ComhCheol is a new music collective that brings people with experience of Ireland’s direct provision system together with local artists to create powerful, collaborative music. The project was conceived by Dublin-based multidisciplinary artist Blue Niall, who says:
“I had the idea after the riots last November. One thing that gets lost in all the noise around immigration is the real people at the centre of it. These are human beings, not headlines – and we rarely get to hear from them directly. I believe cross-cultural collaboration makes culture stronger, not weaker. Look at the spicebag, or Irish-language hip hop – we’re seeing what happens when new and old cultures merge, and Irish identity is thriving as a result. That’s what ComhCheol is about.”
Some of the artists from the project will perform live at Dublin Digital Radio on Saturday 21st June at 2pm, as part of a live cypher event recorded in Flux Studios to celebrate the single’s release.
The project began with a gathering in Paradise Studios last summer, where artists from a wide range of backgrounds introduced themselves and their stories. Several producers contributed beats for consideration, including Rory Sweeney, Mickzart, Blue Niall, and Hiiki. The group discovered remarkable common ground despite their different upbringings; many Irish artists in the room had also emigrated and spoken of homesickness, heartbreak, and songs written about family. They each shared a song from their home country, while Irish musician Iarla Ó Muirthile performed traditional songs and uilleann pipes. Producer Rory Sweeney spoke about his influences from South Africa, which led to a powerful conversation with asylum seekers in the room who shared their love of Amapiano.
From that session, Peggy introduced her idea for a song called ‘Home’, which became the collective’s debut single.
“When I was in the studio, I asked everyone what home meant to them,” says producer Mickzart. “What came back was comfort, support and welcome – everyone brought something different and that really shines through.”
Artwork by haga-ndröfi