TRÚ‘s critically acclaimed debut ‘No Fixed Abode‘ has been short-listed for Best Album at this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize. The event which will take place at the prestigious Ulster Hall on November 17th, and will showcase some of the finest artists from the North; Hannah Peel, Joshua Burnside, Saint Sister and more (details at https://nimusicprize.com)
That this first album has been shortlisted for Best Album is a remarkable and well-deserved achievement, it was also a Featured Album of the Month on Folk Radio earlier this year. In his review, Thomas Blake described it as “a remarkable debut: while it has all the energy befitting a first offering, it bears the stamp of quality usually reserved for seasoned artists.”
In celebration, we have the pleasure of sharing with you TRÚ’s latest music video for the album track and traditional ballad ‘The Blacksmith’ below, featuring dancer and choreographer Clara Kerr.
The band offered the following on the video and song:
The Blacksmith is a song with centuries of history, mostly in southern England. A line can be drawn from our recording to the singing of English Traveller Phoebe Smith, whose version was collected by Peter Kennedy in 1969. This, in turn, inspired the great Shirley Collins to record her own interpretation.
Although very much considered an English song, Planxty’s treatment of the song in the early ’70s served as a touchstone for our arrangement. Michael’s cold and metallic production adds an almost industrial feel to a mythic narrative and brings the Blacksmith character to life.
As for the video, we were first introduced to Clara Kerr (dancer and choreographer) back in May when we were commissioned to create a collaborative piece by Arts & Business NI. Initially intended for a one-off live event, we were so thrilled with the results we thought we’d make a proper video of it. Clara’s physical presence elevates the story of the elusive Blacksmith by rooting it in the drama of the lyric. Her background in traditional dance and training in Contemporary also mirrored our own approach to the song, which made it a real joy to collaborate.
Thanks to our friends at Je Suis Le Cat Productions for capturing the magic.
Order No Fixed Abode: https://truband3.bandcamp.com/album/no-fixed-abode-2