Celtic Woman may have begun as a one-night-only concert in 2005 but it has grown into a phenomenon and one of the most successful touring groups with multiple chart records for World Music. The show has continued to evolve saying goodbye to many beloved members and introducing new fan favorites. Likewise, their sound has changed with their different releases. ‘Destiny’ took it back to the traditional with founding member Méav Ní Mhaolchatha taking over as the group’s vocal director. The album was the group’s first to be nominated for a Grammy Award. ‘Voices of Angels’ which followed took a more crossover approach with its lush orchestrations and covering of songs such as ‘Time to Say Goodbye.’
‘Ancient Land’ is their first album of completely new music since “Destiny.” Máiréad Carlin who has been involved in the group since 2013 tells us, “We really wanted to delve even deeper into the World Music genre for this album. I guess you could say we went a little more tribal. All across the world and in so many historic traditions there have been tribes- and these tribes all have their own musical sounds. Merging traditional sounds from across the world was very much a part of this album- for example fusing African drums with trad Irish pipes.”
This time around they wanted to showcase a more raw, earthy sound. “Gavin our musical director has composed a lot of the new music you hear on this album,” she continues. “He has taken all these worldly sounds and created an entirely new sound world that transports you to another place. For us, that is what music is about – taking you somewhere else. Ireland has a rich tapestry of unheard songs and we really dug deep to uncover and dust off some of them. It’s our mission that these songs and airs are not forgotten.”
The album has been an immediate hit with fans shooting to No.1 in the World Charts. Ancient Land is also the introduction to twenty-one-year-old Megan Walsh who has replaced Susan McFadden (who left the group to have her first baby). “I definitely was completely overwhelmed at how welcome everyone made me feel. The girls are so incredibly supportive and encouraging and I felt that from the very beginning,” Megan gushed. “I met the girls for the first time at the recording studio in Dublin. I was standing outside when Éabha ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug, I immediately just felt so welcome. The girls and I chatted for a while and after I felt like I had known them forever.” The veteran performers offered her some simple advice: “They told me to believe in myself and to be confident in who I am.”
Megan’s background is in classical voice; she has studied at both the Irish and London Academies of Music and has also studied acting. Some of her solo career highlights so far including performing at Carnegie Hall and also in several musicals; her voice is one that is capable of spanning many genres.
Máiréad also has a background in classical music and studied at the Trinity College of Music in London. She has toured with Don McLean – including a concert at the Royal Albert Hall and released a solo effort “Songbook.” However, creating an album with Celtic Woman is very much a team effort. Máiréad describes the process for us: “We gather around the piano in the studio one on one with Gavin and he has a chunk of music on the piano. We start singing through the music for a few hours and it becomes clear which songs you are immediately drawn to – County Down was an instant connection for me.” The simplicity of this piece and Máiréad ’s heartfelt vocals are indeed a perfect fit.
“Sometimes you just know in your heart. We also can ask to sing songs – and are encouraged to send in music that inspires us, but most of the time our Producer Shane and MD Gavin know us better. You can love a song but it might not suit your voice even though you think it does. They hear you differently. I won’t say this too loudly, but they are ALWAYS right.”
Another big part of the team, of course, is their vocal director Méav Ní Mhaolchatha. “Growing up I remember watching YouTube and watching Meav singing Dúlaman in Slane Castle, so having her guidance as our vocal director feels very full circle. Whenever we’re setting up a new show, she is always on hand to help us and create the best sound possible, it’s a real honor to be able to work with her,” Éabha Mcmahon shares.
Éabha joined the group in 2015 but began her musical career quite early. At nine, she was featured on the ‘Beo go Deo’ album. She grew up speaking the Irish language and began to study the traditional sean nós style early. Her cousin is Michael McGlynn who founded the highly successful group Anúna and composes and arranges the majority of their material. At age 15, Éabha joined the group and recorded and toured with them. Her voice has a haunting quality that suits the mythical-sounding ‘Moorlough Shore’.
She also wrote the track ‘Garden of Eden.’ “I’ve been songwriting for as long as I can remember. I love telling stories and especially through song. It’s really a dream come true to have one of my songs on a Celtic Woman album. I wrote this song at a time when I had three part-time jobs in order to pay the rent. But in the background, I was writing all the time and gigging at night time. I just wanted to sing and share my music. Before joining Celtic Woman, I had written an album of original songs and ‘Garden of Eden’ was one of them! My grandparents would tell me that when they were children, they remember the people in their community meeting in the town halls or local pubs and singing songs, as a way of expressing what was going on in their lives.” While the song is quite upbeat the meaning is deeper than it may appear on first listen. “Very often in traditional music, the melody may be joyous but the story talks about real human experiences. The ups, the downs and the in between. I love that about Irish music and I was definitely inspired by that tradition in ‘Garden of Eden’. I know this is hard to believe, but I remember having a dream that I was singing ‘Garden of Eden’ in Celtic Woman. I told my Mum at the time. And three years later I was asked to come in for an audition. It all feels like it was meant to be. I am very grateful for everything that has happened.”
