LIMERICK rapper Strange Boy performed his song ‘Sorrow’ on The Tommy Tiernan Show, RTE 1, over the weekend, backed by band members Seán O’Meara on guitar, Dermot Sheedy on bodhrán, Ted Kelly on banjo, and Conor Crimmins on flute.
Blown away by the posted response to the show, Strange Boy tweeted: “Thank you @Tommedian for having me was a pleasure listening to each guest tell their story.
“Am only delighted to have had the chance to perform my song for you all. Big love to everyone supporting me, yere legends”
The song features on Strange Boy’s debut album ‘Holy/Unholy’ released last year. The album sees the young Limerick man combine Hip-Hop and Irish traditional music, old and new cultural influences dominant in this country, described by the Irish Times as “Irish hip-hop at its most culturally, intrinsically authentic”, and Totally Dublin saying Strange Boy “has taken his demons and transformed them into something intensely poetic.”
Strange Boy presents his full set of skills in 10 astonishing tracks which detail his personal story, a story that is unique, but relatable for many other young Irish people. The album features guest appearances from fellow Limerick rapper Hazey Haze, Strange Boy’s brother Seán McNally Kelly, and Grammy-winning star Moya Brennan. The music was composed and produced by Enda Gallery in Kilfenora, Co. Clare during lockdown.
“When I was working on this album and when Enda (Gallery) was brewing up the beats for me, I got a sort of anxious feeling like I wasn’t going to be able to do the concept we had justice. It was also the worst possible time for me to write an album as there was a lot of suffering going on within my family.
“Eventually though, through me being at mental rock bottom, the album revealed itself and the entire thing was writing within a month or two. I wouldn’t say I’m proud of it, I’d say I’m proud despite it.
“There’s nothing honourable or romantic about being in a bad place so I’m just glad that this album is finished. Regardless of whoever likes it or doesn’t it’s 100% my experience and there’s not much else to it. Just another one in a long line of humans talking about some sh*t that happened. That’s all” Strange Boy added.
