The debut EP from Robyn Red underlines her promise as one of the UK’s rising stars in Country Music. ‘From Caledonia, With Love’ may sound stereotypically Scottish but it’s infused with a thoroughly modern sound. This is Country-Rock with a dash of trad-Folk. Complete with powerhouse vocal and emotional storytelling to boot.
After a solid opening, in which ‘Caledonia (Looking Good on You)’ reverberates with a mischievous wink, Robyn Red takes us through the heart’s journey from love to pain and back again. ‘10 Years On’ is a beautiful ode to a long-term relationship. Told against an acoustically-driven backdrop that overflows with deep affection. Equally, the heartache on ‘Between the Two of Us’ surges with regret. Sadness at the fact that “you could have stretched an ocean / between the two of us” keenly felt. Not least as a result of a richly-powerful vocal that is Robyn Red’s greatest strength.
Her versatility is measured between this and ‘My World is Yours’ – a ballad of heartfelt originality. Much more measured in its delivery, the result is a greater focus on the lyrics. None more imaginative than these:
“you took the black out my eyes / and took a paintbrush / and painted them back to blue”.
Final track ‘Just Need the Wine’ then offers an exquisite chorus wrapped in a very different style. A drinking song that returns the EP to a rockier vibe. Add in a highly energetic fiddle, and the result is a very British tale told in a distinctly Scottish style.
Having released each song as separate singles throughout 2025, in her own words, they ‘keep getting better and better’, with ‘Just Need the Wine’ at the top of my own list. If this is a sign of what is to come then Robyn Red is undoubtedly going to be a mainstay of the British Country Music scene. The only way is up for this Scottish starlet.
You can purchase ‘From Caledonia, With Love’, as well as find out more about Robyn Red, via her website here.
Featured Image (C) Robyn Red
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