Belinda O'Hooley
Encyclopedia
Belinda O'Hooley is a British
singer-songwriter
and pianist
with Irish
roots, who was born in Leeds
and went to university in Huddersfield
,where she is now based. Formerly a member of Rachel Unthank and the Winterset (now The Unthanks), she now records and performs with fellow Yorkshire
singer-songwriter Heidi Tidow as O'Hooley & Tidow.
From 2004 until 2008 she was a member of Rachel Unthank and the Winterset (now The Unthanks).Nic Oliver, reviewing their 2007 album The Bairns
for musicOMH
, described O'Hooley as "the ace in the pack throughout The Bairns. Her background in cabaret (intriguingly, she had once appeared on Stars In Their Eyes impersonating Annie Lennox) adds a left-field edge to the music, with her jazzy piano chords lending a sing-along feel to the live favourite Blue's Gaen Oot O'The Fashion. O'Hooley also contributes the two original tracks to the album, although the casual listener could quite easily mistake both Blackbird and Whitehorn for traditional songs".
In 2005 O'Hooley released a solo album
, Music is My Silence
, described by reviewer David Kidman of Netrhythms.com as "a commanding and defiant set of thoroughly contemporary-sounding songs".
, Huddersfield, Belinda O'Hooley and Heidi Tidow recorded an album, Silent June
, which was released on 22 February 2010 to critical acclaim. It was one of MOJO
magazine’s Top 10 Folk
Albums of 2010 and won 'Best Debut' in the Spiral Awards, organised by Spiral Earth. O'Hooley & Tidow also won the FATEA Innovation Award 2010, an award for music which broadens the appeal of roots-based music.
Silent June was mixed and mastered by Neil Ferguson of Chumbawamba
and also featured Anna Esslemont and Cormac Byrne (both from Uiscedwr
), Jackie Oates
and the Solo Players string quartet
. Its title refers to the words of one of the songs on the album, "Que Sera", about the execution
during World War I
of the British nurse Edith Cavell
. The album also includes a version of the song "Spancil Hill" and a new song "Too Old To Dream" incorporating a segment of "When I Grow Too Old to Dream
", a popular song with music by Sigmund Romberg
and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
, published in 1934 and recorded by many artists, most notably Gracie Fields
.
O'Hooley & Tidow released a single, "The Last Polar Bear", in November 2011. The song is taken from their forthcoming album, Fragile, featuring Andy Cutting
, Jackie Oates, Anna Esslemont and Cormac Byrne, which is scheduled for release in February 2012. Northern Sky music magazine's reviewer described the song as "utterly beautiful", saying "This is how love songs should be written."
(2010) and Lucy Ward
's debut album Adelphi Has to Fly (2011).
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
with Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
roots, who was born in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and went to university in Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
,where she is now based. Formerly a member of Rachel Unthank and the Winterset (now The Unthanks), she now records and performs with fellow Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
singer-songwriter Heidi Tidow as O'Hooley & Tidow.
History
O'Hooley comes from a long line of County Sligo musicians and performed alongside her cousin Tommy Fleming, a singer who was formerly with De Danann.From 2004 until 2008 she was a member of Rachel Unthank and the Winterset (now The Unthanks).Nic Oliver, reviewing their 2007 album The Bairns
The Bairns (album)
-Rachel Unthank and the Winterset:* Rachel Unthank – voice, cello, ukelele, feet* Becky Unthank – vocals, feet* Belinda O'Hooley – piano, voice* Niopha Keegan – fiddle, voice-Additional musicians:* Neil Harland – double bass...
for musicOMH
MusicOMH
musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
, described O'Hooley as "the ace in the pack throughout The Bairns. Her background in cabaret (intriguingly, she had once appeared on Stars In Their Eyes impersonating Annie Lennox) adds a left-field edge to the music, with her jazzy piano chords lending a sing-along feel to the live favourite Blue's Gaen Oot O'The Fashion. O'Hooley also contributes the two original tracks to the album, although the casual listener could quite easily mistake both Blackbird and Whitehorn for traditional songs".
In 2005 O'Hooley released a solo album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Music is My Silence
Music is My Silence
Music is My Silence, the first and only solo album to date by Belinda O'Hooley, was released on 13 June 2005 on the Rabble Rouser label, distributed by Cadiz Music...
, described by reviewer David Kidman of Netrhythms.com as "a commanding and defiant set of thoroughly contemporary-sounding songs".
O'Hooley & Tidow
Between August and November 2009 at their home in GolcarGolcar
Golcar is a village located on a hillside crest above the Colne Valley in West Yorkshire, England, west of Huddersfield, and just north of the River Colne and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal...
, Huddersfield, Belinda O'Hooley and Heidi Tidow recorded an album, Silent June
Silent June
Silent June is the first album by O'Hooley & Tidow. Recorded between August and November 2009 at their home in Golcar, Huddersfield, it was released on 22 February 2010 on the No Masters label, distributed by Proper Records....
