Music students at South East Technological University (SETU) have teamed up with Imagine Arts Festival to present rising folk, jazz and neo-soul talent Síomha for a live performance at St. Patrick’s Gateway on Wednesday, 25 October.
Made possible by SETU BA Music students who encouraged Síomha to add a Waterford stop to her Ireland tour schedule, this performance is being organised as part of a practical element to their studies.
Ahead of her Waterford performance, Síomha will be delivering a workshop entitled 'Professional Development for Musicians' to groups of young, aspiring musicians and performers. This workshop will be open to the public.
Síomha’s debut album ‘Infinite Space’ is described by The Irish Times as “a seriously accomplished and self-confident debut”. Produced by the Grammy-nominated Tyler Duncan (The Olam), the LP features an all-star lineup of musicians including Joe Dart (Vulfpeck), Louis Cato (Bobby McFerrin/ Snarky Puppy), Martin Atkinson Borrull (Toucan) and violinist Jeremy Kittel (Bela Fleck/ Chris Thile). Síomha has been a regular guest of folk legend Paul Brady on his tours and has performed at festivals such as Electric Picnic, Celtic Connections, Cambridge Folk Festival and Fête de la Musique at Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris. In 2018, she was invited to tour with the celebrated contemporary American-Irish group The Olam. Síomha’s music effortlessly combines the worlds of funk, folk, soul, jazz and trad to create her own intoxicating blend of Hiberno-neo-soul.
Síomha has since added a contemporary classical twist with her recent recording with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. These tracks will be released on a new EP titled ‘Infinite Space Reimagined’ – an ambitious follow-up to her debut album. The EP will also feature a track with Metropole Orkest, the world’s leading pop and jazz orchestra who have collaborated with Ella Fitzgerald, Bono, Snarky Puppy and Robbie Williams.
Síomha’s ethical and sustainable approach to her music career is a shining example to all working in the industry. Her album ‘Infinite Space’ was nominated for the RTÉ Folk Awards in 2022, but she respectfully declined an invitation to take part in the awards ceremony stating, “My motivation as an artist comes from the making of art as opposed to the competitive and often toxic environment perpetuated by the Irish music industry. As a queer female artist, I can’t engage with a celebration with this industry”.
Síomha plays at St. Patrick's Gateway on Wednesday, 25 October with support from The SETU Hot Club (gypsy jazz ensemble led by Dylan Bible). Tickets €16. Available from Eventbrite.