Rachel Duns is bringing a psychedelic edge to Scotland’s jazz scene.
Scottish saxophonist and vocalist Rachel Duns has spent the past few years carving out a sound that refuses to sit neatly within one corner of jazz. Rooted in the genre but pulling equally from soul, blues and 1960s psychedelia, Duns has developed an identity that feels as much about atmosphere and experimentation as it does musicianship.
Her rise has already earned significant recognition. Duns was named Rising Star at the 2021 Scottish Jazz Awards, went on to be included in The List Magazine's 2022 Hot 100, and has performed alongside jazz legend Buster Williams in Glasgow. Her early releases have also picked up radio support from Jazz FM and BBC Radio 6 Music, giving her increasingly visible footing within the UK's jazz landscape. Only Good Vibes Music
But it's in the music itself where Duns' individuality really comes through. Her powerful tenor saxophone sits alongside dreamy vocals, pedalboard effects and a tight five-piece band, allowing her compositions to move freely between jazz, psychedelic rock, soul and more experimental territory. On Best Served Chilled, for example, carefree vocals sit against an increasingly intense arrangement before giving way to an urgent tenor saxophone solo, while Blurred leans into psychedelic textures and modern jazz harmony. Vibe Collide Records
That versatility came together on Rachel Duns, her debut EP released in March 2026. Across four tracks, Duns showcases the different sides of her sound, from the soulful Don't Need No Sunshine to the meditative, psychedelic feel of Blurred, while Make Up My Mind provides a glimpse of the track that first introduced her to listeners back in 2024. Vibe Collide Records
There's a looseness to Duns' music that makes it particularly exciting. Rather than treating jazz as a set of boundaries, she uses it as a foundation to explore whatever sound feels right - whether that's a hypnotic groove, dreamy vocal arrangement or a saxophone pushed into something more chaotic.
With her debut EP now out in the world, Rachel Duns feels less like an artist waiting to find her sound and more like someone who has already found it - and is now figuring out just how far she can take it.