Singer, musician and academic Síle Denvir was recently named Amhránaí na Bliana (Singer Of The Year) in the prestigious TG4 Gradam Ceoil competiton.
Now Síle releases her new album Anamnesis on Friday, March 31st.
Recorded and produced by John Reynolds (Damien Dempsey, Sinéad O'Connor) The songs on Anamnesis are from Connemara where Denvir was brought up and they are rooted in an old bardic tradition, telling stories of the eternal human condition–tales of love, loss, life, humour, tragedy, and everything in between.
We asked Síle for her choice cultural picks...
FILM
Is iontach an rud é an borradh atá tagtha ar scannánaíocht i nGaeilge le blianta beaga anuas. Bhain An Cailín Ciúin na deora asam agus ní hiontas ar bith é go bhfuil an scannán á thaispeáint ar fud na cruinne anois. Arracht is another powerful and beautifully shot film in Irish that I really enjoyed. Dónall Ó Héalaí gives a potent performance in the lead role.
MUSIC
Whenever I shuffle my ITunes library I end up with the most random playlist! I love all kinds of music and this is a tough one but here it goes.
I return to Gerry O'Beirne’s gorgeous album Swimming with Horses a lot. It’s a stunning, complete piece of work that serves every mood. I’m also a big Bon Iver fan and one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to was Bon Iver at the Forbidden Fruit Festival. There’s nothing like sticking on the headphones and tuning out of the world listening to those incredible sounds. I listen to a lot of unaccompanied sean-nós singing too and Nan Chamuis’ (or Áine Meenaghan's) album Thug mé Grá Duit is an absolute gem.
BOOK
I'm reading Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act: A Way of Being at the moment. It’s a lovely one to dip in and out of. I’m rereading a very interesting book by Fionntán de Brún as well called Revivalism and Modern Irish Literature: The Anxiety of Transmission and the Dynamics of Renewal and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Irish language. I also love anything by Kristan Hannah for a bit of escapism and really enjoyed The Four Winds.
THEATRE
I went to see Damien Dempsey in the Abbey Theatre recently and I was blown away but his mastery in song and storytelling. He really is the oral poet of our times and it was great to see him perform and tell his story in a theatre setting.
TV
I was totally hooked on the first three seasons of Succession and I can't wait to see what happens in the fourth!
GIG
First Aid Kit is one of my favourite bands and I’m really looking forward to seeing them play at Collins Barracks in Dublin in August. I went to see them in the Olympia a few years ago and they were amazing. Bhain mé an-sult as seoladh an albaim Aonaracht le hÚna Monaghan le gairid i mBéal Feirste. Meascán de cheol aonair agus de cheol leictreonach a bhí i gceist agus rinne Úna, Paddy Glackin, Jack Talty agus Pauline Scanlon ceolchoirm a bhí thar a bheith nuálach agus machnamhach.
ART
I'm very fortunate that my husband Barry Kerr is a wonderful visual artist and our house is an ever changing art gallery! Taitníonn ealaín Seán Scully agus Brian Vallely go mór liom freisin.
RADIO
I love listening to the radio and Raidió na Gaeltachta is a constant daily companion. Living in Dublin it keeps me connected with home. Ó Adhmhaidin, go hIris Aniar, go Binneas Béil, coinníonn RnaG comhluadar liom i gcaitheamh an lae.
TECH
Shazam is an app that identifies music. I love that you can hear something on a TV programme or in a café and figure out what it is so that you don't spend the day wondering. Bainim úsáid as suíomh idirlín ITMA go rialta freisin. Tá sé iontach go bhfuil cartlanna digiteacha ar fáil anois agus is iomaí seod atá le cloisteáil agus le feiceáil ar an suíomh.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
Bláth na hÓige is a collective of young sean-nós singers from various Gaeltacht areas. I’ve been very fortunate to work with them over the last year or so and they are an extraordinary group of talented singers and musicians. The series Bláth na hÓige will air on TG4 on the 13th of April, so watch this space!
Anamnesis is released on Friday, March 31st 2023 - find out more here.
