Galway native Quinn has been steeped in music from an early age. She has mastered a multitude of instruments along the way, including mandolin, violin, xylophone and guitar, before finally settling on piano as her main instrument of choice. Inspired by her mother’s Carole King albums as well as by classic jazz and blues singers of the ‘40s and ‘50s, she started out composing for musical theatre before eventually releasing an EP in 2007
Her debut album has echoes of all her combined influences, as well as her own individual take on things, while fans of recent sensation Rumer will find touchstones in these songs.
Piano and brass underpins the jaunty opener, ‘Mind The Gap’, which has a warm, ‘70s west coast feel, while ‘Small Town Feet’ recalls one of the greats of that era, Rickie Lee Jones. Muted trumpet and a Bossa Nova rhythm form the backdrop to the gorgeously sultry ‘Alone Again’ while, in a change of approach, Arabic rhythmic textures are apparent on the most experimental track here, ‘On My Way’. A definite highlight, ‘Not Sorry’ recalls the almost forgotten New York songstress Laura Nyro, while the subtle ‘Song I Wrote For You‘ could become her calling card should it reach a sufficientlywide audience.
Vocally, Quinn has an understated, lilting style with some quirky phrasing, while Let The Games Begin boasts sympathetic backing, arrangements and production.
Charming.