Sep 09
9
Lumiere –The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton Sat 19th September
Pauline Scanlon and Éilís Kennedy, two of Ireland’s finest and most distinct singers have recently joined forces to form a new group Lumiere and play the Glens Centre Manorhamilton on Sat 19th September. Both from Dingle and established solo artists in their own rights, the pair have been snapped up by Sony and are kicking up a storm in the media. A new album produced by legendary record producer John Reynolds (Sinead O’Connor, Andrea Corr, U2, Damien Dempsey etc) has just been released, receiving a glowing full-page feature in the Irish Times, and critical acclaim from leading music magazines. Lumiere’s songs are mainly drawn from the Irish tradition but also touch on the great American songbook and are described by The Irish Music Magazine as beautifully arranged and impeccably presented by a duo whose voices combine so well you’d think they were siblings..
Pauline and Éilís have been familiar with each other’s singing for many years. Yet until now, Pauline’s touring commitments meant a musical coming together wasn’t possible. Now Lumiere has put that right. Spending many a winter’s night looking over old songbooks and comparing music handed down by their respective families, the pair realised they had much in common in outlook and intonation.
As Pauline notes, “We realised that we preferred singing together to singing alone which was a revelation to both of us and a beautiful thing. It worked so quickly we knew we were on to a good thing. We slotted into each other’s singing like we’d always done it.”
Of their musical pairing, Éilís says: “We are extremely passionate about the place we come from. Part of the attraction is that we see that in each other. We hear it in each other’s singing and it takes us to a place that’s beautiful, safe, secure and home, no matter where we are.”
Pauline adds: “We’re singing songs that our families have passed on to us, that we ourselves have picked up along the way. The only other pre-requisite is that the songs speak to us emotionally.”
Legendary record producer John Reynolds had met Pauline through Sharon Shannon, and when he heard what Lumiere was doing, he offered to produce their album. John manages Damien Dempsey, along with David Jaymes of London management company Spirit Music and Media, whose past and present clients include Mike Scott, Republica, The Wonder Stuff, Beth Orton and Sinead O’Connor. The successful team signed Lumiere to their management roster in early 2009.
John Reynolds says of Lumiere: “Pauline and Éilís have a rare and unique singing style I had never heard before. From the moment I heard their voices I knew we had to make an album. Discovering these songs through their voices lifted them into a place of real soulful tradition, ethereal but at same time modern. A pure joy.”
Lumiere’s album is released on Fri 11th Sept and they play the Glens on Sat 19th Sept at 8.30pm. Bookings: 071 98 55833. For more information or to listen log on to www.lumieremusic.net