, which was released on 22 February 2010 to critical acclaim. It was one of MOJO
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
magazine’s Top 10 Folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
Albums of 2010 and won 'Best Debut' in the Spiral Awards, organised by Spiral Earth. O'Hooley & Tidow also won the FATEA Innovation Award 2010, an award for music which broadens the appeal of roots-based music.
Silent June was mixed and mastered by Neil Ferguson of Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
and also featured Anna Esslemont and Cormac Byrne (both from Uiscedwr
Uiscedwr
Uiscedwr is a trio which plays British folk music influenced by world music. The group started off as a trio and was originally based in Manchester.Uiscedwr won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2002 ....
), Jackie Oates
Jackie Oates
Jackie Oates is an English folk singer and fiddle player. In addition to her solo work, she currently performs as part of the folk trio Wistman's Wood and sings with Morris Offspring.She was born in Congleton in Cheshire in 1983, but grew up in Staffordshire...
and the Solo Players string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
. Its title refers to the words of one of the songs on the album, "Que Sera", about the execution
Execution by firing squad
Execution by firing squad, sometimes called fusillading , is a method of capital punishment, particularly common in the military and in times of war.Execution by shooting is a fairly old practice...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
of the British nurse Edith Cavell
Edith Cavell
Edith Louisa Cavell was a British nurse and spy. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from all sides without distinction and in helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during World War I, for which she was arrested...
. The album also includes a version of the song "Spancil Hill" and a new song "Too Old To Dream" incorporating a segment of "When I Grow Too Old to Dream
When I Grow Too Old to Dream
"When I Grow Too Old to Dream" is a popular song with music by Sigmund Romberg and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, published in 1934. The song has become a pop standard, recorded by many artists, most notably Gracie Fields....
", a popular song with music by Sigmund Romberg
Sigmund Romberg
Sigmund Romberg was a Hungarian-born American composer, best known for his operettas.-Biography:Romberg was born as Siegmund Rosenberg to a Jewish family in Gross-Kanizsa during the Austro-Hungarian kaiserlich und königlich monarchy period...
and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
, published in 1934 and recorded by many artists, most notably Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Dame Gracie Fields, DBE , was an English-born, later Italian-based actress, singer and comedienne and star of both cinema and music hall.-Early life:...
.
O'Hooley & Tidow released a single, "The Last Polar Bear", in November 2011. The song is taken from their forthcoming album, Fragile, featuring Andy Cutting
Andy Cutting
Andy Cutting is an English folk musician and composer. Born 18 March 1969 in Harrow, he plays melodeon and has had instruments made by Castagnari to his own specification. He won the Folk Musician of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 and 2011...
, Jackie Oates, Anna Esslemont and Cormac Byrne, which is scheduled for release in February 2012. Northern Sky music magazine's reviewer described the song as "utterly beautiful", saying "This is how love songs should be written."
Other musical contributions
O'Hooley plays piano on Jackie Oates' albums Jackie Oates (2006), The Violet Hour (2008) and Hyperboreans (2009). With Heidi Tidow, she also features on Chumbawamba's album ABCDEFGABCDEFG (album)
ABCDEFG is the 17th full-length studio LP by Chumbawamba. It was officially released on March 1, 2010, but copies ordered from the band's website arrived the week before.-Album information:...
(2010) and Lucy Ward
Lucy Ward (musician)
Lucy Ward is a British singer, guitarist and concertina player from Derby. She performs, with a voice described as expressive and powerful, traditional English folk songs as well as her own material...
's debut album Adelphi Has to Fly (2011).
Belinda O'Hooley
| Title | Format | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music is My Silence Music is My Silence Music is My Silence, the first and only solo album to date by Belinda O'Hooley, was released on 13 June 2005 on the Rabble Rouser label, distributed by Cadiz Music... |
album | 13 June 2005 | Rabble Rouser, distributed by Cadiz Music |
O'Hooley & Tidow
| Title | Format | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent June Silent June Silent June is the first album by O'Hooley & Tidow. Recorded between August and November 2009 at their home in Golcar, Huddersfield, it was released on 22 February 2010 on the No Masters label, distributed by Proper Records.... |
album | 22 February 2010 | No Masters No Masters No Masters is a British record label, based in the north of England, specialising in folk with a political edge.The label was founded in 1990 by John Tams and Jim Boyes. Originally working as singer, John Tams is now famous as an actor in the TV series "Sharpe". He does much of the production work... , distributed by Proper Records Proper Records Proper Records is a record label founded in 1988 by Malcolm Mills and Paul Riley. Commencing with a handful of releases, including The Balham Alligators and Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers, the label grew in stature and renown through its reissue marque, 'Proper Box', whose 4CD boxsets for... |
| "The Last Polar Bear" | single (download) | 21 November 2011 | No Masters |