Skin, Fiona Apple, Counting Crows, Tori Amos, Jeff Buckley, The Pixies, David Poe, Mando Diao, Ryan Adams, Damien Rice, Newton Faulkner, Johnny Cash, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan. I mainly take my inspiration from the people around me and the situations that I find myself in everyday.
NEW ALBUM OUT NOW - IRENE RAE - END OF NOTHING, BEGINNING OF SOMETHING
IRENE RAE – End Of Nothing, Beginning Of Something: I've had the pleasure of following Irene's musical output for the past four years and it has been such a pleasure. This latest offering ' End Of Nothing, Beginning Of Something' is the long awaited album and you know it's certainly been worth the wait! It's up there with fine wine and love making. It really is! Once you hear this eleven track baby you'll be blown away like I was. Irene Rae has one of those voices that you can never get tired of listening to and her guitar work is spot on too! The backing musicians have really gone out their way to help Irene to write and record the album I knew she was capable of making. There's some great tracks on here including 'Broken Girl', 'The Hero', 'Cold Convenience' and 'Able To Breathe'. As well as having great music on here this also comes well produced and well packaged. 10/10 - Street Voice UK Online Magazine 2009....................................................................................................................................................................................................
Irene Rae – End of Nothing, Beginning of Something:
Make yourself a brew, sit down, take the weight off your feet and set some time aside to reflect on "End Of Nothing Beginning Of Something" the full length debut from aspiring singer/songwriter, Irene Rae. Rae performs a good narrative. Her songs, short stories and slices of life, stripped back to the essentials. The universal questions, do you risk everything waiting for perfection or is nearly there enough? There's a free and easy feel to the delivery. Rae has that confidence you get from being happy in your own skin and is able to capture that sense of self worth in her music. Delightful. - Fatea Records Online Magazine 2009
“I love playing with passion and feeling. To connect with an audience through my experiences and voice is what I strive for. The feelings that I express are raw, and so should be the vehicle of their expression.”.
Life and how people treat others are the main influences on Irene Rae’s reflective and emotional sound. “I find it fascinating how people can effect your outlook on life and the way that you live it”.
Music was something that Irene adopted quite late on in comparison to her peers, in fact she taught herself to play the guitar at the age of 22. “I started writing music when I was going through a situation that I couldn’t explain via speaking”. Basically sitting down and teaching herself to play to accompany the singing that was already a natural part of her through Musical Theatre training.
It is this voice that has caught the attention of Local BBC radio stations throughout the UK and also the eye of signed musicians such as Midge Ure. Irene’s first performance was actually supporting Midge Ure at a Festival, two months after starting to teach herself Guitar. Many more artists supported include Hazel O’Connor, The Levellers, John Power (Cast and The La's), Rod Clements (Lindisfarne), Mark Morriss (the Bluetones) and the Wonderstuff.
REVIEWS::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Art and Soul Magazine May 2008
''Irene Rae connects with the audience through sharing the beauty and honesty of an impassioned soul in an eloquent musical prowess and the results are nothing less than enchanting..... :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Band of the Year Final 2006
“First up on stage is Irene Rae. Ok she isn’t a band but a solo artist. But didn’t she just prove she deserved a place in the final by her performance? And where did that last high note come from? The vocal talents of this girl are amazing. Not to mention her song writing talent and her ability to hold a crowd spellbound. I can only say that if she had a band behind her she could hit the mainstream and be very successful.” Mike Harris, Unity Club.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Punkglobe magazine ‘6-03’ ep review
“I am well impressed with this 3 track ep by Irene. Usually acoustic music doesn’t do too much for me but there’s so much emotion and power in her sound that you simply cannot dismiss this woman. The delightful offering opens up with the title track ‘6-03’ which is the strongest song on here both musically and vocally. The other two tracks ‘Cold Convenience’ and ‘Circa 15th’ aren’t far behind though. I can see why this woman has had direct support slots with the likes of The Levellers. Irene Rae may only be 23 but she kicks ass and when she’s famous don’t forget where you read it first! (9/10)”:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Full Frontal Recordings ‘Caught in the Headlights’ ep review
“I’m really chuffed that Irene has sent me her latest promo to review. Now is it as good as the last cd? Well yes I think there is much more emotion in the music and her voice has come across much more powerfully than in the last recording. Sheryl Crow has a worthy competitor and I don’t say that lightly either. There are so many women doing what Irene Rae is doing at the moment but none are as talented as this lady. I think all the songs on here deserve a listen especially the opening track ‘Star’ and ‘Raincatcher’. Someone really needs to sign this lady now!!! (10/10)”::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Street Voice News 'Time Will Tell' ep review
“Irene Rae never fails to impress me and this release is no different. I like Irene's guitar playing and her powerful vocals which as a combination are up there with the likes of Tracey Chapman and Michelle Shocked. There's four tracks on this single and not one of them is a filler, but for me the opening track 'Afraid' and 'Skindeep Beauty' are by far the best tracks on here. For me they came across really potent as they drew me in deeper. On those two songs there's great music and excellent lyrics which saw me playing them over and over again. Having said that 'Time Will Tell' and 'Iscariot Belief' (Live) weren't too far behind and are a welcome inclusion on this release. Irene Rae is a star and I wish she'd get around to releasing an album very soon. (9/10)”:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
SoftlySoftly has a lovely new venue: Albert & Pearl, Upper St, Islington - next month on first THURSDAY!!! Featured artists, floor spots and a folky music session in the bar room!
