Deftly merging elegant songwriting with sophisticated instrumentation, Kilkenny based singer and multi-instrumentalist Ali Comerford sets the bar high on her debut release, ‘He Knows‘. Drawing from a background in classical training and performance, Comerford sings and performs every note on this number, deploying a keen artistic instinct and a lightness of touch to her work, which never feels laboured.
Verses supplemented by dulcet guitar lines suddenly bloom and flourish with luscious, elegant strings, that really transport this number to another level. Comparisons to contemporary artists such as Lisa Hannigan, Laura Marling and Billie Marten are certainly justified here.
About the song, Comerford says, “‘He Knows’ is a lilting song about leaving an unfulfilling relationship, the ups and downs of seeking support elsewhere and the resignation that the truth will always come out.” These keenly observed insights are tempered with an emotional grounding paired with simple, honest phrasings (“but suns will set before too long/ and mine was due, as if on cue,”) that give this song real weight.
Comerford’s artistic credentials speak for themselves, having begun playing and studying classical music at the age of four. After obtaining a Masters of Violin Performance from London’s Royal College of Music, she relocated to New York, completing a Masters of Music in Viola Performance at the Manhattan School of Music on scholarship. Comerford’s journey in music has seen her grace the likes of New York’s Carnegie Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall and Dublin’s National Concert Hall. She has toured the world with Lincoln Center Stage, playing sold-out shows around Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
Channeling this wealth of experience into her own artistic output, later this year we’ll be treated to her debut album of original folk-based but classically influenced songs. From this sublime first taste, we wait with eager ears to hear what else Ali Comerford has to offer in the future.
‘He Knows’ is out now – available to Stream/Purchase here.
Photo Credit: Shane Hatton
