Dublin-based fiddle player, vocalist and composer Jayne Pomplas returns with her striking new single ‘Ninety Nine’ out July 17th, while also announcing the release of her debut album THIS IS HOW THE WORLD ENDS which is due for release September 11th.
To celebrate the single, Pomplas will perform a special launch show at The Cobblestone, Dublin, on July 23rd, joined by special guests Adrian Crowley, Lunatraktors, Méabh McKenna, and John Francis Flynn for a unique live performance featuring many of the musicians who appear on the recording.
Following the release of lead single ‘Hit Single’ earlier this year, ‘Ninety Nine’ offers another compelling glimpse into an album that seamlessly blends Irish traditional music with contemporary folk song-writing, experimental arrangements and fearless musical exploration.
Rich in texture and collaboration, ‘Ninety Nine’ features acclaimed songwriter Adrian Crowley, experimental folk duo Lunatraktors, and vocalist Méabh McKenna, alongside an expansive arrangement incorporating dancing, duduk (Turkish flute), bass, accordion, harp and electric guitar.
The result is a vibrant, cinematic piece that reflects Pomplas’ adventurous approach to composition while remaining deeply rooted in traditional influences.
Jayne Pomplas describes her new single:
“I wrote this song over Covid, in a period of great creativity. It was actually two separate songs that I realised worked better together when I was in Istanbul last September. The bones of this track were recorded in Sonic Studios, but it wasn’t really sitting the way I wanted it to. This was the second track I really wanted Clair and Carli to play on, and we had a magical time layering on top of the bones down in Waterford. The duduk is so haunting, and very appropriate considering this song was dreamed of in Istanbul.”
‘Ninety Nine’ is the latest preview of THIS IS HOW THE WORLD ENDS, a debut album that traces a coming-of-age journey across eleven tracks, blending intimate folk confession, cinematic arrangements and raw traditional performance.
Before stepping into this new phase as a solo recording artist, Pomplas has built an extensive performance and collaboration history, working with a wide range of acclaimed artists including The Chieftains, Frankie Gavin, Fin Furey, Francesco Turrisi, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Lunatraktors, Mik Pyro, Jaz Delorean, Bricknasty, and Ron Block, as well as experimental collectives such as Acid Granny. She has also opened for Vieux Farka Touré, establishing herself as a versatile presence across traditional, folk and experimental music scenes.
THIS IS HOW THE WORLD ENDS marks Pomplas’ first full album of original material which is a significant creative step forward, moving from a long history of collaboration and performance into a fully realised personal artistic statement.
Pomplas describes the album as:
“This album is an encapsulation of what it feels like to grow up, at least for me”
The album’s songs explore identity, nostalgia, self-doubt, humour and transformation while balancing traditional music with bold contemporary production.
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