Irish artist Ae Mak (Aoife McCann) today shares ‘Famous’, the second single from her forthcoming debut album Folk Songs For Mama & Papa, arriving May 29th 2026 via Spacer Records. Following the release of the album’s title track, ‘Famous’ offers a deeper glimpse into the record’s emotional and spiritual terrain. The song was co‑written with, and features, the late Eoin French (Talos).
‘Famous’ is a raw, luminous exploration of heartbreak, hope, and the threads of connection that endure long after love has shifted shape. Built from Ae Mak’s poetry and journal entries and written with French during a rare and cherished session, the track sits at the emotional centre of the upcoming album.
Ae Mak on ‘Famous’:
“Famous” is the 8th song on the record. It is heartbreak. It is the haze and the space in between realities of love and loss. It is scenes from the pain of being left in the thick of it, being unmet in the depth of it and still bearing hope for the love that is there. It is also a capturing of the beauty in that pain and meeting the divine in the darkest of places. The simple idea that you will always be famous in the eyes of those that love and have loved you, especially the ones who you no longer walk the same path with – you will always have played a prominent role in each other’s lives and growth and heart. Even if you are somewhat strangers now, that connection is forever a part of you both.
The lyrics are taken from poetry and journal entries I had, the music was written by myself and the late and very special Eoin French. We had planned on a songwriting session in September 2023. Eoin was flying back from a wedding in Canada. He had pulled over in the car for a nap on his way from the airport as he was falling asleep – I told him if you need to cancel please do with your big tired Canada wedding head – it’s so grand. But he didn’t cancel. He arrived in the afternoon – we hadn’t met before that, just chatted online and via email and shared mutual friends. I knew him as soon as I met him, he was salt of the earth, he was open, he was present. I knew straight away he was special. We wrote the song in a couple of hours. Him on the piano, singing, me on the laptop, singing. He was like – you sound a bit like Lana Del Ray – Okay no way cool… thanks, I said. I am so grateful we made this song together, I was still in the pain pitt at the time and this was a good day. Thank you, Eoin – sending love to where you are. I feel lucky and emotional about it. This record felt like the right home for the song.
So happy to have our mutual friends – Cian Hanley on drums and Brían Mac Gloinn – who co-produced and engineered the record with me.
I wanted to call it “The Ghost”, Eoin said it should be called “Famous”, so it is.
Here’s Famous – isn’t it a beautiful thing to be able to love so deeply, it cracks you open?”
ABOUT THE ALBUM:
After years of crafting genre‑defying, other‑worldly pop and delivering visceral, kinetic live performances across Europe and the UK, Ae Mak’s debut album marks a quiet but profound shift. Folk Songs For Mama & Papa moves away from character‑driven art‑pop and toward something elemental – voice, spirit, and connection.
Influenced by artists including Björk, Aldous Harding, Judee Sill, and Paul Simon, the album explores cosmical, spiritual folk through Ae Mak’s unmistakable storytelling and sonic imagination.
Folk Songs For Mama & Papa is out May 29th 2026.
Pre-save: https://ffm.to/folksongsformamaandpapa
INSTORE RECORD RELEASE SHOWS:
May 29th – Spindizzy Dublin 5:30pm
May 30th – Music Zone Cork 1pm
May 30th – Steamboat Limerick 5pm
Ae Mak Online
Photo credit – press photo