PREMIERE: Alternative R&B artist Helen Murray drops soulful sophomore single ‘Move Me’

Irish R&B Soul act Helen Murray has unveiled her highly anticipated sophomore single ‘Move Me’, premiered below by Hot Press.

The new track follows the release of Murray’s debut single ‘Thank You’, which was shared in September of this year. Cork-born but now based in Dublin, Helen has established herself as an outstanding live performer in the past few years, taking the stage in some of Ireland’s most iconic venues, including Vicar Street, Electric Picnic, Body & Soul.

The singer-songwriter was also one of the artists nominated by Cork 96FM in the countrywide Irish Music Month competition A New Local Hero.

Drawing inspiration from her childhood idols N.E.R.D, Christina Aguilera, No Doubt, and Destiny’s Child; Murray has crafted a deliberate and powerful style echoing the sultry sound of late '90s R&B.

Second single ‘Move Me’ follows the turmoil of a relationship in which Murray finds herself cast into the role of the other woman. The track explores the emotional distress of the often overlooked other side of infidelity: "Do you want me to come over in the middle of the night?/Is all my worth to you a bit on the side?"

“Looking back, writing 'Move Me' helped me confront the reality of the situation I was in,” Murray says. “It wasn't until after I wrote it I realised I was writing from the perspective of the ‘other woman', a side that is not often spoken about. It was a confusing place to be in. I knew I had to navigate my way out of that situation but I still had lots of feelings for the person."

Delving into themes of love and desire, as well as anger and loss, the track wears its emotions on its sleeves. Breathy backing vocals and clean instrumentals elevate the rhythmic melody, but it’s Murray’s powerful voice that steals the spotlight. Her magnetic vocal performance breathes life into the heart-breaking lyrics, fully conveying the wide spectrum of emotions she's experiencing.

“It's funny because I started writing this song in and around 2015/2016, but it never sat with me back then," the singer says. "I had a lot of the main parts of the song figured out, but I continued to work on it. In 2018, a whole two years later, is when I finally finished it and then recorded it in 2020. I knew this song was a special one for me, which is why I took my time with it.”

“I was also really uncertain whether to release it, simply because I am very open in it,” she continued. “I usually write my lyrics in a conversational way as if I'm chatting to someone or a friend, this is the case with 'Move Me'. Before releasing it I was a bit nervous because I am so vulnerable in it and then also sharing that with everyone too. But I guess that’s the beauty of music and songwriting, it's a way to share honest life experiences in the hope that it might help someone along the way."

Photo Credit: Shane J Horan

You can listen to the song below: