Feeney Bopper
We had a bit of a chat with the Galway girl whose album. 13 Songs, has become one of the most acclaimed debuts in recent Irish musical history... By Shelley Marsden - 01/03/07
Since she won the Choice Music Prize, Ireland’s equivalent of the Mercury Music Award, it seems everyone wants a piece of her. But Julie Feeney is taking things at her own pace. With three master degrees, a bit of modelling, a stint with Riverdance, the ability to play ten instruments and years’ experience as a professional singer, this dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty has already crammed more experience into her twenty-eight years than most people do in a lifetime.
So she won’t let her recent deal with Sony and the fact that her album, which she created and marketed on her own, is being raved about go to her head. 13 Songs, is Bjork-esque in parts, with some incredible puirt a buel (Celtic music that uses vocals to replicate dance movements), though there’s nothing staged about Feeney’s kookiness, this is completely organic.
Her music is powered by strong, disarmingly pure vocals with minimal instrumental back-up. Everybody should listen to the single Aching at least once in their life – if not for its beauty, for the note she hits and then holds for a phenomenal twenty seconds. Shelley Marsden catches up with the Galway-born, Dublin-based singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist.
Are you surprised at the response to your album?
I’m delighted. I didn’t know if people would ‘understand’ it, but they have. It’s amazing to read rave reviews about yourself in mainstream broadsheets.
When I was actually making the album, I didn’t think too much about what the response would be. I was too concentrated on what I was doing. I came from quite an obscure musical background, so I wasn’t expecting a huge reaction.
I sang with Riverdance for four months. What I mean is I’ve always done pretty left-of-centre stuff.
The making of 13 Songs was unusual in itself….
It was. I made the songs in my own apartment, on my little A-track. When I got to the studio, I wanted the songs re-recorded exactly as they were. We only brought in a few musicians on three, four tracks. We had it wrapped within two weeks. There were one or two new touches, but that really was it.
I was on a bit of a holiday from the National Chamber Choir and I was conscious of having to go back to work! I couldn’t faff about, I was in a job! I was so focused; there was no drinking or carrying on.
Why 13 Songs?
I had already written them all, except Lui – I finished the lyrics in time to record the album. The tracks weren’t really connected to each other, they’re just a collection of songs, hence the title. It’s the sound that links these songs; it’s the keys that they are sung in. They’re about space, aural space.
Maybe the next album will be more themed, but I don’t know, it’s too early to say.
The single, Aching is gorgeous…
Oh, making the video for that was just amazing. I worked with Maria Mochnacz, who produced videos with PJ Harvey, so I really didn’t know what to expect. Watching someone like that at work is brilliant. We knew we wanted some kind of performance art feel to it, so we have this paint, slowly dripping on my head. It was great fun to do.
You’re now signed to Sony – all good?
It’s not a huge label. They’re very good at letting me do what I do; I have a lot of creative control. They email me about every minute detail, every tiny change to the album cover; they’re very hands-on. They have embraced me as an independent artist, really. Nobody has forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do! They didn’t change anything about my album when it was re-released in the UK. Even the writing on the cover is my own.
For the full interview, get your copy of The Irish World.
Julie Feeney’s album 13 Songs is out now. The singer will be at London’s Covent Garden on St Patrick’s Day @12.45, and on her UK tour from5th-15th March. See www.juliefeeney.com for details.
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