Following the release of the lovingly received Winter Song, the majestic debut solo single from Bren Berry, comes chapter 2, another richly woven guitar-pop earworm entitled Hairpin Bends.
The evidence is mounting, Bren Berry is a hopeless Rickenbacker romantic, a perennial starry-eyed pop-kid, a true believer. The one-time member of The Coletranes and Revelino, has spent a lifetime as a music fan, a musician, and a concert promoter, soaking up inspiration from the artists he’s worked so closely with. It took a while (shall we say) for him to start writing his own songs but once inspiration finally struck, the floodgates opened.
The latest fruits of Bren’s latent songwriting spree is Hairpin Bends, a song which reflects lyrically on fate and mortality. For someone who has approached songwriting tentatively, experimenting with humble lo-fi home demos, the finished recording is a lush and lavish wrap-a-round pop song, awash with strings and harmonies. Just like its predecessor, Bren’s great strength here is tenderness. It also features stellar production from Gavin Glass and another magnificent string arrangement from Cormac Curran, performed by the Orphan Quartet.
“I wrote Hairpin Bends when I was recovering from coronary heart surgery, but I would like to think that it builds and shines with a sense of conviction and the joy that I feel about rediscovering music. It is a celebration of resilience and recovery and reflects on sadness, self-doubt, dead-ends and turning points with a bitter-sweet sense of optimism and hope. Sometimes we need to walk away from things, but we can also find our way back, even the longest way – in my case, I have found myself back making music over 20 years after I walked away!”
The accompanying video features the work of one of Bren’s favourite artists, Steve Simpson.
“I first fell in love with Steve Simpson’s art when I discovered his work ‘On Raglan Road’ through the good people at Dublin’s Damn Fine Print. I’m really drawn to the ‘heart’ imagery that is a regular feature in his work and really felt it would be the perfect visual representation of the song. I am beyond grateful to Steve for giving me permission to use his stunning trilogy called ‘A Journey To Mindfulness’, which is centred around the ‘palpitating heart’ and is about personal turmoil, the search for answers and healing. I’m also extremely grateful to James Hyland & Mark Rizzo at Global Tour Creatives for producing such a stunning video.”
Bren’s debut single Winter Song received widespread enthusiasm from the music world as an unexpected release in November 2023. It became a radio favourite and most importantly, it went straight to the hearts of lovers of indie guitar music and good songwriting.
Hairpin Bends is released on Friday 2nd Feb 2024 – stay tuned for Chapter 3!
Leagues O’Toole, Jan 2024
“Winter Song” reviews:
“Winter Song has the vibe of a stone cold classic.” Ralph McLean, BBC Radio Ulster
“Luminous… gorgeous new track.” Hot Press
“Fantastic, I absolutely love it.” Tom Dunne, Newstalk
“A magnificent song, beautiful production.” Philip King, South Wind Blows
“Beautiful.” John Creedon, RTE Radio One
“Shimmering slice of melancholy….a storming guitar solo.” NoMoreWorkHorse
“Stunning track” Eddie Rowley, Sunday World
“Gorgeous stuff.” Lillian Smith, RTE Radio One
“Isn’t that a beauty!” Fiachna Ó Braonáin, RTE Radio One
“A voice much loved by the 8Radio massive!” Simon Maher, 8Radio
“The debut single from Bren Berry is something you really should listen to. Soothing strings, crunchy ice-under-foot guitar” Tony Clayton-Lea
HAIRPIN BENDS – CREDITS:
BREN BERRY – Vocals, Guitars, Backing Vocals, Glocks & Vibes
GAVIN GLASS – Guitars, Piano, Lap Steel, Keyboards, Glocks & Vibes
PAUL ‘BINZER’ BRENNAN – Drums & Percussion
CIARAN TALLON – Guitar
SIMON FARRELL – Bass Guitar
RACHEL GRACE – Backing Vocals
Strings arranged by CORMAC CURRAN
Strings performed by THE ORPHAN QUARTET:
LYNDA O’CONNOR – Violin.
PAUL O’HANLON – Violin.
GERALD PEREGRINE – Cello.
CARLA VEDRES – Viola.
Produced by GAVIN GLASS & BREN BERRY @ ORPHAN RECORDING STUDIOS.
Mixed by GAVIN GLASS @ ORPHAN RECORDING STUDIOS.
Mastered by DANIEL JAMES GOODWIN @ THE ISOKON, NY.
Photography by FIONA MORGAN.
Cover art by COLM NOONE.
Video art by STEVE SIMPSON – “JOURNEY TO MINDFULNESS” Series
Video produced by MARK RIZZO at GLOBAL TOURING CREATIVES.
