22 April 2024
Every Monday I will be bringing you an interview with an independent band, duo or music artist. This week, I caught up with Celbridge artist Daughter Of A Drum (AKA Aoife McAtamney) to find out more…
Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I’m from Celbridge Co Kildare, a small town just outside of Dublin. It’s hard to say when I got into music – it was always around the house. My parents were fans of James Taylor, Mary Black and Garth Brooks, my mom sang and my dad played the guitar. Then my older brother was into AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and was in a band called Johnny and the Hoover bags so – yeah – it was just a very musical environment! I can remember songwriting at a very earlier age, one of the first things I got into art wise! I was a reclusive poet at age eight hahaha
I knew I wanted to honour my ancestors and my Irish roots. My name in Irish is Aoife Nic An Tiompánaigh, Nic A translated to Daughter Of and Tiompán means timbrel, taber or drum. I put the two together to create Daughter Of A Drum.
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
I think I covered the early influences with Johnny and the Hoover bags above hehe but elaborating a little more on that I think I’ve listened to Beyoncé on repeat since I remember. I’m really into Phoebe Bridgers at the moment, Garden Song is just the best thing I’ve ever heard. My go to recently is a lot of Rosaliá – I love how experimental she is and talented vocally, she sings like the clouds. Samora Pinderhughes, Niamh Regan and Beautiful Chorus are other staples plus I can’t not mention Bjork and Meredith Monk…
How would you describe your sound?
I can describe the process of making the sound more as in – I hear melodies constantly and I have a compulsion to write these melodies down, as if it’s the most important thing in the world. But I think my sound you could say is the outcome of a sum that includes of all my musical influences plus the best musical tools I have available to me to communicate what I’m trying to express in a song.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
My latest release is called Heal Me and this song is a song I could sing forever and ever. Each time I sing it it’s like the first time to sing it. It smooths me and the melody is one that brings a smile. The whole song is an exhale, a moment of peace, recalibration and gathering towards goodness. It’s influenced by big band sounds, brass and group singing at weddings! The song is a groovy hug 🙂
What’s your local music scene like?
Inspiring! Beautiful songwriters and singers that are doing everything themselves, producing, mixing, managing – it’s a very self assured music scene with heart and passion and the attitude that anything is possible – the stage the mic the sounds. Singers like Niamh Regan, Ye Vagabonds, Denise Chaila, Cormac Begley – I’m huge fans of!
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
Giving so much heart made art to audiences through recordings, live shows and exhibitions. I’m collaborating with art venues and amazing artists to get them all to you! I am a contemporary dancer as well as a singer and songwriter and so my unique blend of both is really exciting to share, getting audiences in their bodies audio and visually.
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
Yes yes yes; Bjork, Aaron Dessner, Richard Reed Perry, Sam Amidon, Meredith Monk, Beyoncé and many many more!
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
Our live performances are funny! We laugh all the way through (audiences too not just us!)!
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
That I talk to the day time all the time, that I love nature and I’m having a big romance with water. That I want to know them, can’t wait to meet them and I want them to know I give my full heart to my work in the world, I really hope it reaches you and you smile!
Upcoming live dates and performances
Friday 26th April 2024 – Marrowbone Book Store, Dublin at 7:00pm – free entry!
You can find out more about Daughter Of A Drum on her website or via Apple Music, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify, X (Twitter) or YouTube.
UPDATE: Daughter Of A Drum is based in Glasthule Village, County Dublin.
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