The Answer's Cormac Neeson shares new single, announces Belfast gig

Co-written by Neeson and Tennessean legend Blue Miller, the inspiration for the song came from Neeson’s son Dabhóg, who was born three months premature and also has Downs Syndrome. The impact of that life changing experience had such a lasting and profound impact upon Neeson that he sought solace in penning an autobiographical and emotional account of how he felt as his son fought for his life and what it’s like to bring up a child with a disability.

Commenting on the track, he says “I’ve never written a song like Broken Wing before in my life. Even though I’ve heard it hundreds of times now, I still get emotional every time I sing or hear it back because of just how relevant the lyric is to my life and my family’s life; where we’ve been and where we’re going. It’s my hope that maybe when people hear this song they can relate to the message or at least give some thought as to what it’s about.”

Recorded in Nashville and mixed in Belfast, the track features an emotional arrangement that combines the best of both those rich and diverse cultures, including beautifully crafted Nashville pedal steel by John Heinrich (who has performed with artists such as Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and Tammy Wynette) to a magical blend of choral backing vocals from some of the finest Northern Irish singers, hand-picked by Neeson. The production and sound of the finished recording conveys the vulnerability that such a delicate subject matter demands; Neeson and his fellow musicians have been both brave and refreshingly honest in their musical approach to the production and song.

To support the single, Neeson will also be making available a short mini documentary about the making of Broken Wing during which he himself gets a tattoo of the extra chromosome 21 that forms the genetic ID of Downs Syndrome and was recently announced as the Ambassador for Mencap NI.

As well as that, Cormac Neeson has a headline show at Black Box, Belfast on May 24. Tickets on sale Tuesday February 12th at 10am from www.ticketmaster.ie, www.shine.net & Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. Northern Ireland customers 0844 277 44 55.