The name Kirsty Merryn may be new to most of you but that’s all about to change with the release of her debut album ‘She and I‘ which she will launch at London’s Union Chapel on November 9 whilst supporting Show of Hands on their UK Cathedrals tour (Oct 4-Nov 31).
She released her debut EP Just the Winter in 2013. Featuring just a baby grand piano and voice, over four songs of love and loss she demonstrated her skills as not just a vocalist and songwriter but as an artist with a strong poetic vision. Her music is heavily anchored in the folk tradition and on her website she quotes contemporary folk artists such as Cara Dillon, Seth Lakeman and Kate Rusby, as well as genre-defying musicians like Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush as personal influences.
On her new album, She and I, which was produced by in-demand Gerry Diver, she focuses on the diverse stories of inspirational women in history -from Emma Hamilton to Annie Edson Taylor – the first person to survive going over Niagara Falls in a barrel! The sharply observed piano-based narrative songs include the beguiling Forfarshire about lighthouse keeper’s daughter Grace Darling and her heroic rescue of shipwrecked mariners. She is joined on the haunting song by Steve Knightley on guest vocals while BBC Folk Awards double nominee Luke Jackson also guests on the album on the song Delilah and Samson.
For now, she is keeping things under wraps although the accompanying teaser video below, which was filmed on the beautiful south Devon coast and features Steve Knightley, gives a hint of some strong atmospherics which are sure to heighten her songs to new heights. The full music video will be released in conjunction with the album on 9 November.
Find out more here kirstymerryn.com