‘Ancient Land’ was recorded in Ireland and at the Real-World Studios in the UK. “Collectively we were working on the album for quite a few months… It was such an awe-inspiring experience recording at Real World Studios, knowing how many incredible artists had walked through those doors. The grounds on which the studios are situated are breath-taking and completely inspire creativity and originality,” Megan tells us.
‘Be Still’ is the shortest song on the album but the harmonies of the soaring sopranos and anchoring alto, along with the choir is absolutely gorgeous and Megan says it was also the quickest song to record. “We actually all recorded this song around one mic at the same time. It was a very emotional experience as I think we all felt very connected not only to each other but to the beautiful lyrics
and harmonies. I think the song that took the longest to record, for me, was ‘Homeland’. This was the first song I recorded with Celtic Woman so I was definitely very nervous. This song is full of beautiful harmonies that I wanted to get perfect.”
‘Homeland’ is one of the catchiest songs from the new record. Another highlight is ‘The Long Journey Home’ with its poignant lyrics and beautiful harmonies, as is the closing track, ‘Going Home.’ The new Celtic anthem was originally sung and composed by Mary Fahl. I heard this song performed live by the group at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center earlier this year and it is sure to be a highlight on their upcoming PBS special filmed at Johnstown Castle.
“Recording in this outdoor venue was something else!” Tara McNeil tells us. She is only the second fiddle player to be featured with Celtic Woman joining in 2016. “Performing with a castle behind us was like being in a dream. The lighting was just incredible as it made the castle come alive in the night sky. Of course, we did have to deal with a few elements as well. There was a mist that came over the stage making the temperature plummet and the stage very slippy. But it made the lighting even more magical so it was worth it!”
Her playing always comes across very sincerely and she is a real pleasure to watch both on their recordings and live in concert. Tara studied violin at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and has performed with the RTE Concert Orchestra and at the National Concert Hall. She also has been previously featured with Anúna and has toured Europe, China, Japan, and Korea.
The girls have already seen the new special. Tara says, “The four of us and some of the incredible team that made the special happen watched it in a little private cinema in Dublin. It was so nice to make an occasion of it and be there supporting each other as we watched it. It can be daunting watching yourself on a big screen but we were blown away by how epic it all looked! It was definitely emotional watching it as it captured one of the most momentous experiences of our lives and it was a tribute to the inspirational man who started it all, Dave Kavanagh.”
The group is now touring their Best of Christmas show in the United States. “My favorite song in the Christmas repertoire is definitely ‘Let it Snow’ – it’s a Big band theme and we really get to let our hair down and have some fun with it!” Éabha reveals. “The orchestras are always really incredible and the energy in this number blows us away every year!”
‘Ancient Land’ will tour next year. Is there anywhere new they’d like to go? “I’d love to go to Hawaii! It’s the only state in the US that Celtic Woman has never performed in since its inception. If we had an island tour and stopped off at French Polynesia too, I wouldn’t complain!” Tara says.
Celtic Woman has had a special relationship with the United States since their initial PBS special and one that has been cemented through many successful years of touring. Audiences of all backgrounds are very receptive to the show. The extensive touring, however, means the ladies are often away from their families and must be careful with their health on the road. Máiréad says that in her 6 years with Celtic Woman she has never been sick – a truly incredible feat which she says is thanks to her background in classical singing. “One of the best things I’ve ever been taught to warm up my voice is to hum very, very gently. Go through your whole range up and down and softly iron out any little crooks you come across. That is enough – a dear friend and previous singing teacher Stuart Barr who was head of the British Voice Association taught me so much about the anatomy of the voice and vocal health. He warned me very early on about tiring my voice out warming up TOO much… The great Joan Sutherland never warmed up her top range because she insisted that if you had a strong middle then you have set yourself up properly. Trust your top and bottom will be there.”
As far rituals go Éabha shares, “Before going on stage the 4 of us always gather together and stand in a circle doing a pinky promise, just as a way of showing our support to each other no matter what and to give us confidence for the show ahead. We’re like sisters so this ritual is really important to us as a team.”
‘Ancient Land’ is now available to purchase. Check with your local PBS station for listing times. On a recent Facebook live chat, the girls teased that they are in talks to also have the special aired in the UK. So what else can we expect from Celtic Woman in the future? Any new musical areas they might explore? Tara would certainly be a fan of the group covering some Disney. “I definitely am a Disney fan! If I had to pick just three of my favorite Disney songs they’d be ‘When she loved me’ Toy story, ‘Go the distance’ Hercules and ‘I see the light’ Tangled. But that’s a very difficult choice because I love so many and it could be a different answer tomorrow!” As to whether or not we might hear her sing in the future she says, “I’d love to sing on a Celtic Woman album someday but for now I’m very happy playing the violin and harp. But we never know what the future will hold so we’ll just have to wait and see!”
“Ancient Land” is out now celticwoman.com
Interview with thanks to Katie Conneely
