Traditional music and song were as much part of Maranna McCloskey’s childhood and adolescence as Top of the Pops and Smash Hits – so it’s no great surprise that Maranna’s debut album draws heavily on her early exposure to Irish balladry. ‘At Last’ pays a debt to that traditional influence, but the album demonstrates a coming of age with an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary songs.
Maranna displayed real talent for singing as a child and regularly attended fleadhs and seisiúns, but it was only during her mid-teens that she realised she also had a gift for song and melody writing. When she was still a student, Maranna was asked to join local traditional band, Óige with whom she performed at numerous music festivals throughout Europe and shared the stage with traditional luminaries such as Sharon Shannon and Davy Spillane.
Like so many, Maranna left her Dungiven home (in 2001) to spend a year in Australia. On a visit to Fraser Island, she was moved to compose a song based on the aboriginal history of the island. Realising she missed writing and performing, she was prompted to record a 4-track EP and won two Irish American News ‘Top Tir’ awards: Best Female Newcomer 2002 and her own composition, ‘Fraser Island’ was named Vocal Cut of the Year 2003.
When she returned home, Maranna bought a house and joined the University of Ulster as a clinical trials technician. Even though domesticity beckoned, Maranna still harboured a desire to record a solo album. As luck would have it, she was invited to sing at a St. Patrick’s Day concert in San Diego with The Brian Baynes Band, Eric Rigler and The San Diego Symphony Orchestra – one of the leading orchestras in the US. Experiencing the buzz of the music industry again and feeling too young to ‘settle down’, she decided to sell her house to finance the recording of a full length solo album with producer Brian Baynes.
While Maranna herself admits that selling her house is a bit of a gamble, it is not a complete leap in the dark – “Having performed in front of receptive audiences all over the world, I knew that I had to take this risk. Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to record the album, I wouldn’t have had the finance or the confidence – but now I know that I don’t want to waste my talents and I want to express sentiments that resonate with my audiences.”
This solo debut demonstrates that as an artist, Maranna has matured into a songwriter of considerable depth and as a vocalist she has grown into her gift with new found confidence.
She says, “It has been wonderful to have the opportunity to record some of my favourite folk songs as well as my own material and I hope I have created music that is universal in its appeal. I look forward to performing these songs to live audiences as it is truly exhilarating to see how an audience responds to my lyrics and voice.”
This album is the fruit of a lot of labour and represents Maranna’s growth and maturity. Touching, melodic, memorable, emotive – all words that describe, but don't fully capture the sound of ‘At Last’.
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Hi Maranna - just got a look at the show on iPlayer and the feeling is mutual. Your delivery was beautiful and the guys were great. Doesn't it all seem a long time ago?? Speak soon! x
Hey Maranna, Sweet voice and great melodies. Thanks so much for your support...I appreciate it. Keep on doing what you do....and bring about the balance we all need. Peace, Rick.
Hi Maranna, I didn't make it to Milwaukee for the Irish Fest this summer-- my loss!! Hope you had a great time. Please return for a tour when you can; we have some terrific Irish Fests in Ohio as well....
Michael Brunnock will be performing with his Irish Band "Little Palace" November 5th 8pm Whelans, Dublin November 7th 9pm Headfort Arms, Kells, Co. Meath November 12th 8pm The Backroom, Navan, Co. Meath Little Palace will be releasing their New Single "Beekeeper" from their latest album Invitation Time. We all hope to see you there. Keep Music Alive go hear a show.
You could hardly realize my happiness to run into you here on My Space site and get to know your so fantastic country music. It does remind me of my unforgettable journey to Europe and Great Britain in 1988. One of the highlights was certainly visiting Ireland and discover the duo Makem & Clancy. Many of their songs made me cry and now you, Maranna, singing tunes like "The verdant braes of Screen" and"Magherafelt May Fair" manage to bring me to tears as well. Your voice is terrific, sweet, tuneful as it can be and I hope the whole wide world can hear and applaud you and your impeccable art. I wish you success with your album AT LAST and also hope you enjoy my simple unpretentious provincial music and send me your kind comments on at least three songs: "Galo cantou", "Dia de folia" and "Mariazinha". Please, accept all my respect and admiration for your person and the whole Irish people, I love to the backbone. From your admirer living down here in Minas Gerais, heart of Brazil,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY PROFILE. I ALSO READ YOURS. IF I COULD SING LIKE YOU I'D SELL NOT ONLY MY HOUSE. YOU'RE FAB!!!
AND YES I DID WRITE THE TURFMAN AND THE OTHERS SONGS. ITS ALL ABOUT MY FATHER AND EVERY WORD IS TRUE. IT WAS HARD WORK AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THOSE MEN DIDNT FREEZE TO DEATH. GLAD YOU LIKE IT
Hi Maranna!! Thanks for your friendship.. Today I saw and read about you in the newspaper and now you write me.. Great and amazing.. :-)
Thanks for your nice words about my voice I really appreciate it.. Thanks from the bottom of my heart and then nice words from Irish people.. I love that.. I've been in Ireland 3 times but I need to come and live there.. You live in a lovely place!!!!! :-) Two year ago I stayed a month in Galway to improve my English then a year later so last year I missed it and I had to come but only 5days :-( this year I came back again in June always 5days but this time I travel all around and Dublin is full of music.. But I prefer Galway as a city!!! But I prefer were Ireland is quite and beautiful.. Now I need to come back and see Howth but I only have to work :-( Sadness I want to sing and come in Irealnd.. I hope to come and spend a year there soon!!! Yes I will put other songs.. I wanted to wait a little bit although I have others two recoerded...
If you want you can see 2videos in my page.. Did you see them?? Maybe you didn't go do.. Watch them!!!
I don't remember which song I prefer of yours I have to see again... Tomorrow is Dolores'r O'Riordan's birthday.. She is the best singer for me and she's Irish.. Have you ever see her???
Happy weekend Irish woman.. Please send my greetings to my belonged Ireland.. That I miss I miss I miss so so so much!!!
Stopping by to say HI!! =) Thanks for the friendship! Hope you had a Great Weekend. Please check out/ add Kimberly if you haven't done so already!! Thanks. Lovee-KPOFS
Hiya Marana,
Thanks for the friends request. If you send me a note of your email
address, I will update you. Also if you order an album from
www.estheroconnor.com/shop and would like it signed , just drop me a
line here.
Anyway feel free to email back.
All the best to you,
Esther
www. estheroconnor. com
’’The Sunday Express (five stars) ***** It’s clear from the title track
that you are listening to something special with O’Connor’s second solo
album… It’s time for KT, Sandi and Amy to make room because this should
launch a new Scottish star into the charts. ’’
The Herald (four stars) **** ''O’Connor has one of the best voices
heard in Scotland in some time, and a set of fine songs to show it
off…''
The List (four stars) **** There is an unmistakable modern twist to her
music, and she flits effortlessly between, husky poppiness on the likes
of ‘Saturday Man’ to soulful stripped down and spine tingling.
lol Cheers again
