Dublin songsmith Colin O’Shea is set to release ‘The Stars’, the fourth single from his acclaimed debut album Scars and Tones on Monday February 25. The date marks the five-year anniversary of the passing of Colin’s mother after a courageous battle against breast cancer, and ‘The Stars’ is Colin’s heartfelt tribute to her. On Colin’s website, people can pre-order the track for a minimum of €1 (they can choose to spend more money if they like) and all proceeds will be passed onto the Marie Keating Cancer Society.

To celebrate the release of ‘The Stars’, Colin will play an all-ages shows in two DART stations on Saturday February 23; Heuston Station from 11am to 12.30pm and Connolly Station from 1.30pm to 3pm. For the price of a DART ticket you can hear Colin perform ‘The Stars’, amongst other songs from his album. Colin will also play Upstairs in Whelan’s on Saturday May 11.

Colin’s mother was a single parent of five children who gave selflessly to everyone else for her entire life, a true Irish matriarch. Colin moved home to care for her during her final illness and ‘The Stars’ was written during her last months. Colin found the process both therapeutic and cathartic and although he struggled with the intensity of his emotions, he forced himself to write the song during that period as he knew he wouldn’t have the strength afterwards. The result is a bittersweet piano ballad with raw vocals, and lyrics that will speak to anyone who has lost someone they love.

Colin is currently in the studio recording his sophomore album, with David Prendergast again taking production duties. Scars and Tones was influenced by the melancholy and heartbreak accumulated over a few years. The new album will see a notable progression, moving in a more positive lyrical direction with electronic musical influences.