AN Irvine musician is all set to release his band’s debut album next month – even though the band’s members have not yet met in person.

Irvine drummer and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland tutor Stuart Spence formed the band Odia with French violinist Perrine Missemer and Malaysian Uilleann piper Faliq Auri over social media during lockdown.

Between them, they cherish a love of world, Scottish, Irish, jazz and electronic music which has fed into the fusion that is Odia.

They set about creating the album Prize Fighter, out on June 3, remotely across two continents from their home studios in Ayrshire, Lyon and Kuala Lumpur.

Influenced by a wide spectrum of artists, from Foo Fighters, Phil Collins and Mogwai to French electronic duo Air and Scottish piper Gordon Duncan, Odia formed with the vision to create eclectic, high energy yet reflective tunes.

Stuart told the Times: “Being a session musician for over 20 years, I figured it was time to do my own thing and lockdown provided me with the time to do that.

“The project was only meant to be one demo but lots of great feedback and enthusiasm later, it blossomed into a full EP and now an album.

“The three of us have never actually met in person so we have created all of this via the power of the internet and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished, marrying each of our diverse musical backgrounds.

“The album is essentially about the battles we all come up against in life and refusing to give up.

“We’re inspired by love, friendship, heartbreak, loss and passion.”

Stuart produced the album, arranged the strings and performs bass guitar, synth, keys, percussion and bodhràn. Perrine Missemer is on fiddle and strings and Faliq on Uilleann pipes, whistles and flute, with added spoken word contributions being provided by Fiona McNeil.

The album’s closing track, Goodnight Rachel, was made available on BandCamp from Friday April 29, and is a rousing contemporary take on trad, with strong dance and world music references.

The melancholic Yellow Leather, which was the catalyst for the entire project, pays tribute to Stuart’s late friend who always wore sunny Dr Martens.

Odia will take to the stage at Eden Festival in Dumfries and Galloway on June 10.