Valtos

Valtos are a Scottish electronic and traditional folk group from Skye. The duo consists of Martyn MacDonald and Daniel Docherty, both from the Isle of Skye, and they begin the project in 2021 after being inspired by fellow Skye acts the Peatbog Faeries and Niteworks at Skye Live in 2019.

Sound and releases

The group starts out with a run of remixes designed to show the range of their sound, before releasing a self-titled debut album in 2022. Their music draws on traditional Highland music and the landscape of Skye, and the album features a mix of established and emerging musicians connected with the Highlands and Islands.

Collaborators and live line-up

Old school friends Lana Pheutan and Eilidh Cormack provide vocals in both English and Gaelic, while fiddle player Euan McLaughlin also appears on the album. For live shows, Valtos perform as a full band with Eilidh, Euan, Finn and Lana, adding extra depth to the duo’s electronic-traditional approach.

Recognition

The group perform across Scotland in 2022, including at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut and Tiree Music Festival. They also win Up and Coming Artist of the Year at the Scots Trad Awards in 2022.