Interview and photography by: Rob Jastrzebski

Studying the origin of many well-known Irish singers and bands it becomes clear that county Donegal in North Western Ireland must be a very fertile and inspiring area for high quality musicians. Aoife Ní Fhearraigh is one of them. A singer with a 'light', 'warm' and 'nostalgic' voice, wonderfully translating old stories about love and life into songs that touch the heart. Aoife belongs to the top of the new generation traditional Irish singers and her reputation is rapidly growing among traditional Irish music-lovers all over the world, especially after the release of her first solo-album 'Aoife' in 1996.

Aoife was born in Lunniagh, Derrybeg (Gweedore) in north-west Donegal, a rural area near the Atlantic coast and the source of 'Gaeltacht' which is one of the most important traditional Irish languages that is still spoken today. Just listen to her album to get an impression of what it sounds like as all her songs are performed in this language. Music-lovers who are not familiar with traditional Irish languages may not be able to understand a word of her songs, but who cares! The songs are so 'spiritual' that you don't have to understand the words. You can feel the sense behind the songs! Besides, Aoife usually gives a proper explanation of all her songs during concerts and festivals.

 

As mentioned above Aoife was in good company to prepare for her musical career. North-west Donegal has produced lots of famous musicians such as the Brennan (Enya, Máire) and Duggan families who were the founders of Clannad, Altan's Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Míchéal, Tríona and Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill. Plenty local inspiration as well as local repertoire in songs. Many of the songs Aoife sings today have their roots in this coastal area of Ireland: ballads, love songs, drinking songs...

But when did she make her first steps on the music-stage?
Aoife explains: "That happened at a very young age. I think I was about five years old when my father took me to the church to become a member of the choir. A little later I started to learn fiddle and tin whistle as well. During my teenage-years I began to take part in singing-competitions, both local and national. I loved singing and I won several awards in the course of the years. During holidays I joined an occasional band, singing at cultural events and in little venues. Bigger festivals were still far away and to be honest I didn't have any plans to evolve in that direction."

 

Break-through

Perhaps she didn't but music became a more important part of her life every day and soon the world would find out! Her first recording was released on cassette in 1991, titled 'Loinneog Cheoil'.

Aoife: "It was a compilation of traditional songs, strongly influenced by other singers and songwriters from my area. The pure traditional music has always had strong attraction on me. I love those songs. Actually it wasn't my intention to record anything those days but some people encouraged and advised me to do a recording because they thought it might appeal to a bigger audience of traditional music lovers."

That proved to be true and several years later the great 'break-through' came for Aoife. Her first solo album was released in 1996. The album is a wonderful collection of Gaelic love-songs, traditional ballads brought with emotion and nostalgia.

"Again I was in good company. Máire Brennan and Denis Woods did the production and they gave me very good support. Máire did some of the backing-vocals as well. The Brennan family lives a few miles from me. Together with Máire, Denis and several other great artists we made a perfect team. It was a very successful project."

The break-through also resulted in high sales-figures after the release. The album did very well in Ireland and Britain in the beginning already but meanwhile it is sold all over the world. Even in Japan where the written text of the songs has been translated to Japanese.

Aoife: "From the moment the album was released, things have been accelerating rapidly. I was asked to perform during festivals all over Ireland, Europe and later in other countries as well. I decided the time had come to start my own band and soon I had a group of nice musicians around me, who are now touring with me."

Currently this is the composition of Aoife's band:

Sinead Madden from County Mayo: fiddle
Feargal Murray, County Derry: keyboard
Paul Byrne from Dublin, percussion
Tiarnan Dinkin, Monaghan: uilleann pipes/whistle
Ewan Cowley, county Derry, guitar

 

Professional career

The break-through after her first solo-album has brought Aoife to many famous places and special events. The G8 economic top-conference in Okinawa for example, in May last year.

"That really was a special experience. I sang unaccompanied in Irish and the language of Okinawa. The concert was held in the national park and the event was recorded for Japanese TV."

Apart from Japan, homeland Ireland and England, Aoife has recently been performing in Germany, the United States and The Netherlands and she is now among the most popular artists in her category. She also joins other artists on their work. Most recently she contributed on three albums of Phil Coulter. Her vocal contribution on his latest album 'Highland Cathedral' has set off very positive reviews and is nominated for a Grammy Award.

About her plans for the future Aoife is quite certain. She has reached a point of decision that will probably change her life. "Yes, I will have to make an important decision. Until now my musical career has not been a full-time job. I still have to combine it with my daily job at an industrial development agency. But it is getting more and more difficult to combine due to busy travel-schedules and the ever rising number of performances. I will have to choose for a professional musical career."

Last but not least the people who love Aoife's music certainly want to know when her next album will be released. "That's a matter of time but I hope to release a new album in the course of 2001."

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