WHEN DAITHÍ launches his new EP, Tribes, at the Róisín Dubh this week, he will not only be unveiling a new set of songs, but unveiling an entirely new direction and approach - creatively and philosophically - to his music.
A taste of Daithí's new direction was given on the excellent 'Mary Keanes Introduction', which has been nominated in the Song Of The Year category for the 2016 Choice Music Prize. The track features the artist's grandmother speaking about her childhood growing up in Clare. Daithí said of the track:
“When I heard the recording I couldn't believe how personal and heartfelt it was, I hadn't heard anyone her age talk so honestly about love. I put parts of the interview to some chords I was writing and everything clicked into place. It's a great introduction to the upcoming record, which is inspired by living in the west of Ireland. My grandmother is 90 years old, and still lives in a thatched cottage in Ballyvaughan."
Indeed Daithí has gone as far as to declare that 'Mary Keanes Introduction' is a "game changer" in his artistic evolution. "It was the first track I released inspired by a new direction. I want to write dance music that’s not just inspired by traditional music, but by the culture, the scenery and atmosphere of the west of Ireland," he said. "Tribes is the start of me going in that direction, it's full of nature sounds and samples from this part of the country. Even for that simple reason, this EP means way more to me than anything I've released so far. I hope people enjoy listening to it as much as I did creating it."
A further taste of what is in store comes through the latest single, 'Love’s On Top' featuring Sinead White. “I came across Sinead White last year," says Daithí, "and really loved how her voice had a unique 'Irish' quality to it, but at the same time felt very contemporary. It was a perfect match for 'Love's On Top', which was a track inspired by Galway city at night, especially the West End and around the Spanish Arch. It's a good snapshot of what the rest of the record is like."
The tracklisting for Tribes is 'Mary Keanes Introduction', 'Love’s On Top', '1995', 'April', and 'Rocamadour', and is the follow up to his 2013 debut album In Flight. The EP will be available on limited 12” vinyl and well as digitally. The vinyl is available to pre-order from www.daithi.ie The vinyl pre-order includes an immediate download of 'Mary Keanes Introduction' and 'Love’s On Top'.
"Tribes was written in Galway in the last year," says Daithí. "I spent a lot of time around the city and along the coast, recording samples from beaches, farms and city streets After making such a clean pop record, I wanted to go back and make something a little more organic, something that reflects what life is like for young people living in the west of Ireland”.
Daithí will offically launch his new EP Tribes with a show in the Róisín Dubh on Friday [February 26] at 11.30pm. Admission is free. See twitter.com/daithimusic and Facebook.com/daithimusic
