Fermanagh artist RÓIS (Irish for Rose, pronounced RAW-sh) is set to release a concept keening EP ‘MO LÉAN’, celebrating Ireland’s ancient traditions around death on 4th October, followed by a tour of Ireland (presented by Middle Aisle) and the UK in October-November 2024.
Following her first single ‘CAOINE’ released earlier this month, RÓIS follows with the EP’s closing track ‘FEEL LOVE’.
Speaking about the new single, RÓIS says:
“For ‘FEEL LOVE’, I imagined a person is on their deathbed, happy in the knowledge that once they are laid to rest, they will give back to the earth what has been given to them, life. In their last moments’, all they can feel is love. Never fully landing on the tonic chord, until the last big bang, I wanted to create that tension before a long-waited release. The catharsis of a life, a death and a rebirth. This piece is the cathartic end to the EP.”
Self-released, written and produced by RÓIS with additional production from John Spud Murphy (OXN/Lankum), ‘MO LÉAN’ is a concept EP, taking the listener through the grieving process from start to finish, from the chaos that loss brings, to the intense emotional outpourings and finally, the cathartic release.
‘MO LÉAN’ features several new original recordings and reworks of songs and hymns based around the concept of death, life, mourning and catharsis. RÓIS re-imagines the tradition of ‘keening’ in Ireland that goes back to pre-christian times, a practice in which women would ‘keen’ a lamenting wail at the side of a coffin during a wake. After discovering the last two recordings of keening songs, RÓIS was inspired by their ethereal melodies to give them a modern reworking yet honouring the original women by sampling them in her adaption. ‘Keeners’ through their voices, movements and laments, conveyed the communal expression of grief and allowed those suffering a way to release their sorrow and loss. RÓIS aspires to do the same with the album and her live tour, by expressing the power of the voice to transcend death and help us relinquish our fear of it.
The Irish Wake Tour reimagines the wake in contemporary times. The period between death and burial, this cultural tradition is a core part of Irish life, bringing the community together to deal with the grief of loss. Yet, it is declining and many wake traditions are almost lost.
Speaking about this, RÓIS says:
“I am beyond thrilled to soon release this concept EP and embark on a tour to perform it live. The Irish Wake is not just a cultural tradition but a powerful celebration of life that deserves to be revived. Historically, the Catholic Church sought to suppress many of these ‘pagan’ customs, and after the Famine, much of what made the wake unique faded away. One of the most fascinating aspects of the wake was its role in matchmaking—finding love in a place where the impermanence of life was most palpable. The wake was not just about mourning; it was also about embracing life’s most primal elements—sex, love, and death. Finding and making love in the room next to the deceased would have been the perfect way to celebrate the here and now.
These customs, though shocking to some, were an integral part of the human experience, a way to connect with others when life and death were so closely intertwined.
This tour performance has evolved into quite a theatrical piece, one that takes you on a cathartic journey while exploring these rich, and sometimes unsettling, traditions. We need to relinquish our fear of dying to fully thrive in life and within our sexual environment. The Irish Wake, in its essence, is a declaration of life in its rawest, most honest form.”
Live Dates
Sat 12th October – Accidental Theatre, Belfast (presented by Moving On Music)
https://accidentaltheatre.co.uk/box-office/rois
Fri 25th October – Connolly’s, Leap (presented by Connolly’s of Leap)
https://connollysofleap.com/events/
Sun 27th October – Workman’s Cellar, Dublin (presented by Foggy Notions)
https://www.ticketmaster.ie/rois-tickets/artist/5480244
Sat 2nd November – De Barra’s, Clonakilty (presented by De Barra’s)
https://debarra.ie/event/samhain-presents-rois/
+ more to be announced soon.
Biography
RÓIS is a composer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and electronic artist from Fermanagh, whose songs breathe new life into a forgotten Ireland. Blending elements of folk, sean-nós, electronics, and jazz harmony, RÓIS’ genre-bending sound transports listeners to a different realm. With shapeshifting sets, no two performances are ever the same, as audiences accompany RÓIS into her sound world. Expect twists and turns of tempo and genre, and moments of sheer magic, as she conducts the energy of the room. This is a place where the ancient meets the new.
RÓIS’ ethereal voice has been compared to the likes of Björk, Meredith Monk and Hatis Noit. It is a vocal style rooted in traditional sean-nós singing, as she summons the dead and forgotten, with ancient ‘keening’ songs. With RÓIS’ performances the old and the new are enmeshed, alongside encapsulating visuals, in the hope of creating good art. Leading audiences into a realm of mysticism and creating a space for introspection, these live experiences are completely unique.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roismusicroismusic
