Iarla Ó Lionáird
Encyclopedia
Iarla Ó Lionáird is an Irish singer and producer well known for his involvement with the Afro Celt Sound System
. He is one of the most prominent artists of the Irish Sean nós
singing tradition, and has released three solo albums through Real World Records
, the third being Invisible Fields, released in August 2005, which was voted "Best Folk Record" by the Irish Times
in 2006. He also sings on the Peter Gabriel
album OVO
.
Signed to Realworld label in the mid-1990s, he would go on to make many ground breaking recordings with the multi-million selling Afro Celt Soundsystem and achieved in this period two Grammy nominations. Ó Lionáird's three solo records have also received widespread plaudits at home and across the world. Ó Lionáird has sung in his unique style for audiences across the globe from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Royal Opera House in London, from Cape Town to Moscow, Rome and Tokyo. His many television appearances include among others the "Later with Jools Holland Show" for the BBC and "The David Letterman Show" in the United States. His music has also appeared on many film soundtracks including The Gangs of New York and Hotel Rwanda.
It is widely recognised that through this time he has had a major influence on the increase of awareness of the Irish ancient vocal tradition internationally. He recently toured a new work entitled "Grá agus Bás" with the Dublin-based Crash Ensemble. This work was commissioned by Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and composed especially for Ó Lionáird by the composer Donnacha Dennehy. It received its world premiere in New York in March 2007, and this work was subsequently released on a CD recording entitled, 'Grá Agus Bás' on the American Nonsuch label in May 2011. Ó Lionáird has also collaborated with composer Gavin Bryars, and is currently completing his fourth solo album, "Foxlight" with guitarist, composer and producer Leo Abrahams
. This CD recording will be released by the Realworld label in September 2011.
Ó Lionáird holds a Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick
and is studying for a PhD in Music at Limerick University. He lives in Inistioge in County Kilkenny with his wife Eimear and their three children.
Afro Celt Sound System
The Afro Celt Sound System is a musical group which fuses modern electronic dance rhythms with traditional Irish and West African music...
. He is one of the most prominent artists of the Irish Sean nós
Sean-nós song
Sean-nós is a highly ornamented style of unaccompanied traditional Irish singing. It is a sean-nós activity, which also includes sean-nós dancing...
singing tradition, and has released three solo albums through Real World Records
Real World Records
Real World Records is a record label started in 1989 by Peter Gabriel to record and produce world music.-Overview:The label grew up alongside the success of the WOMAD festivals and Peter Gabriel's exploration of music from other cultures, and helped push world music into the general public's...
, the third being Invisible Fields, released in August 2005, which was voted "Best Folk Record" by the Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
in 2006. He also sings on the Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
album OVO
OVO
OVO is the soundtrack to the Millennium Dome Show in London that was composed by Peter Gabriel. It was his eleventh album overall. It was released on 29 August 2000 and features guest vocals by Neneh Cherry, Rosco, Richie Havens, Elizabeth Fraser and Paul Buchanan...
.
Early life, career
Ó Lionáird grew up and learned his craft in the musical heartland of Cúil Aodha in the West Cork Gaeltacht. This region though historically rich both in instrumental and vocal music grew in fame through its association with composer Seán Ó Riada. Apart from his enormous role on the trajectory of Irish music generally, Ó Riada's influence in Cúil Aodha was profound. His choir, Cór Cúil Aodha, achieved cult status in traditional circles and it was in this milieu that Iarla Ó Lionáird grew and developed his art. From his iconic early recording of the vision song "Aisling Gheal" whilst still a boy, through to his recordings with Tony McMahon and Noel Hill, Ó Lionáird established himself both as a masterful exponent of Sean nós and as a pioneer in its renewal and development.Signed to Realworld label in the mid-1990s, he would go on to make many ground breaking recordings with the multi-million selling Afro Celt Soundsystem and achieved in this period two Grammy nominations. Ó Lionáird's three solo records have also received widespread plaudits at home and across the world. Ó Lionáird has sung in his unique style for audiences across the globe from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Royal Opera House in London, from Cape Town to Moscow, Rome and Tokyo. His many television appearances include among others the "Later with Jools Holland Show" for the BBC and "The David Letterman Show" in the United States. His music has also appeared on many film soundtracks including The Gangs of New York and Hotel Rwanda.
It is widely recognised that through this time he has had a major influence on the increase of awareness of the Irish ancient vocal tradition internationally. He recently toured a new work entitled "Grá agus Bás" with the Dublin-based Crash Ensemble. This work was commissioned by Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and composed especially for Ó Lionáird by the composer Donnacha Dennehy. It received its world premiere in New York in March 2007, and this work was subsequently released on a CD recording entitled, 'Grá Agus Bás' on the American Nonsuch label in May 2011. Ó Lionáird has also collaborated with composer Gavin Bryars, and is currently completing his fourth solo album, "Foxlight" with guitarist, composer and producer Leo Abrahams
Leo Abrahams
Leo Abrahams is a British musician, composer, and producer. He has collaborated with a multitude of professional musicians, including Brian Eno, Imogen Heap, Jarvis Cocker, Carl Barât, and Paul Simon. After attending the Royal Academy of Music in England, he started his musical career by touring as...
. This CD recording will be released by the Realworld label in September 2011.
Ó Lionáird holds a Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
and is studying for a PhD in Music at Limerick University. He lives in Inistioge in County Kilkenny with his wife Eimear and their three children.
Solo albums
- The Seven Steps To Mercy, September 1997
- I Could Read the Sky (soundtrack)I Could Read the SkyI Could Read the Sky is a 1999 Irish/UK film directed by Nichola Bruce. It is based upon a photographic novel by Timothy O'Grady and Steve Pyke, which concerns the Irish experience of emigration and exile. It has been described as an "innovative, melancholic, and deeply moving film"-Plot:The film...
, June 2000 - Invisible Fields, August 2005
- "Foxlight", September 2011
Other albums
- Tony Mac Mahon, Noel Hill & Iarla Ó Lionáird / World (Shanachie Entertainment 2006)
- Grá Agus Bás / Classical (Nonsuch Records 2011)