On January 7 Irish singer-songwriter and pianist Lisa Cuthbert launches the crowdfunder campaign for her new album Paramour: http://www.sponsume.com/project/lisa-cuthbert-paramour-2012-album-fundraiser
The new collection of songs is inspired by Cuthbert’s fascination with a dark stain on Ireland’s history, the abuses against inmates at Magdalene laundries – workhouse-style institutions run by the Catholic Church from 1809-1996 for the shelter and rehabilitation of “fallen women”.
On her Sponsume crowdfunding project page Cuthbert writes, “Over a period of 150 years, an estimated 30,000 women were imprisoned in the Magdalene Asylums, and the last one shut in 1996!!! That part is really shocking for me because by 1996 I had already been baptised in the Catholic church and was attending a Catholic convent school in Dublin. It’s horrific to think that I’ve been raised and educated with the same values and morals imposed by an organisation that destroyed so many lives.”
Paramour will be Cuthbert’s second studio album and the follow-up to her debut Obstacles, released in 2010. Cuthbert says the new material is “darker and more dramatic than my first album, which was an accessible singer-songwriter album. This time we’re going a little bit further.”
Planned as an independent release, Paramour’s funding goal of €5,000 will cover the “production of the album, advertising, marketing, and distribution” and sponsor reward packages on the her Sponsume funding project page include feature incentives such as unlimited access to online performances for one year, custom song recordings, and private shows.
ABOUT LISA CUTHBERT
Irish singer-songwriter and pianist Lisa Cuthbert makes music that has been described as a dark, brooding mix of eclectic sounds with a Celtic twist. Informed by such dynamic influences as Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, and Loreena McKennitt, Lisa’s work is distinguished by haunting, ethereal voice, dramatic songwriting, and layered harmonies. Through songs that explore memories, moods and feelings Cuthbert aspires to a deeper emotional affect that draws listeners into fervent reverie.
Lisa’s debut EP Ready to Unfold was released in 2009. On the strength of its material she toured Europe providing backing vocals as a member of Antimatter’s touring band. More recently she has supported Wovenhand, Amber Asylum and UK prog-rock veterans Marillion, and she has just been confirmed to play three shows at Castlefest 2012 in the Netherlands.
Cuthbert’s solo album Obstacles, released in 2010, explores a variety of familiar situations across a range of emotions, from everyday highs and lows to universal fears like death and abandonment. Featuring guest appearances by Mick Moss and backing vocals by Lisa’s younger sister Aoife, Obstacles continues to receive airplay on both terrestrial and web radio throughout Europe.
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PRESS
“The haunting ‘Cherry Blossom’, the bouncy ‘My Material Girl’
and the dramatic ‘Storm Coming On’ is the best quarter of an hour
of music I’ve heard all year.” – DPRP.net
“Lisa’s lyrics and arrangements display an intelligence far beyond
her years” – Everyone Deserves Music
“The greatest strength of the album is Lisa’s wonderful varied vocal
range. She holds your attention through the delicate track ‘Second
Leaving’ but can really belt out the lyrics during songs like ‘My
Material Girl’.” – 2UIBestow
“Cuthbert obviously owes something to Dolores O’Riordan and
company, but her music definitely stands on its own as both novel
and emotionally engaging.” – Cluas
“Ihre Musik ist melodramatisch und einfach wunderschön!”
- Tom Kolbe, King.FM Berlin
keep up to date with Lisa on her Facebook, Twitter & Her webs.com page
By: Shayne Byrne | Beat-Play Ambassador Ireland | @shaynewithMWL | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC