Limerick rapper Strange Boy performs 'Sorrow' on The Tommy Tiernan Show

Limerick rapper Strange Boy (real name Jordan Kelly) performed a track from his debut album, Holy/Unholy, on RTE's The Tommy Tiernan show over the weekend.

Backed by band members Seán O’Meara on guitar, Dermot Sheedy on bodhrán, Ted Kelly on banjo, and Conor Crimmins on flute; the artist performed 'Sorrow' - an acoustic offering that combines hip-hop with Irish traditional music.

Kelly tweeted in response to the performance saying, "Am only delighted to have had the chance to perform my song for you all. Big love to everyone supporting me, yere legends."

Thank you @Tommedian for having me🙏 was a pleasure listening to each guest tell their story. Am only delighted to have had the chance to perform my song for you all. Big love to everyone supporting me, yere legends🙏❤️

— Strange Boy (@StrangeBoyWha) February 20, 2022

On the rest of the debut, Strange Boy flexes his hip-hop prowess over 10 tracks, all of which detail his personal story.

The album features guest appearances from fellow Limerick rapper Hazey Haze, Strange Boy's brother Seán McNally Kelly and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Moya Brennan.

The music was composed and produced by Enda Gallery in Kilfenora, Co. Clare during lockdown.

Hot Press praised the debut offering from a rising star.

"Sprinkling religious iconography and mile-a-minute, poetic flow throughout, with little background interruptions, HOLY / UNHOLY is a cultural marking point for Jordan," Kate Brayden wrote. "While the rapid-fire album follows the same theme, it’s intensely personal subject matter is undeniably worth dedicating a full-length project to. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who isn’t captivated by Strange Boy’s stark sincerity."

Mental health is a dominant talking point for Jordan throughout the impressive LP.

“When I was working on this album and when Enda was brewing up the beats for me, I got a sort of anxious feeling like I wasn’t going to be able to do the concept we had justice. It was also the worst possible time for me to write an album as there was a lot of suffering going on within my family," Strange Boy said.

"Eventually though, through me being at mental rock bottom, the album revealed itself and the entire thing was writing within a month or two. I wouldn’t say I’m proud of it, I’d say I’m proud despite it."

"There’s nothing honourable or romantic about being in a bad place so I’m just glad that this album is finished. Regardless of whoever likes it or doesn’t it’s 100% my experience and there’s not much else to it. Just another one in a long line of humans talking about some sh*t that happened. That’s all."

This May, Strange Boy plans to set out on a tour of Ireland. More details are set to be announced soon.

Revisit the artist's June 2021 interview with Hot Press here.

Watch the performance of 'Sorrow' on The Tommy Tiernan show, here.