December, 2020.
This EP, Home Bird, has been gestating for quite a bit. The songs were written and recorded in 2019, while I was pregnant with my first child. But between the jigs and the reels (i.e. the feeding and the sleepless nights), it’s only coming to light now!
The 6 songs were written at home in West Cork. For now, I find myself living, on the other side of the world. And because of Covid-19, never before have I felt so far from home. There’s no need for me to go in to it — Everyone has their own story of pain, loss and isolation this year. So this ep has joyfully brought me a little closer to home again.
Like my previous 2 albums, these songs would NOT be in this world without the incredible genius that is Christophe Capewell. Christophe, Christophe, Christophe. He listens to my songs and really hears them. He records me singing the songs. And then what he brings to these songs through his instrumentation and playing is absolutely incredible. Such heart. (Not to mention the hours and hours of technical editing stuff, which is completely lost to my tech-feather brain.) Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can never express my gratitude adequately. He's an absolute musical genius. I feel soooooooooo lucky to work alongside such a talent.
Please Support Christoph’s work and follow what he does via https://christophecapewell.com .
I have, again, created the album artwork — which all forms part the creative process of bringing these songs to life. I create the art work with coloured paper and a knife, then I photograph it and Mary Callaghan works her tech-magic on it in to create a computer-friendly image. Check out and support Mary’s own beautiful artwork on https://marycallaghan.ie/shop/. She's a phenomenal artist!
A special mention to Niall Mac Coitir’s book — Ireland’s Trees: Myths, Legends and Folklore. I loved every page and the verses within 'Alphabet Tree' were completely inspired by this book, having being reminded of the story we had been told many years ago in primary school. It is a song of all our native trees found within the ancient Ogham Alphabet, when we did not have letters like a, b, c etc., but tree names. Ailm, Beith, Coll, Dair... And Niall Mac Coitir explains it all so beautifully. (Do support your local bookshop in buying this brilliant book, rather than the big online multinationals.) Also, be sure and watch Manchán Magan’s brilliant series on TG4, Crainn na hÉireann (https://www.tg4.ie/ga/?s=Crainn+na+hEireann) for some tree wisdom. It seems too straightforward a resolution to such complex problems, but planting trees seems to be the solution to so many of the worlds problems (storing carbon, cleaner air, habitat creation, fixing and nourishing soil, water filtration, wellbeing….) Who knows, maybe you’ll feel like planting a tree of two after hearing Alphabet Tree?….. That’s the intention behind it.
To the birds, to the stones, to the winds that blow…. May you one day carry us home.
Marcella x x x
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Afterthought.
What's the point in bothering to make song, to make art?
Because art calls us to pay attention.
Songs, poems, images, stories - they are out there, waiting for us to respond.
To hear the melody.
The paint the picture.
It's not about money, it's not about recognition, it's not about taking credit for or owning what you create.
But it is about honouring the stirrings and the calling within.
Is it about our collective consciousness? Creating art that needs to be seen or heard by somebody? Even just one other person?
For whatever reason, these songs wanted to be sung. These women wanted to be seen.
And if it's only for an audience of one or two people -- then I have honoured these callings and played my part in our dreaming.
This EP, Home Bird, has been gestating for quite a bit. The songs were written and recorded in 2019, while I was pregnant with my first child. But between the jigs and the reels (i.e. the feeding and the sleepless nights), it’s only coming to light now!
The 6 songs were written at home in West Cork. For now, I find myself living, on the other side of the world. And because of Covid-19, never before have I felt so far from home. There’s no need for me to go in to it — Everyone has their own story of pain, loss and isolation this year. So this ep has joyfully brought me a little closer to home again.
Like my previous 2 albums, these songs would NOT be in this world without the incredible genius that is Christophe Capewell. Christophe, Christophe, Christophe. He listens to my songs and really hears them. He records me singing the songs. And then what he brings to these songs through his instrumentation and playing is absolutely incredible. Such heart. (Not to mention the hours and hours of technical editing stuff, which is completely lost to my tech-feather brain.) Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can never express my gratitude adequately. He's an absolute musical genius. I feel soooooooooo lucky to work alongside such a talent.
Please Support Christoph’s work and follow what he does via https://christophecapewell.com .
I have, again, created the album artwork — which all forms part the creative process of bringing these songs to life. I create the art work with coloured paper and a knife, then I photograph it and Mary Callaghan works her tech-magic on it in to create a computer-friendly image. Check out and support Mary’s own beautiful artwork on https://marycallaghan.ie/shop/. She's a phenomenal artist!
A special mention to Niall Mac Coitir’s book — Ireland’s Trees: Myths, Legends and Folklore. I loved every page and the verses within 'Alphabet Tree' were completely inspired by this book, having being reminded of the story we had been told many years ago in primary school. It is a song of all our native trees found within the ancient Ogham Alphabet, when we did not have letters like a, b, c etc., but tree names. Ailm, Beith, Coll, Dair... And Niall Mac Coitir explains it all so beautifully. (Do support your local bookshop in buying this brilliant book, rather than the big online multinationals.) Also, be sure and watch Manchán Magan’s brilliant series on TG4, Crainn na hÉireann (https://www.tg4.ie/ga/?s=Crainn+na+hEireann) for some tree wisdom. It seems too straightforward a resolution to such complex problems, but planting trees seems to be the solution to so many of the worlds problems (storing carbon, cleaner air, habitat creation, fixing and nourishing soil, water filtration, wellbeing….) Who knows, maybe you’ll feel like planting a tree of two after hearing Alphabet Tree?….. That’s the intention behind it.
To the birds, to the stones, to the winds that blow…. May you one day carry us home.
Marcella x x x
********************************************************************************************************************************
Afterthought.
What's the point in bothering to make song, to make art?
Because art calls us to pay attention.
Songs, poems, images, stories - they are out there, waiting for us to respond.
To hear the melody.
The paint the picture.
It's not about money, it's not about recognition, it's not about taking credit for or owning what you create.
But it is about honouring the stirrings and the calling within.
Is it about our collective consciousness? Creating art that needs to be seen or heard by somebody? Even just one other person?
For whatever reason, these songs wanted to be sung. These women wanted to be seen.
And if it's only for an audience of one or two people -- then I have honoured these callings and played my part in our dreaming.