I'm Co Hosting The Dave Charles radio show this sunday (1st Nov) 102.3hfm from 19.00GMT, never co hosted a whole show before and a little nervous, so if you could listen in and show some support it would really appreciated x
It was my pleasure to add "Broken Girl" to my Internet radio playlist (playing independent music commercial-free 24x7) and introduced it on my weekly podcast found at http://indiemusicsampler.com/2009/10/30/ims-156/
Blessings, Paul the music lover Indie Music Sampler http://indiemusicsampler.com/
Hi Irene, thanks for the friendship, how are you ??? hope all is well by you !!! if you get a chance, check out my space, and say hello !!! your friend Uwe, from Berlin.
“I love playing with passion and feeling. To connect with an audience through my experiences and voice is what I strive for. The feelings that I express are raw, and so should be the vehicle of their expression.”.
Life and how people treat others are the main influences on Irene Rae’s reflective and emotional sound. “I find it fascinating how people can effect your outlook on life and the way that you live it”.
Music was something that Irene adopted quite late on in comparison to her peers, in fact she taught herself to play the guitar at the age of 22. “I started writing music when I was going through a situation that I couldn’t explain via speaking”. Basically sitting down and teaching herself to play to accompany the singing that was already a natural part of her through Musical Theatre training.
It is this voice that has caught the attention of Local BBC radio stations throughout the UK and also the eye of signed musicians such as Midge Ure. Irene’s first performance was actually supporting Midge Ure at a Festival, two months after starting to teach herself Guitar. Many more artists supported include Hazel O’Connor, The Levellers, John Power (Cast and The La's), Rod Clements (Lindisfarne), Mark Morriss (the Bluetones) and the Wonderstuff.
REVIEWS::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Art and Soul Magazine May 2008
''Irene Rae connects with the audience through sharing the beauty and honesty of an impassioned soul in an eloquent musical prowess and the results are nothing less than enchanting..... :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Band of the Year Final 2006
“First up on stage is Irene Rae. Ok she isn’t a band but a solo artist. But didn’t she just prove she deserved a place in the final by her performance? And where did that last high note come from? The vocal talents of this girl are amazing. Not to mention her song writing talent and her ability to hold a crowd spellbound. I can only say that if she had a band behind her she could hit the mainstream and be very successful.” Mike Harris, Unity Club.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Punkglobe magazine ‘6-03’ ep review
“I am well impressed with this 3 track ep by Irene. Usually acoustic music doesn’t do too much for me but there’s so much emotion and power in her sound that you simply cannot dismiss this woman. The delightful offering opens up with the title track ‘6-03’ which is the strongest song on here both musically and vocally. The other two tracks ‘Cold Convenience’ and ‘Circa 15th’ aren’t far behind though. I can see why this woman has had direct support slots with the likes of The Levellers. Irene Rae may only be 23 but she kicks ass and when she’s famous don’t forget where you read it first! (9/10)”:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Full Frontal Recordings ‘Caught in the Headlights’ ep review
“I’m really chuffed that Irene has sent me her latest promo to review. Now is it as good as the last cd? Well yes I think there is much more emotion in the music and her voice has come across much more powerfully than in the last recording. Sheryl Crow has a worthy competitor and I don’t say that lightly either. There are so many women doing what Irene Rae is doing at the moment but none are as talented as this lady. I think all the songs on here deserve a listen especially the opening track ‘Star’ and ‘Raincatcher’. Someone really needs to sign this lady now!!! (10/10)”::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Street Voice News 'Time Will Tell' ep review
“Irene Rae never fails to impress me and this release is no different. I like Irene's guitar playing and her powerful vocals which as a combination are up there with the likes of Tracey Chapman and Michelle Shocked. There's four tracks on this single and not one of them is a filler, but for me the opening track 'Afraid' and 'Skindeep Beauty' are by far the best tracks on here. For me they came across really potent as they drew me in deeper. On those two songs there's great music and excellent lyrics which saw me playing them over and over again. Having said that 'Time Will Tell' and 'Iscariot Belief' (Live) weren't too far behind and are a welcome inclusion on this release. Irene Rae is a star and I wish she'd get around to releasing an album very soon. (9/10)”:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
![Barlait [HELP US BOOK OUR TOUR!!!] EP ON ITUNES!](http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/35/s_428892b5acc84bb0b0fc4a6420127f91.jpg)
