New To Hot Press: Brona Keogh

Though she may be a relatively new name as a solo act, Dublin singer-songwriter Brona Keogh and her enchanting vocals might be familiar to some.

Once a member of the now disbanded Irish folk ensemble Gypsy Rebel Rabble, Keogh would often catch the ear of listeners when merely providing backing harmonies. Despite this, she’s been rather quiet in the intervening years. “I didn’t really have much self-belief,” she reflects. “I was very shy when I first started and used to hide behind everyone in the band. I was just the backing vocalist, so I really had to overcome a lot of stage fright and anxiety.” A nurturing environment has been the antidote – with former bandmates providing constant encouragement, Keogh recently supported the likes of David Kitt and I Draw Slow.

Now armed with the necessary self-assurance to match her ample talent, Keogh launches her debut single ‘Sea Witch’ Upstairs in Whelan’s at the end of the month.

Thereafter, she’s heading to Sri Lanka for a month to take up a musical residency, before emigrating to New Zealand. “I’m not going there to become a sheep farmer and stop playing music,” jokes Brona. “We have some other recordings done already, so we’re going to work on them while I’m in New Zealand. Obviously I won’t be gigging in Ireland, but there’ll be more releases coming.”

Brona Keogh plays Upstairs in Whelan’s, Dublin on September 30.