Edel Meade to release myth-infused sophomore album Brigids and Patricias on International Women's Day

Talented musican Edel Meade has announced her eagerly-awaited second album, Brigids and Patricias, scheduled to be released on International Women's Day.

The announcement follows on from the release of her latest single, the beautiful and enrapturing 'Song For Bridget Cleary'. The track is inspired by the story of Cleary, who was burnt alive by her husband in 1895 despite him insisting that fairies had kidnapped her.

Brigids and Patricias was recorded at Dublin's Ventry Studios in between lockdowns following on from the success of her critically acclaimed debut album, Blue Fantasia in 2017. For Edel Meade, music-making is less about playing within the confines of a particular genre and more about stretching her abilities as a creative artist with something to say.

"Having worked as a professional jazz vocalist for over a decade, I then found myself performing in Spanish in Havana, Cuba in 2018 and promptly decided it was time to connect with music from Ireland and to explore what it means to be a creative artist from Co. Tipperary," Meade said of her subject matter.

Standout tracks from the album include 'Long Way To Go', a scintillating spoken word piece challenging misogyny and the cervical smear scandal in Ireland; while 'Ode To Old Noll' is a blistering ode to Oliver Cromwell who sent thousands of Irish people to the West Indies in the 17th century. Members of the Meade family were among them - some of whom continue to reside on the Caribbean island of Montserrat today.

"I wanted to explore what it means to be an Irish woman in order to understand who I am as an artist. I felt I needed to look at historic events as well as contemporary social issues and of course I believe it’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times,” Meade says of the intensely personal project.

Colm O'Hare, in his review of Blue Fantasia for Hot Press, wrote:

"On her long-awaited debut, Meade blends originals with her own songs to impressive effect. A lushly-produced affair, it’s both fresh-sounding and comfortingly familiar."

Brigids and Patricias will arrive on March 8th, 2021.

Listen to 'Song For Bridget Cleary' below: