Biography

Calum Alex MacMillan was raised in Shader in Point, Lewis. He was surrounded by music and song from a very young age, not least because his father, Seonaidh, was the lead singer in the famous group Na Lochies.

Calum Alex began singing as a young boy and sang publicly for the first time when he was seven at an senior citizens' dinner in the Tiumpan Community Hall in Aird. After this, he began participating in local and national Mods where he won prizes for his singing. He was still in primary school when he got the opportunity to receive piping lessons from Pipe Major Iain M. Morrison, who had a great influence on Calum Alex's musical development.

He left school in 2002 and went on to the University of Aberdeen to study Accounting and Finance, graduating with an MA (Hons) in 2006. Shortly after this, he moved to Inverness where he was employed as Gaelic Officer at Fèisean nan Gàidheal. At the beginning of 2010, he became Development Manager with the organisation and he is now the Chief Executive.

Calum Alex continued singing and playing the pipes at competitions and ceilidhs across the country. It was at the National Mod in Largs that he won the Gold Medal at age eighteen, one of the youngest ever to win this award. He continued competing and won the Traditional Gold Medal at the Perth Mod in 2004, as well as the Traditional competition at the Pan Celtic Festival in 2005.

Calum released his first album Tàladh nan Cuantan in 2005, with help from his father, and he was later invited to sing with the group Dàimh. He was with Dàimh from 2006-2012, during which time they recorded two albums and appeared at festivals and concerts across Britain and Europe. Calum released his second solo album Till – Return in 2017.