banríon, the musical project of Irish songwriter Róisín Ní Haicéid, has released new single, Forgiving, from upcoming album, Untarnishing. We asked the BIG questions . . .
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Beginning in 2020 as a DIY indie-rock band, banríon has released two EPs, and supported NewDad, Lime Garden and Pillow Queens alongside performances at festivals such as All Together Now and Other Voices.
Speaking about the new track, the singer says, "Forgiving is a message to myself about learning to forgive the things that happen to you. When I was seventeen, I experienced a life-changing accident during spinal surgery, and I spent the following years wrestling with accepting my new reality.
"Writing Forgiving became an attempt to close that chapter and make peace with what happened to me."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
This is the hardest question to answer! Hmm... I get bad stage fright, I'm doing some research on metal detecting and I live above a Wetherspoons.
How would you describe your music?
I think I write quite simple songs with very literal lyrics; it's an outlet for me but I have fun with it. The album I'm releasing is a mix of indie-rock and indie-folk, the indie-rock stuff was all written when I was playing with a band and the softer stuff all came after the project became a solo venture, I think you can hear that shift in energy on the record.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I got into indie rocky stuff like Soccer Mommy, Alex G, Pillow Queens and Snail Mail when I was around 19/20 and was starting to write my own songs. Lately, I've been loving Allegra Krieger, Alana Markel and Joanne Robertson and have been taking notes from them for a record in the distant, distant, distant future.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I saw Bombay Bicycle Club in the Academy when I was about fourteen years old. SOAK was supporting, which was my introduction to them - I remember being right up at the very front barrier, looking up and feeling so awestruck.
What was the first record you ever bought?
It was Songs about Jane by Maroon 5, my parents got it for me with my very own CD player when I was around eight. The first vinyl record I bought was Vashti Bunyan's Just Another Diamond Day. I bought it in Athens when I was probably twenty three and a half.
What's your favourite song right now?
The Whistling Song by Soft Location.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Ellie O'Neill in her song Witness - "I took you from a drеam I had and put you in my life". Ooft.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That is the second hardest question, probably The Whistling Song again? The album I could forever rinse is definitely Hounds of Love by Kate Bush.
Where can people find your music/more information?
You can find my music on my Bandcamp, all streaming platforms and you can keep up with me on Instagram & TikTok.
Alan Corr
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