A Shetland teacher has released an album with some well-known guests to help raise money and awareness for a chronic condition.
When the flare-ups are at their worst, Gemma Anderson’s rheumatoid arthritis means she is completely dependent on other people to help her through the day.
After being diagnosed with the condition at the age of just 17, the primary teacher from Shetland has now spent more of her life with the autoimmune disease than without it.
But a deep-rooted love for music – and singing in particular – has been with her longer, and she is using her voice to raise money for an arthritis charity by releasing her own original album.
Her album Life – which will raise money for UK charity Versus Arthritis – enjoys something of an all-star cast of local musicians.
Pulp keyboardist Candida Doyle, who has Shetland family links and herself was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a teenager, also appears on one track.
Gemma said the idea for the album was first born back in 2015 following conversations with local music therapist Alice Mullay.
“I went to music therapy and we went through the songs I’d written and I asked her if she thought it would be a possibility to make this into a charity album,” she said.
“I can’t run marathons or anything like that that people usually do to raise money.”
The album is getting an initial release on the digital platforms iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon, Google Play and Google Music, with delays in the process meaning a CD is not quite ready yet.
However, there is set to be a full launch in the new year once the busy festive season is out of the way.
The 12 tracks on Life are heartfelt tunes, with Gemma writing the lyrics and melodies, and the guest musicians penning the accompaniments. “The songs on the album reflect the emotions that life throws at you,” she said.
“I use specific events in my life, and sometimes what is happening to other’s lives, to give me inspiration.”
