Directed and shot by visual artists and twin sisters Liadain and Kasia Kaminska, and ahead of her UK Headline Tour (see dates below), Clare Sands premieres the video for her latest single ‘Ghost on the Waves’, a collaboration with Aisling Urwin.
‘Ghost on the Waves’ (released this Wednesday, 25th October) is the new macaronic single from Cork-born, Belfast-based sixth-generation fiddler and Contemporary Folk singer, Clare Sands. Clare, who recently performed at ‘El Cervantino,’ Latin America’s largest music & arts festival, has unveiled this haunting West Kerry-inspired song.
After the release of her ‘bold and beautiful’ self-titled album (Top 5 Folk Albums of 2022 – The Irish Times), Sands returns this year with four new songs, alongside four new collaborators. This four-part music and film project, ‘Gormacha’, [pronounced GUR-MA-KA], treads a musical path between the four most extreme geographical points in Ireland – Mizen, Malin, Dunmore and Wicklow Head. Tracing the line between rugged land and stormy seas, Gormacha interweaves Irish folklore, language, and personal responses to our natural world.
Following on from releases ‘Dealán Dé’ with world-renowned Irish flute and whistle player Brian Finnegan (FLOOK) and ‘Teasgal’ with I Have A Tribe, the third collaboration, ‘Ghost on the Waves,’ features Co.Kerry’s ethereal harpist and singer Aisling Urwin (Ajeet/Woven Kin).
This collaboration sees two old friends’ harmonious voices & deep-rooted traditional melodies weaving seamlessly together. Inspired by ancient Irish tales and tunes (such as Port na bPúcaí, the Basket Island air, and The Pursuit of Gráinne and Diarmuid) ‘Ghost on the Waves’ was born out of a week spent together in the mystical yet ominous West Kerry landscape.
Clare on the song – Our time ‘west of the west’ was truly magic. Aisling and I met while studying music at UCC in 2015, and this song was the coming together of two kindred spirits after many years apart. We come from the same place musically, and the writing and recording of this song came together so easily – all over two days. There were many swims, mountain climbs, and late-night tunes. The song was inspired by the old Irish story ‘Tóraíocht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne’. I think it’s so important to pass these stories and songs on to the next generation, ensuring their survival, whilst giving them an open invitation to let their imaginations run wild!
The chorus – ‘Maireann an lá go ruaig, maireann an grá go huaigh’ – meaning ‘a day lasts until it’s chased away, but love lasts until the grave’ – brings a huge air of hope, resilience and light to the song, offering solace that the love for the people and traditions that we hold dear will live on.
The accompanying video was directed and shot by visual artists and twin sisters Liadain and Kasia Kaminska, who spent two days exploring Dunmore head and Chorcha Dhuibhne. They recall, ‘As we journeyed and filmed, without yet hearing the song, we were really drawn to the moving waters, shifting light and whispers of the land. We must have been drinking water from the same cup as Clare and Aisling, because the film and song met beautifully in the middle of this mystical yet deeply rooted world.’
‘Ghost on the Waves’ is the third in a series of four songs that are deeply personal and universal, sensual and spiritual, ancient and new. Navigating music, film, and photography, ‘Gormacha’ journeys into the darkness, but seeks to find solace and celebration ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea.’
Clare Sands UK Headline Tour 2023
3rd November: LONDON • Green Note | Tickets: https://shorturl.at/sI125
4th November: LEAMINGTON SPA • The Temperance | Tickets: https://shorturl.at/boHTV
5th November: YORK • National Centre for Early Music | Tickets: https://shorturl.at/lmvC9
6th November: SHEFFIELD • The Greystones | Tickets: https://shorturl.at/jkJX3
7th November: HULL • Wrecking Ball | Tickets: https://shorturl.at/klFR0
9th November: EDINBURGH • The Caves* | Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3c93cce6
12th November: ABERDEEN • The Blue Lamp | Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/4fs9r2xt
14th November: GLASGOW • The Hug & Pint | Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3pakkf2c
*Support Project Smok
https://claresands.bandcamp.com
‘Gormacha’ is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland