Irish traditional & folk artist Fiona Tyndall will release the final single from her highly anticipated Irish-language album, “Éinín an Cheóil”, on August 22nd.
The album, which translates to “Birdsong”, will be released on Wednesday, September 17th, and already boasts extensive praise from Tim Dennehy, Niamh Parsons, Gerry O’Connor and more, earning support from Hot Press, Clare Champion, Clare Herald, IMRO and Frontview Magazine.
Recorded in Oakley Studios in Blackrock, Dublin and Shorefire Studios in Longbranch, New Jersey, the album was fully produced by Brendan Hayes and mixed/mastered in BAZ Studios, Portumna, Co. Galway.
A highly personal and passionate collection, the album was inspired by Tyndall’s father, Buadhach Tóibín, a traditional singer and collector of Irish music. Meticulously hand-writing the lyrics of over 200 songs in the old Irish script in a bound ledger, he had the foresight to accompany some of the songs with tonic solfa (a musical system in which a series of syllables represents the seven notes of a scale), so that his children would have the melodies to sing.
Tyndall came into possession of this wonderful manuscripted collection following her father’s passing, upon which she decided to record a selection of the preserved songs. As a child, she had learned many directly from her father, as he also taught students from all over Ireland each summer at Coláiste Eoghain Uí Comhraidhe in Carrigaholt, Co. Clare (a residential Irish college).
A carefully archived digital copy of her father’s manuscript of songs will be available at the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) in Dublin, Ireland shortly before “Éinin an Cheóil’s” release on September 17th.
The connection between the family runs deep through the heart of the album, as it also features vocals from Tyndall’s daughters, Aisling and Caoimhe Tyndall. Fiona says, “Three generations unite in song. We carry the voices of the past, weave them into the present and gift them to the future – a family woven together by love, memory, and the timeless spirit of music”.
The album features further collaborations with some of Ireland’s leading contemporary figures in Irish traditional music, including Fergal Scahill (Formerly of We Banjo 3 – Best Folk Album Winner at the 2018 RTÉ Folk Awards), Brendan Hayes, multi-instrumentalist and long-time collaborator of Tyndall’s, renowned Irish and World music artist and producer Seán Whelan (Puck Fair, Hotfoot, The Café Orchestra) Kieran Munnelly (The David Munnelly Band), Maire Egan (lead fiddle soloist for Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance”), James Blennerhasset (session bassist for Mary Black, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Elvis Costello, Sinead O’Connor, The Rolling Stones, Steve Earle, Sharon Shannon, The Chieftains, Daniel O’Donnell and more), Tim Edey (double BBC Musician of the year, BBC ALBA/Scotland Best Traditional musician 2020, BBC Radio Two Musician of the year 2012 at the BBC R2 Folk Awards), and 5-time All-Ireland title holder Padraig Rynne.
About the title track, Fiona shares, “I have fond memories of my Dad singing this children’s song to my first-born daughter, Aisling, and I’m thrilled that she is joining me on this version. The original version was sung in a minor key and during the recording process, Brendan and I thought it sounded much happier in a major key, therefore giving this old traditional song a new melody. We were having conversations about the effect of climate change and how awful the world would be without birdsong, so we also wrote a new bridge for the song. Special thanks to Áine Ni Shiordán of Galway for adding crucial words and phrases to the new lyric. The song recognises the beauty of bird song and welcoming it into our world”.
The acclaimed solo-artist has also announced three Dublin launch shows this September to celebrate the album’s release in Ireland, before she returns to New Jersey, where she now resides. The series of shows will include a number of special guests, and gig-goers are encouraged to book tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Tuesday, Sept.2nd, The Cat and Cage, Dromcondra, 8pm | tickets here
Wednesday Sept.10th, Whelan’s upstairs, Dublin, 8pm | tickets here
Friday Sept 12th, Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann, Monkstown, Dublin, 8pm | first come first served seating
Album Cover Photo by Brendan Burke – shootmydog.ie | Artwork by Viv Tyndall