Dark folk band Mary & The Pigeons have released their second album, Like Water. We asked front woman Mary Barnecutt the BIG questions . . .
Described as "a series of cello and electronic-based laments; songs about grief, global warming and laundry", Like Water features Mary on vocals/cello/glock/keyboards; Leonie Curtin on violin; Aisling Ennis on Irish harp; Ber Quinn on bass guitar, and Brian Walsh on drums.
Speaking about the new album, Mary says, "We used some unconventional vocal harmonies (inspired by Caroline Shaw) to create a sense of unease and added harp and glock for sparkle. There's a string quartet thrown in there too."
Mary is a Dublin-based musician born in Belfast and who grew up in Hull. She works with a wide variety of artistic and educational projects, writing and arranging music for film, theatre, dance productions, and has worked with artists such as Liz Roche, Justine Doswell, Amanda Coogan, Inni-K and Adrian Crowley.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I am allergic to fungi (not fun guys), like running in forests (avoiding the mushrooms) and my dog, Lizzie, is my third child.
How would you describe your music?
Dark involved, folkish tunes followed around by strings with the odd harp and French Horn thrown in.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Laurie Anderson, Caroline Shaw, Sinéad O'Connor.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Fields of the Nephilim, Hull City Hall prob 1988. Loud and very dark, drank cider and black. Lots of black.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley (to the mortification of my Arsenal worshipping husband)
What’s your favourite song right now?
Rachael Lavelle - Let me Unlock Your Full Potential. It’s so beautiful.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"I dreamt about you last night, and I fell out of bed twice" - Reel Around the Fountain by The Smiths. (Found out later in life is not actually Morrissey lyric but a line in A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney).
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Shipbuilding with Robert Wyatt singing.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Alan Corr
