Brigid Mae Power is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician.

Early life

Power was born in London, England to Irish parents. Her family relocated to Ireland when she was eleven years old. She learned to play the button accordion before starting to sing and play piano as a teen.

Career

Power began releasing music under the name ''Brigid Power-Ryce'' in 2010. Her debut EP ''You Are Here'' was released by the independent label

Rusted Rail Rusted Rail is an Irish independent record label that was started in 2006 by Keith Wallace. Rusted Rail have released albums by artists including Phantom Dog Beneath the Moon, United Bible Studies, The Declining Winter. Music for Dead Birds an ...

in 2010. This was followed by two self released EPS, ''Ode to an Emryo'' in 2011, and ''Eee Tuts'' in 2013. The live album ''I Told You The Truth'' was released in 2014 by the label Abandon Reason. Power recorded the album in the St. Nicholas Collegiate Church, Galway city. ''

The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...

'' wrote of the album ''"the setting gives her haunting vocals a spiritual resonance"''. After meeting American musician Peter Broderick at a gig, Power travelled to Broderick's studio in

Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...

in 2015 to record her debut studio album. After finishing the production of her debut album, she received a two-album deal from American label

Tompkins Square Records Tompkins Square Records is an independent record label producing archival releases of gospel, blues, jazz, and country music. History In 2005, Josh Rosenthal launched Tompkins Square Records in New York City after working 15 years in a variety of ...

. Her debut self titled album ''Brigid Mae Power'' was released in 2016 and was a critical success, receiving positive reviews from ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...

'', ''

Record Collector ''Record Collector'' is a British monthly music magazine. It was founded in 1980 and distributes worldwide. History The early years The first standalone issue of ''Record Collector'' was published in March 1980, though its history stretches ba ...

'', and ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

''. In an interview with ''

Uncut Uncut may refer to: * ''Uncut'' (film), a 1997 Canadian docudrama film by John Greyson about censorship * ''Uncut'' (magazine), a monthly British magazine with a focus on music, which began publishing in May 1997 * '' BET: Uncut'', a Black Enter ...

'', Power stated the album was inspired by her experiences as a single mother. Power promoted the album with a tour of the UK and

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. Her second studio album '' The Two Worlds'' was released in 2018. The album was met with widespread critical acclaim from the music press, with Pitchfork writing ''"The Two Worlds is Power's most ambitious and her most introspective"''. The album received 4 star reviews from ''

'', ''

'' and ''

''. ''

The Line of Best Fit ''The Line of Best Fit'' is an independent online magazine based in London, concentrating on new music. It publishes independent music reviews, features, interview, and media. Founded by Richard Thane in February 2007 and currently edited by P ...

'' wrote ''"Stately, solemn, slow-burning and seriously beautiful, most of The Two Worlds isn't far removed from its predecessor's intimate templates"''. Power's third album, '' Head Above the Water'', was released in 2020 by

Fire Records Fire Records was an American independent record label, set up in 1959 by Bobby Robinson. Amongst others, it released records by Lightnin' Hopkins, Elmore James, Buster Brown and Arthur Crudup. At one point it was thought Fire had issued the la ...

. In 2021, she appeared on '' Other Voices''. Power released her fourth LP, '' Dream from the Deep Well'', in 2023. The album received favourable reviews from critics, with an aggregrate score of 76% on Metacritic. The album entered the UK Official Folk Albums Chart at number 10.

Discography

Brigid Mae Power at Rough Trade West in 2023 Albums *''

Brigid Mae Power Brigid Mae Power is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. Early life Power was born in London, England to Irish parents. Her family relocated to Ireland when she was eleven years old. She learned to play the button accordion before start ...

'' (2016) *'' The Two Worlds'' (2018) *'' Head Above the Water'' (2020) *'' Dream from the Deep Well'' (2023) EPS *''You Are Here'' (2010) *''Ode to an Embryo'' (2011) *''Eee Tuts'' (2013) *''The Ones You Keep Close'' (2017) *''Burning Your Light'' (2021) Live albums *''I Told You the Truth'' (2014)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Power, Brigid Mae Irish folk singers Year of birth missing (living people) Living people 21st-century Irish singers 21st-century Irish women singers Singers from London