Lorraine Nash, the Kerry-born multi-instrumentalist, unveils her new single, “Carraig Aonair,” her first in the Irish language. The single arrives ahead of a busy summer schedule, notably including dates as a special guest of Hothouse Flowers on their UK tour—a testament to Nash’s rising recognition.
“Carraig Aonair” is a traditional lament steeped in grief, which she discusses below. A highlight is how she navigates its emotional landscape with subtlety and balance. She uses vocal and fiddle techniques to deliver an astute interplay between dramatic sonic elements, such as the evocation of crashing waves and moments of delicate restraint, amplifying the song’s poignancy. Her ability to breathe contemporary relevance into traditional forms like this is quite remarkable; a singular talent.
Lorraine shared the following:
‘The song hails from the 1690’s, written by Conchubhar Ó’Laoghaire in memory of his sons who tragically drowned at sea. They had gone fishing when their boat was wrecked, leaving them stranded on the Carraig Aonair, (The Lone Rock, also known as Fastnet Rock). Before they were drowned by the rising tide, one of the men managed to scratch a final message into the boat using the buckle of his shoe. The song was written about Fastnet Rock in Cork and I wanted to honor its origins but also convey my own interpretation of it, musically and visually. When listening to recordings of the song, I couldn’t help but picture the rugged cliffs of west Kerry I know so well. Therefore, we chose to film the music video on the Dingle Peninsula. This is the first song I’ve recorded that I didn’t write myself, which gave me the freedom to be creative in ways I hadn’t before. Knowing that many of the listeners won’t be fluent in Irish, I tried to tell the story through the instrumentation as well as the lyrics. Soundscaping was a completely new experience for me, but it turned out to be deeply rewarding. I aimed to capture the tension, the crashing waves, and the wild wind of the Irish coast — as well as the sorrow and lonesomeness of the song’.
Watch the accompanying music video by Bláthnaid O’Toole. Carraig Aonair is also our Song of the Day.
Upcoming Gigs
Thur 6 March – ‘Ghost Light Sessions’, Balor Arts, Co. Donegal
Fri 14 March – ‘Billy Brennan’s Barn’, Orlagh House, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin
Sun 30 March – Crowleys ‘Behind Closed Doors’, Kenmare, Co. Kerry
Fri 6 June, Boilershop, Newcastle – Hothouse Flowers UK Summer Tour
Sat 7 June, O2 Ritz, Manchester – Hothouse Flowers UK Summer Tour
Sun 8 June, Cheese and Grain, Frome – Hothouse Flowers UK Summer Tour
Tues 10 June, Komedia, Bath – Hothouse Flowers UK Summer Tour
Wed 11 June, Leadmill, Sheffield – Hothouse Flowers UK Summer Tour
Thurs 12 June, O2 Institute, Birmingham – Hothouse Flowers UK Summer Tour
Fri 13 June, O2 Kentish Town Forum, London – Hothouse Flowers UK Summer Tour
Sat 14 June, The Factory, Torquay – Hothouse Flowers UK Summer Tour
The track is to feature on the Deluxe Edition of her debut album ‘All That I Can Be’ with 3 other tracks ‘Winter Sun’, ‘Getting Started’, and ‘Steel Hearts’ releasing on 7 March 2025.
Follow her: https://www.instagram.com/lorrainenashmusic/