Tonight, Iarla Ó Lionáird will join Chamber Choir Ireland, Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi and Claire Duff for ELEGY, a special live stream performance at the National Concert Hall dedicated to those who lost their lives to Covid 19.
Here he discusses his career, the upcoming performance and life during the pandemic.
Tonight you will be performing 'Éistigh Liomsa Sealad'. Why did you choose this song and what does it mean to you?
This is a song I have sung for many years, beginning during my time with the local choir in Cúil Aodha where I grew up. It was performed to mark the passing of family members of friends in the context of the church. It is what is known as a formal Caoineadh or song of lamentation and as such had a powerful social function that traversed the spiritual and emotional worlds. I always found it to be a powerful musical experience hearing and singing it as it is suffused with larger than life imagery of a mythic nature and had a beautiful melody.
The song was originally released on Afro Celt Sound System’s Volume 1 Sound Magic. Fusing electronic music, Traditional Irish and West African music was a bold move at the time. What are your memories of recording that record?
Making that record was my first introduction to the Real World label in the UK which was the brainchild of Peter Gabriel. In some ways it was an accidental recording. The label had organised an event known as Recording Week which consisted of many diverse projects being encamped in the studio complex working of quite different and globe-spanning projects. I kind of happened into one of these rooms and just started singing to pre-prepared drones, textures and the like and it felt right and we proceeded from there. Within a year that album had sold 250,000 copies and then we felt compelled to do some live performances and the rest is history.
You grew up in a musical household. What songs and musicians influenced your early years?
Well my mother’s side of the family certainly had many singers and a deep devotion to the tradition and language. My great aunt Elizabeth Cronin who was recorded by folk collector Alan Lomax in the early 1950’s was an early influence as were a handful of singers in the local region of Baile Mhuirne where I was raised.
Hearing Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on Peter Gabriel’s Passion was a pivotal moment for you. How did it change your view of the potential of Sean Nós?
That recording opened my head to the possibility of presenting Sean Nós within a musical context that was informed by movements in contemporary music such as ambient and electronic music, as practiced by the likes of Brian Eno and others. It made me feel that I could transcend the usual constraints regarding accompaniment that historically pertained regarding the discourse surrounding Sean Nós and its performance. As a creative artist I never accepted these constraints as a given.
How has Sean Nós evolved in your lifetime?
I believe there is much more public awareness of this art form than when I was growing up. I also believe that people feel it can be seen as a practice that is capable of interacting with the larger music world. This is good for Sean Nós and good for music.
The Gloaming are taking a break at the moment. Reflecting on your success to date, what is your proudest achievement?
Well I am happy that we meant so much to our audience and that the music touched them deeply. I am grateful for that.
What musicians currently inspire you?
I am a lifelong Bob Dylan fan and he continues to inform and delight me. I have an abiding interest in ambient and electronic music as well of course in recent movements in what is known as New Classical music.
How do you usually prepare for a performance?
There are a number of things I do- preparing my script if I am using printed material, deciding on the repertoire and thinking about any technical aspects like accompaniment etc. I don't do much by way of vocal prep as I am usually singing in studio on and off. If it’s a one off performance I usually sing through the material in my home studio in the days leading up to the performance.
As we are all faced with adapting to new circumstances and overcoming challenges, what has given you most solace and comfort during this time?
Being at home with my wife Eimear and my kids Liam, Eabha and Iseult has been a great source of happiness to me. We are fortunate to live in the countryside and as such have space to just be and contemplate. I very much enjoy living close to nature and have had great moments of happiness simply walking, hiking and gardening.
Are you reading anything interesting currently?
I have just started Sebastian Barry’s new novel A Thousand Moons. I was really moved by its precursor - Days Without End. He is an incredible writer. I am also digging in to Douglas Brinkley’s history of the Kennedy era and the Apollo Program American Moonshot.
What experience are you most looking forward to when restrictions are lifted or when we get to other side of the pandemic?
Perhaps simply being able to meet friends again.
What music are you listening to at the moment?
Rough and Rowdy Ways-Bob Dylan
Heliopause - Anne Muller
Suite of Dreams - Garriela Parra
Sometimes - Goldmund
Do you believe that arts can help people through these times? If so why?
The arts are our most beautiful creations. We need them to believe we can do better, live in a better world.
ELEGY will be streamed live from the National Concert Hall at 8pm this Friday and is available to view on RTE.ie/Culture
