The Cream Of Síomha

Colour me glad…

ou can tell a lot about someone by the company they keep.

Take Irish singer-songwriter Síomha, for example.

For her debut album, Infinite Space – described by The Irish Times as ‘seriously accomplished and self-confident’ – the lady got Grammy-nominated Tyler Duncan behind the desk, and out on the floor, musicians such as Vulpeck’s Joe Dart, Snarky Puppy’s Louis Cato, Toucan’s Martin Atkinson Borrull and Bela Fleck violinist Jeremy Kittel.

All of which means you’d be a fool to miss the lady’s gig at The Whale on Saturday, April 1st. Tickets here.

Before the big night, we asked Síomha to reveal her rock agus roll roots, and, yep, those songs that can make her break down and cry…

I grew up in a house full of music. It was everywhere and so I don’t think it was ever a conscious choice to be in.

I learned piano and fiddle growing up and I took up the flute in 1st class. I was always drawn toward groove based music. My dad is a traditional Irish musician but he has a love for all kinds of music.

We were introduced from a young age to the music of people like Bill Evans, John McCormack, Ella Fitzgerald and Django Reinhardt. Our long car drives were usually filled with gospel music. I was really deeply hooked from an early age.

My first ever concert was seeing The Coors come to Ennis when I was 9. Soon after, that I saw Michael Jackson in the RDS. I was such a huge fan of his music. Then, I began my Beatles phase, which got me into playing guitar. I tried to learn as many of their songs as I could.

I was about 13 when I started to write my own songs. I remember lying about my age so I could perform at the Acoustic Nights run in Clare Youth Service (you had to be over 15). It was an amazing facility to have for young people in the town.

Looking back on my early years and music, I really don’t think it was ever going to turn out any other way for me.

Kimbra Settle Down
I will never forget the walk I took right after a friend recommended Kimbra to me. This track exploded my mind. She is such a versatile artist who inspires me greatly.I’ve been lucky to see her live a few times and her show is out of this world. As a vocalist, songwriter and producer, she is top of her game. She has collaborated with so many greats including Thundercat, Jacob Collier and of course Goyte on their track Somebody That I Used To Know.

Deiseal Sunshine Dance
I grew up in a house full of trad music and my earliest rebellion was to play anything but traditional music. There was one exception for my childhood self and that was the band Deiseal. I couldn’t believe that trad could be so damn funky! The playing of Cormac Breathnach, Paul O Driscoll and Niall O Callanain showed me that anything was possible and that you could break the rules and make your own. Thankfully I got over myself as I got older and have developed a deep love for our traditional music.

The Beatles A Day In The Life
I could do a whole series on how the Beatles shaped me. I fell into them when I was about 10 years old. And I fell very hard. My classmates had posters of Boyzone and Five on their walls and mine was covered floor to ceiling with John, Paul, George and Ringo. It wasn’t just that I liked the music, I was obsessed with their lives and the stories behind each song. I remember always saving up my pocket money to get to Charlie Byrne’s bookshop in Galway and buy as many books as I could get on them. My favourite book is Revolution In The Head, which gives the backstory of each of the songs.

Joni Mitchell A Case of You
It’s almost a cliché for musicians to have this on their list but that really just shows how powerful a song it is. When I first heard this, it truly stopped me in my tracks. I must have been around 13 and it was my gateway into the world of Joni Mitchell. The meaning of the song has evolved for me over the years. Her work is a constant teacher for me. As I get older, I learn to appreciate her experimental work as much as her earlier albums. She has it all.

Ella Fitzgerald One Note Samba
Ella is truly something else and in my opinion – one of the greatest vocalists of all time. Her timing, phrasing, tone, and pitch were out of this world. It is said that her pitch was so perfect, her band used to tune to her voice. She used her voice like a musical instrument. I love this video of her One Note Samba. So intricate and so playful.

Paul Brady Bruach Loch Ponchartrain
I first heard this version on an album called Éist Arís: Songs In Their Native Language, which came out in 2000. It is an American song, sung by an Irish folk legend and this version is in the Irish language. And it had a big impact on me. Paul Brady’s website had a guitar tab for the song which I learned for my Leaving Cert Practical Music exam and I have been playing it ever since. I was very lucky to tour with Paul a couple of years ago. Watching him perform from the side of the stage each night was very special. He is a master of his craft.

Wallis Bird Pretty Lies
Wallis is a National treasure. I have been following her musical journey for years as I developed my own. She is a force of nature. Every time she brings out an album, it’s fresh and exciting and I am just such a big fan. The last track on her latest album is called Pretty Lies, and it melts me every time I hear it – the outro is just endless amounts of wow.

You can grab your Síomha tickets for April 1st at The Whale here, and find out more about the lady herself here.