New to Hot Press: Clare Sands

Two years ago, the Cork multi-instrumentalist released a trad-influenced debut album, Join Me At The Table. However, stunning new track 'The Malecón Reel' sees her adopting a jazzier, more global sound.

"Since the first album, I traveled Cuba and the Americas. They have the best music. It rubbed off. What I'm writing now is very Latin sounding," says Sands.

Gigging nowadays with the likes of Mary Coughlan, Mick Flannery and Mundy, she's played her biggest show, for 15,000 people at Liverpool's Feis festival, alongside Imelda May and Shane MacGowan.

"My sound has changed drastically playing violin with different musicians. I'm performing with bluegrass, swing and gypsy jazz bands. It all whirlpools."

Sands also had the Hot Press tent crowd going ballistic during her All Together now set last weekend. 

The musician will be playing gigs across Ireland with Susan O'Neill aka SON, telling audiences to expect a blend of Irish trad and jazz: "I'm excited. It's like playing two genres but my violin and voice tie them together."

Sands promises a new single during the autumn, followed by a 2019 EP. Currently, she's converting her Cork basement into a recording studio: "I was hanging from a rafter when you called but the studio looks great."

She's tempted to name the EP The Basement Sessions but doesn't want to annoy Bob Dylan. "I know he has a million volumes of Basement Tapes." If he heard her tunes, we don't think he'd mind.

'The Malecón Reel' is out now. Check Sands' site for upcoming concert dates.