Rebecca’s album CINNABAR, was awarded a nomination by the Canadian Folk Music Awards in the category of Best Traditional Singer! Rebecca created the album by drawing in to collaboration fifteen superb guest traditional musicians, all of whom are her friends from other bands and dance music projects. CINNABAR is a spin-off from the Rebecca Barclay Band, a celtic lightly-rock band that has played in Toronto over a two decade period. This CD continues Rebecca's interweaving of rhythmic roots instruments focused on traditional story telling songs.

For CINNABAR Rebecca takes risks in developing joyful textures,  weaving a highly original but grounded, folk sound. The second track starts with Iranian traditional percussive hand clapping and its close partner Iranian bagpipes leading to a rapid fire French Canadian foot percussion (called l'accord du pieds) which drives the beat to lift Rebecca’s clear and soaring traditional vocal. These classic instruments are played expertly here by her friends Teilhard Frost and Saied Shanbezadeh.

A collected Child Ballad that Rebecca first heard sung by Joan Baez, is structured with African style percussive vocals that add to the emotive power of the tale. This was inspired from attending a workshop series with South African traditional singer Lizzie Mahache. Exploring rythmic traditional four part harmony styles, Lizzie's course was one of many put on by at the Worlds of Music outfit that celebrates the diversity of local musicians and nationalities who now find a home in Toronto, Rebecca's hometown.

Another song delights in collaboration with esteemed Northumbrian bagpiper and fiddler Nichol Caisley and the intricate fingerstyle Tyneside guitarist John Steele, her friends from the North East shores of England.

All the song versions on this fresh new album reflect a multicultural meeting ground, presented by talented traditional musicians of the sort you may find playing together on any given day, in cities like Toronto or London.

"Joyful textures in the weaving of an unusual sound, prevail on Rebecca’s CD RAGING ZEPHYR. One of several uniquely formed songs combines a split-voiced tuba, Scottish highland bagpipes and saxophone with her rich contralto vocal, on a 220 year old song, Woman of this Glen. With such creative musicians as Corey Manders on jazz saxophone and Colin Couch on tuba you'll find the weaving of an unusual sound. "Listeners are drawn into Rebecca’s restless passion through her full ranging vocals, whether singing acapella or backed by a full band. Using carefully chosen and original lyrics, she treats difficult subjects with courage, precision, and vibrant emotion." says Steve Rowat, of Thought Transfer Music.