Taken from her highly anticipated debut album, due for release Thursday 20th October, contemporary harpist BRÍDÍN shares a recording of ‘The Dawn Chorus’, written by one of the foremost contemporary Irish poets Derek Mahon, and performed by Brídín and multi-award-winning actor Stephen Rea.
Speaking of the song, BRÍDÍN says:
“The Dawn Chorus is a poem written by the incredible Irish poet Derek Mahon. I was asked by the wonderful Donal Scannell to take part in a commemoration to Derek in 2021 and I had the honour of writing music for this vivid and colourful poem. I am so grateful to have had Derek’s friend Stephen Rea recite this poem so powerfully on this recording. ‘It is not sleep itself, but dreams we miss’, the poem is all about that state our mind is in as we just wake up, trying to grasp onto any memory of your dream you can. It is true, it’s not the physical aspect of sleeping that we miss but the land that we can escape to when we do, I think there’s something magical about that.
Special thanks to Peter Fallon at Gallery Press for giving me permission to include this poem on my album.”
Official Video – Live at Juniper Barn
“Thanks to Christopher and Dorothy at Juniper Barn and to Sophie at Space to Grow for decorating the space so beautifully. Thanks to Stephen Rea for reciting the poem so beautifully. Brian Dillon on keys, Sarah O’Gorman on fiddle. Video production by Fionn Rogers. Light and sound by Ray at EAV Ireland. Photographer Steve Rogers. Headpieces from Sister Sparkle in Ballymote, Co. Sligo. And makeup by Alanis McKai.”
BRÍDÍN, West Co. Sligo native, carries on the tradition of Irish music into the fourth generation of her family. BRÍDÍN sings, plays the harp, flute and piano. BRÍDÍN’s musical talent emerged at a very early age. Over the years she has achieved many accolades for her musical ability. Her love of music led her to pursue a musical career, having studied music at University College Cork achieving a degree in Music and Irish and Masters in Music and Performance. BRÍDÍN’s recent performances include ‘The Late Late Show’, ‘The Tommy Tiernan Show’, ‘Ireland AM’, ‘Today with Maura and Daithí’, ‘Claire Byrne Live’, ‘The Mainstage’, ‘Extra.ie’ and national radio.
Over the past number of years, BRÍDÍN has developed her own style influenced by her natural surroundings and rooted in her background in traditional Irish music. BRÍDÍN uses her loop and effect pedals to create her musical pieces. Her layered melodies on harp and voice blend beautifully with contrapuntal fiddle, keyboard, electric guitar and bass, woven together with pulsating drums.
BRÍDÍN grew up in a funeral home and is a full time funeral director and embalmer at her father’s funeral home and has always found from a young age she has been fascinated by life and death. ‘I’m fascinated by the constant flow of nature and the beginning and ending of life.’ This has helped her form a great appreciation of life and says she is so grateful for the people she has in her life and all the work unknowingly our bodies do to keep us alive.
Since becoming a full time funeral director and embalmer, BRÍDÍN has also found that writing and playing music is a great healing process for the pain of people’s grief that she deals with on a daily basis. ‘In an unexpected way, I need one to have the other. Music is my love and emotional outlet and acts as my healer, while on the other hand, the funeral industry reminds me every day how lucky I am to be alive and to still have my loved ones with me. I think in general we need to appreciate the “little” things we have and come back to nature’.
‘This album is my best work yet, I’m so proud of every last note and the musicians who have joined me. I can feel a real honest journey throughout of grief and healing, and I hope it helps people as much as it’s helped me.’
BRÍDÍN’s new single ‘The Dawn Chorus’ from her self-titled debut album is out now.
‘BRÍDÍN’ the album, out Thursday 20th October is available to pre-order on Bandcamp: https://bridin.bandcamp.com/album/br-d-n
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