Brandon McPhee joins forces with Irish star Daniel O'Donnell on new single
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Caithness entertainer Brandon McPhee has said it was an honour to record a single with Irish music legend Daniel O'Donnell.
The pair teamed up for a rendition of Across the Hills of Home, written by Scottish-born folk singer/songwriter Eric Bogle, and it will be available at the end of next week.
Their vocals were recorded separately and the track was produced in Nashville by Phil Anderson.
Brandon (27) said: "I've worked with Daniel a few times over the years. I've always been inspired by Daniel – I'm a huge fan of his.
"I was absolutely delighted to get the opportunity."
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The pair first met at a Daniel O'Donnell fan club weekend in north-west England. The singer and accordionist from Castletown was then a special guest on Daniel's TV programme Opry le Daniel on the TG4 channel in Ireland.
Daniel (62) has also written CD sleeve notes for Brandon.
"I've looked up to him since I was 10 years old," Brandon said. "Around the same time as Foster and Allen, I was introduced to Daniel O'Donnell's music.
"It was during Covid that I asked him what the chances would be of recording a song together.
"He said he'd be delighted to do so. We searched for a track together and, after a few that we didn't agree with, we found Across the Hills of Home which was written by Eric Bogle."
Brandon recorded his vocals and accordion at Studio D, Wick, and Daniel did his vocals at Darkins studio in Ireland.
"It was put over to Phil Anderson, who produced the track and did a lot of the instrumentation and got some Nashville musicians as part of the recording," Brandon said.
"Then it was taken over to Wick again and mastered here in Caithness. We did the music video over in Ireland.
"It's transatlantic travel, that's for sure!"
The video was filmed in the Dungloe area of County Donegal where Daniel comes from.
"Parts of Dungloe remind you of Scotland and Caithness," Brandon said.
Across the Hills of Home, on the Demon Music Group label, will be available on download and streaming services from March 15 and can be pre-ordered. The music video will be out around March 20 on YouTube.
"I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I am so honoured that Daniel recorded the song along with me," Brandon said.
"It makes me proud to be from Caithness to record a song with him and get the music out there as much as possible.
"And to have the support of the public as well, especially from Caithness, it just makes all this possible and makes it all worthwhile.
"It's thanks to them for their support."
Gail's Gift Box in Wick is the main outlet in Caithness for Brandon's CDs
Meanwhile, tickets will go on sale soon for the Brandon McPhee Show taking place at the Assembly Rooms in Wick on Friday, May 31.
