LIMERICK Post caught up with singer / songwriter / musician Síomha this week as she and her band prepared for the final stop of their tour coming to Dolans this Friday May 12.
Siomha’s debut album ‘Infinite Space’ was described by The Irish Times as “a seriously accomplished and self-confident debut”. The album brings together Siomha’s folk and jazz style to her heartfelt and enduring explorations of the human condition woven together by exceptionally skilled musicians.
Infinite Space was recorded in Ann Arbor, MI, and produced by Grammy nominated Tyler Duncan (Carly Rae Jepsen/ Theo Katzman/ the olllam). It features an all-star lineup of musicians including bassist Joe Dart (Vulfpeck), drummer Louis Cato (Bobby McFerrin/ Snarky Puppy), Martin Atkinson Borrull (TOUCAN) and violinist Jeremy Kittel (Bela Fleck/ Chris Thile).
Earlier this year, Síomha performed a sold-out show at the esteemed UK festival Celtic Connections as well as being selected as an Official Showcase Artist at Folk Alliance International in Kansas City, USA.
She was invited to record her songs with The RTÉ Concert Orchestra arranged by Cormac McCarthy for the radio show ‘New Irish Recordings’.
She was awarded the Music Network Performance Residency at Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris where she will spend a month later this year working on a new project titled Infinite Space ReImagined.
Talking about the new project, Siomha explained why she will revisit the debut album.
“The album’s original production was an ambitious undertaking resulting in a huge sound. I want to revisit the origins of the songs and reimagine how they can be presented in a more delicate way. Once a song has been written, there are endless possibilities for its expression and I have always been curious about the different ways a song wants to lead you.”
The show this Friday in Dolans will be the last chance to see Siomha with a full band for quite some time as she embarks on new projects.
“The show in Dolan’s this Friday will be a special one. My creative partner, Limerick’s Martin Atkinson Borrull will be on musical direction. Along with my incredible band, I will also have my touring sound engineer and lighting tech. Working with them has brought the live show to new heights – for the audience, it’s like being inside the album.”
“The show is also a chance for people to get some of my not-so-new line of ‘Vintage Merch’ which is screen printed by hand using water-based inks in Co Clare by Execute Exist.
“While band merchandise is a way for artists to make money in an already difficult industry, I believe we all have a responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment wherever possible. As the world does not need any more new clothes, I have made a line of vintage merch which is only available at live shows.”
Síomha and band play Dolans this Friday May 12. www.dolans.ie for tickets.
