AN EAST Lothian teacher and a jewellery-maker are urging members of the public to back them as they look to record their debut album.

Talented duo Martha Middlemiss and Mary Moira McKay – The Daughters – have tracks written and ready to record.

Today (Friday), they launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise nearly £4,000, with donors rewarded with everything from a CD or digital download to personalised earrings and a private acoustic concert depending on how much they donate.

The online campaign comes on the heels of the release of their first single, The Mountains.

The creation of the single and the album has a distinctly local feel to it.

Martha, of Haddington, who teaches music at the town’s Knox Academy, said: “We have got 12 songs written and ready.

“We just need the funds to bring them to the studio.

“That’s why there is the Kickstarter – now is the time to go for it.

“My 14-year-old daughter Ava filmed all the stuff for the single on location. We went for sunrise at Traprain Law and then headed to Gifford Water and then onto Tyninghame for the grass shot.

“We are spoilt for choice here in East Lothian to do it all in one day.

“We then edited and directed it ourselves.”

Beyond that, Haddington-based artist Pascale Rentsch has provided a stunning painting for the cover art and prints exclusive to the Kickstarter campaign.

If successful, the album will be recorded at Slate Room Studio in Pencaitland, working alongside recording engineer Garry Boyle.

Mum-of-four Martha and Mary Moira have known each other for more than a decade, with both having a background in music.

Mary Moira, also of Haddington, released her solo album Drink to Love as Ella Bell in 2005 and was signed to Luna Records.

The jewellery maker has also gigged with bands including Apaloosa and 3 Little Birds.

Meanwhile, Martha released an EP of her own songs, Breaking Fallow, in 2013.

Together, their debut single has been viewed more than 500 times on YouTube, with the video featuring not only scenic shots from around East Lothian but also the skiing skills of Blair Aitken, cyclist Sean Green and Ross Cunningham, of Mountains Mend Minds, which encourages people to take up hiking and enjoy the mental and physical health benefits.

Martha said: “The single was inspired by Donnie Campbell.

“He did that record-breaking Munro run where he ran the 282 Munros in 31 days.

“I could not believe it.

“My husband had taken our three eldest children up their first Munro and then saw Donnie was going to run them all.

“That’s how the song came about and we thought more and more people were heading to the mountains, getting out of their houses.”

To support The Daughters, go to www.kickstarter.com/projects/thedaughters/debut-album-by-the-daughters