Monaghan blues rock artist has released her new album, Dirt Woman Blues. We asked her the BIG questions . . .
Her sixth album to date, it was written over the second Covid lockdown, between locations at Duffy's home studio and a studio in Encinitas, California.
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"My new record reflects my love of the blues mixed with my love of song writing," she says. "Chris Goldsmith (Ben Harper) and Marc Ford (Black Crowes) producing on this album brought together a perfect mix of Irish and American music influences".
She has shared stages with Billy Gibbons, Eric Gales, Shemekia Copeland, and Supersonic Blues Machine, and topped the all-female bill at Cornbury Festival (2018), alongside Mavis Staples and Alanis Morissette.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I'm passionate about singing and a guitar lover. I have a PhD in blues music. I adore Bob Dylan.
How would you describe your music?
A contemporary mix of blues and rock. Simple as...
Who are your musical inspirations?
To inspire other people, to move people and to be able to keep playing, writing, recording and entertaining people with my music for the rest of my life.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I think it was a local festival called Harvest Time Blues festival where people like Peter Green and Van Morrison have played at. But to be honest I was at local gigs in Castleblayney, my hometown with fellow friends' bands in the old Corrigans and Shirley Arms in Carrickmacross, heavy rock bands. I used to love going to see Thin Az Lizzy, a brilliant tribute band to Thin Lizzy.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I think my brother actually got me it for Christmas one year, Sherly Crow by Sheryl Crow. A brilliant album and very influential on me, songs like If It Makes You Happy, Winding Road and A Change were on it, and I loved it. But growing up in a family of seven children, my parents had no television so we only had a record player and we used to get a record for Christmas or on our birthdays and I remember the girls in our family loved Madonna so we listened to her a lot but my Dad loved American country so that was always on too, like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Hard one.... don't overly have one but I am listening again to a lot of The Beatles, and I love Don't Let Me Down and with Christine McVie passing I listen more to her also, I love her songs, like Love Shines and Over My Head.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Anything Dylan. "Steal a little and they throw you in jail, Steal a lot and they make you a king."
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Ah I don’t know but I suppose again Dylan, Forever Young, maybe. A prophecy.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My website. All my Instagram and Facebook socials and music links are there.
