As If I Always Knew – have released the new single ‘Danny Boy’

Following a sold-out show at Cork Midsummer Festival under the Helios installation in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Irish composer and pianist Cian Sweeney returns with the final single from his upcoming album Improvisations 1, as part of his semi-improvised piano project As If I Always Knew.

The third single from As If I Always Knew, Danny Boy is a stripped-back, meditative reimagining of the classic Irish tune. Recorded live in one take at Cian Sweeney’s studio Birds of Paradise in Cork, the piece takes a melody steeped in tradition and reshapes it into something more vulnerable, spacious, and deeply personal.

Built entirely on block chords, every note of the melody is individually harmonised, creating a sense of stillness and weight. The result is less about nostalgia and more about presence, letting the song breathe in its own time, without ornament or expectation.

Speaking on the new single, Cian says “‘Danny Boy’ was recorded and filmed in one take, like everything I do with this project. Early in my career, I spent a lot of time performing in America, and I came to realise how deeply this tune, The Derry Air, matters to the Irish-American community even though Irish people at home might feel it’s a bit twee. But from my time stateside, I’ve learned to appreciate how emotional a piece it is.

 Danny Boy has been covered a thousand times but all I wanted to do was strip it back completely, to remove the pretence and expectation to hopefully reveal the beauty that’s always been there in its simplicity.”

This release continues the buildup to the project’s debut album Improvisations 1, due out on 10th September 2025. A collection of solo piano works recorded live in a single afternoon at Birds of Paradise Studio, each piece was captured in one take, without edits, and built entirely from spontaneous composition.

The album release coincides with a four-night run at Dublin Fringe Festival, as well a special performance at Culture Night Cork City. With influences including Nils Frahm, Ólafur Arnalds, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Einaudi, and Debussy, the project sits at the intersection of contemporary classical, ambient, and improvisational music.

With As If I Always Knew, Cian seeks to reconnect with his audience on a more intimate level. While his successful work as a producer has garnered over 130 million streams, this project shifts focus back to his roots as a pianist and artist in his own right. Fans will have exclusive access to new music through the project’s YouTube channel and Bandcamp, as well as early announcements for upcoming live performances throughout 2025, for which subscribers to the project’s mailing list will receive priority access.

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