soil
Sealionwoman’s second record, released by State 51 September 2024
"Morose gothic atmosphere... A folk The Body"
“Nothing Will Grow In The Soil is a remarkable, uncompromising exposition of artistry”
The Wire
Sealionwoman’s track “It Rides A Horse” was the first track on The Wire Magazine’s free CD Tapper for issue 489.
Recent Interview
for
The Quietus
Recent Review
Sealionwoman recently supported Gazelle Twin at Bush Hall.
Read the review here.
GISELLE
Giselle is the haunting and atmospheric new stand alone, self released digital single by Sealionwoman, inspired by the ballet of the same name.
The near nine minute track delves into Act II of the ballet’s storyline, where Giselles’s ghost is awakened from her grave by the vengeful spirits known as the Wilis. The heartbroken spirits unable to find peace, seek to make her lover dance till death in revenge. However Giselle intervenes to dance and show forgiveness, this act of compassion and sacrifice allows her lover to be freed from the grasp of the Wilis. Giselle can finally find peace and rest in her eternal slumber.
Recorded in a freezing studio in Leith that contributed to the ghostly ambiance of the track. The track was mixed by Luce Mawdsley, and the artwork was taken from a photograph of Kitty by Jo Wells at Nunhead Cemetery.
Premiered on The Quietus, read it HERE
Siren
Sealionwomans debut album Siren was released late 2018 on Antigen Records. Siren was recorded at Soup Studios in London. The sleeve is a beautiful print from a wood engraving by Gertrude Hermes, used with the permission of her estate.
“Sealionwoman’s music flips folk music on its head, taking traditional Scottish music and moving it into a darker, more atmospheric direction… their debut LP Siren is a record quite unlike any you will hear this year. “
- THE QUIETUS
“Björk, Billie Holiday and The Anchoress come to mind while listening to Kitty Whitelaw’s exquisite vocals… It’s Mercury Prize bait, this – haunting, monolithic soundscapes…”
-Prog Magazine
“Sealionwoman’s Siren is an extraordinary thing. Strange, seductive, and heartbreaking, its title makes complete sense. Go get shipwrecked”
- Closed Circuits
“the duo experiment with a sound that’s challenging to categorise, and for that reason, Sealionwoman should be commended”
- Loud and Quiet
SELKIE
In 2016 Sealionwoman won Vault Festival’s, VAULT "Festival Spirit" award for their narrative concert “SELKIE” that had been developed over several years of traditional folk music research at Cecil Sharpe house. The show was written, produced and performed by Sealionwoman with costume design by Naomi Oppenheim.
