Live Report: Molly O'Mahony on the Hot Press Y&E Series

Ballydehob singer-songwriter Molly O'Mahony brought the magic to the Hot Press Y&E series last night — giving a stunning, evocative performance.

Standing alongside her sister, Matilda, in a sunny white walled study; the atmosphere seemed to match the cosy and nostalgic sound her songs are imbued with.

Kicking off her set with 'Tomorrow's Lunch,' a meandering track featuring soaring harmonies, wandering whistles and gentle guitar picking, it set the tone for a warm show. Almost akin to a '50s love ballad, the tune brings to mind sleep-laden smiles, and sunny afternoons — comfortable and beautiful.

Cracking on into considerably faster-paced 'Velvet Morning,' the room was filled once again with Molly and Matilda's weaving voices, giving the impression of a full band despite being two people with one guitar. Powerful and complex, the two used their hands and voices to incorporate incredible rhythm, texture and movement.

O'Mahony continued on to play 'Golden Thing,' this time solo, picking out a peaceful, nostalgic melody that supported her deep voice and reflective lyrics. "Time moves on," she sang, voice slanting in and out of minor to create a distinctively bittersweet track.

Rising to prominence as one quarter art-folk outfit Mongoose, O'Mahony has been making a name for herself solo since lockdown. With two single releases under her belt, her crowd funded debut album House of David is set to release sometime this year.

"I'm releasing an album later this year, and a lot of these songs — most of them in fact — will be on it," explained Molly. "The one I'm about to play is a single I released last year called 'Brother Blue' — It's very strange talking to myself," she laughed.

"We're gonna dedicate this one to our brother, Tadgh, who doesn't actually have Instagram," said Matilda. "This one is for him, because it was written about him."

Then came 'Brother Blue,' a sad, but love-filled song that rose and fell alongside the guitar, crescendoing and softening in gentle waves. It was followed by 'When It Rains,' a dewy, sun-soaked track that built from gentle melody to a powerful show of the sisters' voices.

"We're gonna leave you with one, and pray to the gods that my phone doesn't die halfway through," Molly joked. "This one is called 'Remember to be Brave.'"

Her debut single, the song is a wise reflection on life, a loving series of advice for someone navigating the in's and outs of growth. It's the perfect finale to a profoundly moving set — the presence of a screen seemed to dissolve once they began playing, fostering the same intimacy and awe of a small, local venue.

Stunning, impressive and evocative, Molly O'Mahony's Hot Press Y&E gig is not one to miss.

Watch the Hot Press The Y&E Series – supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media – live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) at 7pm each night.

Coming up on the Y&E Series...

Tuesday, April 5: Blondmodel

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Wednesday, April 6: Clara Tracey

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Thursday, April 7: Lea Heart

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Friday, April 8: Sinead McConville

The Wicklow musician first released her debut solo single, 'Doorstep', back in May 2020. Recorded at home in a sticky and sweaty attic with rising singer/songwriter and Y&E Series performer D. Cullen, the song is an expression of love on a summer’s day in Ireland. Previous single, ‘Running From You’, stayed on the RTE Recommends playlist for three weeks. Highlight performances for Sinéad include The Late Late Show and supporting Mundy in Lost Lane; ‘Ireland Music Week’ with ELKAE and John Barker’s ‘TILT’ with Munky in The Button Factory. The Irish folk-pop artist released her stripped back, harmony-driven piano ballad 'Break My Heart' last June.