Track of the Day: Fiona & Oceanna - 'From The Sea'

Irish artist and performer Fiona O'Loughlin has released her new single 'From The Sea', featuring the jazz band Oceanna.

Oceanna is composed of Gabriel Silva, William Aranha, Morgan Slogget, and Raul Moya-Valdes, who produced the track. It marks the first time Fiona has released a single with a four-piece jazz band.

The track was inspired by Oceanna's distinct sound. Especially the band's original song 'Noir' motivated Fiona in writing 'From The Sea', which is about being in the throes of despair. It's about letting go of all control, facing our fears, and appreciating the beauty that surrounds us once more.

Fiona describes being human as a privilege and a gift that sometimes requires emotional struggle. "When we nurture ourselves in nature, we grow and bloom to live a full and prosperous life," she says.

The track adds a deeper meaning and form of storytelling with philosophical poetry and a cosy jazz ensemble. It further expresses truth and emotion by blending words and music while maintaining a rhythmic pattern.

"We find ourselves in the hands that we shake / making friends with the shadows of ourselves / we meet and greet with flow and ebb / flocking together like birds of a feather," Fiona sings, painting a picture of friendship and meeting new people. This works as an addition to the signature component of jazz music, the call and response format.

Listen to 'From The Sea' below.

Fiona O'Loughlin met Oceanna back in July 2022 at the open-mic Fiona curated called "The Secret Sessions" at the Secret Book and Record Store in Dublin‘s Wicklow Street. Together, they performed at shows all across Dublin. The perfect harmony of the music and the chosen words has a significant impact on how poetry and music can synchronise flawlessly.

Fiona has worked as an actress and event manager in addition to being a well-known poet in Dublin. She recently appeared as the lead in the comedy play 'A Scandal in Bethlehem' at Dublin's Smock Alley Theatre.

Together with hip-hop artist Aaron Daly, she founded the events platform The House of Emerald, where she also works as creative director. The platform comes with a number of different nights such as The Secret Sessions, Blue Velvet, and The Emerald Sessions, showcasing Irish and international artists from around the world.

Oceanna is a Dublin-based jazz band with members from South America and Ireland who combine elements from the contemporary jazz scene and Latin music. Recently, the band performed with hip-hop artists JyellowL to create an original sound that can be described as instrumental and sentimental.