Rachael Lavelle performs at the Sorcha Richardson-curated Imagining Ireland in the National Concert Hall on Sunday 3 March, with Ye Vagabonds, Aby Coulibaly, Susan O'Neill and MOIO. We asked Rachael the BIG questions . . .
Since the release of her track Perpetual Party, the Dublin-born singer and composer has performed at SXSW Online, Other Voices, opened for Villagers and CMAT and toured with Saint Sister and Anna B Savage.
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She has collaborated with artists such as Crash Ensemble, Peter Broderick, Glasshouse, SlapBang, Saint Sister and appeared as a vocalist on Villagers’ last album, Fever Dreams.
In 2023, Rachael released three singles - Let Me Unlock Your Full Potential, Big Dreams and Travel Size.
Her debut album, Big Dreams, is nominated for the 2024 RTÉ Choice Music Prize.
Lucky me getting to be part of this Imagining Ireland show at @NCH_Music in March and invite some of my favourite musicians in the country to join me on the bill ☘️🌙
— Sorcha Richardson (@SorchaRichardsn) January 15, 2024
On sale Thursday 10amhttps://t.co/369PDVEgOS@yevagabonds @AbyCoulibaly @rachael_lavelle Moio @SoundsofSON pic.twitter.com/9XT7jMODaC
Big Dreams is described as "an existential coming-of-age album glued together by the voice of Doireann Ní Bhriain, the announcer on the Luas transport system in Dublin."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I love to sleep, watch videos of people cooking and leave everything to the last minute.
How would you describe your music?
Cinematic, digital, existential, elemental, sensory.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Joni Mitchell, Björk and Erik Satie.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Steps in the The Point!
What was the first record you ever bought?
Eva Cassidy - Songbird.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Give My All by Astrid Sonne. She’s a Danish composer and viola player, I’ve been listening a lot to her album, Great Doubt.
Favourite lyric of all time?
So hard to choose. Probably a lyric from Joni Mitchell … though so many to choose from. I’ve been thinking about this verse from The Same Situation on Court and Spark lately: "You've had lots of lovely women, Now you turn your gaze to me, Weighing the beauty and the imperfection, To see if I'm worthy, Like the church, Like a cop, Like a mother, You want me to be truthful, Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though, And I need your approval".
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Astrud Gilberto - Berimbau. An emotional balm.
Where can people find your music/more information?
YouTube and my Bandcamp.
Alan Corr
