“When I was covered in bruises, the day I ran away…”
Lyrics like these are in abundance throughout ’20 Greenlea Road’, the new album from Les Keye. This collection of 8 songs (out now, released on September 28th 2023) is one man’s reflection of what it means to grow up Jewish and Irish in Ireland.
20 Greenlea Road is a record which examines Les’ family history- half Catholic, descended from the great harpist O’Carolyn, and hailing from Kilmainhamwood, while his father’s side were Jewish emigrees fleeing persecution from Russia and Poland at the end of the 19th century, and arriving in Dublin (via London) during WW2. The title comes from the street his grandparents lived in, in Terenure, Dublin.
Working in separate studios in 2 different countries the album was written and recorded with his friend, sometime band member, and musician extraordinaire Joe Chester.
The second single titled ‘Barely Dividing’ is out now & was released with the album on September 28th.
Barely Dividing, develops one of the central themes of the record, and examines the paradox of being a first time parent – ending one’s own childhood, as a new one begins…
You can watch the music video for Barely Dividing here:
Listen to it here:
https://mixup.audio/playlist/FTdNaiEZwD
The album can be listened to & downloaded here:
https://mixup.audio/playlist/w32TMhSzFy
The album 20 Greenlea Road is an exploration of family, migration and marks a welcome return to the front of the stage from Producer, Musician and Songwriter, Les Keye. Last year Les opened for Tom Dunne’s (Something Happens) first solo outing and more recently for In Tua Nua’s 40th anniversary tour, as well as for his long-time friend and busking mate Mark Dignam in Whelans.
Lead singer and songwriter of much-loved Dublin band The Wilde Oscars who released an album (Fish) as well as two EPs (Falling Down, Newspaper) during the 1990s, Les subsequently branched out on his own, releasing two solo albums, Breathe in 1999 and Plan B…Again in 2004. He is a member of the Dublin bands Eamonn Dowd and The Racketeers (which also features Horslips legends Eamon Carr and Jim Lockhart), Strand (with Niall Toner of The Prongs, and The Dixons), Duncan Maitland, (ex XTC, Picturehouse, Pugwash), Herm and Clay Dolls.
As a producer/engineer he has worked with an array of Ireland’s finest artists, from rock and roll to contemporary classical, including Neil Hannon & Thomas Walsh, Cruel Sister, Skinner, Pretty limited band, Judith Ring, Liam O’Maonlai, Stephen Gardner (Aosdana), Steve Wickham and many more from his self-built recording studio, Arad Studio in Dublin.
What listeners have been saying:
“Perfect and considered listening for anybody with a kind ear towards carefully crafted modern adult contemporary music”…
“Les Keye has the gift of music, writing, playing,singing & producing”…
“Beautifully done”…
About the Artist
Lead singer and songwriter of much-loved Dublin band The Wilde Oscars who released an album (Fish) as well as two EPs (Falling Down, Newspaper) during the 1990s. Les subsequently branched out on his own, releasing two solo albums, Breathe in 1999 and Plan B…Again in 2004.
He is a member of the Dublin bands Eamonn Dowd and The Racketeers (which also features Horslips legends Eamon Carr and Jim Lockhart), Strand (with Niall Toner of The Dixons), Duncan Maitland, (ex XTC, Picturehouse, Pugwash), Herm and Clay Dolls.
As a producer/engineer he has worked with an array of Ireland’s finest artists, from rock and roll to contemporary classical, including Neil Hannon, Judith Ring, Benjamin Dwyer, Steve Wickham, Liam O’Maonlai, My Sweet Beloved, Sean Millar, Patrick Freyne, Mary Stokes and members of the Horslips, all from his self-built recording studio, Arad Studio in Dublin.
Socials:
Facebook: @Arad.studios
Instagram: @arad_studios
Twitter: @arad_studio
