Dublin based singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Inni-K (Eithne Ní Chatháin) has announced that her eagerly anticipated new album of sean-nós song, ‘Iníon’ will be released on Friday 11 February 2022 (on Green Willow Records).
By way of introduction, two new tracks from the album ‘Éamonn an Chnoic’ and ‘An Tiarna Randal’ will be released and available on music streaming platforms & Bandcamp from Friday 21 January 2022. Accompanied by a new music video for ‘Éamonn an Chnoic’ was filmed during the recording process, which you can watch below.
In the video, Inni-K looks almost lost in the moment, her vocal delivery is sublime, and she uses some gorgeous ornamentation, emphasised here by her spare use of synths with Matthew Berrill’s gentle clarinet adding to the atmosphere of the song and Brian Walsh’s subtle percussion adding accents throughout. In an article Lorcan Mac Mathuna wrote for Folk Radio, he explained how sean-nós “…is sometimes viewed by non-Irish speakers as such an insular tradition that it is nearly impossible to get an immersive appreciation of it. This is a shame as it is only when you get beneath the skin of this deeply emotional form of musical and cultural expression that you can really appreciate it.” On Éamonn an Chnoic, Inni-K does exactly that, she takes you beneath the skin, and she does it so effortlessly.
Speaking about the two tracks and the album, Inni-K says: “I’m delighted to share these two songs, ‘Éamonn an Chnoic’ and ‘An Tiarna Randal’, from my forthcoming album ‘Iníon’. They are two big songs from the sean-nós tradition that I love to my bones and have been singing for decades. It was really satisfying and exciting to fall into step with fellow explorers of different musical genres, from jazz to classical; Matthew Berrill, Brian Walsh and Mary Barnecutt, (along with Caimin Gilmore on ‘An Tiarna Randal’); to imagine together and share new iterations of these songs that are traditionally unaccompanied. They all massively contributed to helping me bring my vision for these songs to life. We worked together through lockdown 2021, remotely, and then gloriously in the one room together when we could. Recording the album over 4 days in Dublin last November; it felt like we really created and entered into mini worlds for these songs together! I’m very pleased for these first two offerings to fly the roost first and introduce listeners to the new album.”
The liner notes for Éamonn an Chnoic:
Some songs you simply fall in love with, and more so with the years. This is one such song for me.
D’fhoghlaim mé an t-amhrán seo ar scoil i dtosach. Ansin, chualas Seosamh Ó hÉanaí á chanadh ar dlúthdhiosca Topic The Road from Connemara agus thiteas i ngrá le háilleacht na frásaíochta agus an léiriú mothúcháin a bhí aige. Chaitheas seal ag maireachtaint i gCorca Dhuibhne (2009-2012), agus le linn na tréimhse sin, d’fhoghlaim mé ana chuid Gaeilge agus amhráin i gcuideachta Bhreanndáin Uí Bheaglaoich. Bhí leagan aoibhinn álainn den amhrán seo aige agus fonn beagán difriúil ón méid a chuala mé cheana. Fuaireas véarsaí áille i leabhar iontach Bhreandáin Mhic Gearailt An Blas Muimhneach (2007). Gach uair a chanaim é, téann an t-amhrán seo i bhfeidhm orm.
I first learned this song at school. Then I heard Seosamh Ó hÉanaí sing it on ‘The Road to Connemara (Topic) and I fell in love with the beauty of his phrasing and his expression. Whilst living in West Kerry (2009-2012), I learned a lot of Irish and many songs from hanging around with Brendan Begley. He had the most beautiful version of this song with a melody slightly different to what I’d heard before. I got some very beautiful verses from Breandán ‘ac Gearailt’s remarkable book An Blas Muimhneach (2007). Every time I sing it, this song gets me!
The song is a touching conversation between Éamonn and his lover who can’t let him in, for they would both be killed: “Beimid araon múchta.” He has no choice but to live the rest of his days far away overseas where he has no kin: “Is go gcaithfidh mé dhul tharr farraige soir, ós ann ná fuil aon dem’ ghaolta.”
Dar le Daithí Ó hÓgáin in Leabhar Mór na nAmhrán (CIC): ‘Is é is dóiche ná go raibh amhrán grá ann sa 17ú céad, bunaithe ar an seantéama úd díospóireacht ghrá idir fear agus bean – eisean ag iarraidh uirthi siúd é a scaoileadh isteach ina teach istoíche.’ [It is most likely that there was a love song in the 17th century, based on the old theme, a love argument between a man and a woman – him asking her to let him into her house at nighttime.]
Ó hÓgáin goes on to surmise that the song was the prompt for the nickname ‘Éamonn an Chnoic’ given to Éamonn Ó Riain, a Tipperary man who was outlawed and on the run for shooting a tax collector who was trying to confiscate a cow from a neighbour.
Described by RTÉ as “One of ten fierce women defining Irish culture,” Inni-K’s music draws on her extensive background in folk and traditional Irish music, even as she ventures into new musical territories. Her original songwriting career (‘The Hare & the Line’ 2019 and ‘The King has Two Horse’s Ears’ 2015) combines ethereal vocals with deft musicianship, evocative lyrics and a unique approach to song-writing. She has also performed, toured and recorded with Ré – traditional group including Cormac Begley, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Maitiú Ó Casaide & Peter O Toole. Having shared stages with such varied and renowned musicians as Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, jazz drummer Jeff Ballard, Glen Hansard, Wallis Bird, Efterklang and many more, Inni-K is becoming a well-established presence in Irish music.
ALBUM LAUNCH TOUR DATES (more to be announced):
10 Mar GALWAY, Black Gate
11 Mar CASTLEBAR, Linenhall Arts Centre
17 Mar PARIS, Centre Culturel Irlandais –
26 Mar NEWBRIDGE, Riverbank Arts Centre –
31 Mar DUBLIN, Whelan’s –
08 Apr BALLYDEHOB, Levis’
23 Apr THE NAUL, Séamus Ennis Centre –
04 Jun BRAY, Mermaid Arts Centre
Pre-orders of the album on Vinyl, CD & Digital Download available via www.inni-k.com