Edel Meade - Blue Fantasia (2017)

Acclaimed Irish vocalist and composer, Edel Meade, celebrates the release of Blue Fantasia, her debut album with a 7-piece band. This is sophisticated, romantic and beautifully unpredictable music. Her songs are almost episodic in structure, meandering through vivid ensemble instrumentation, bursts of Funk, and intimate balladry, all led by her soulful – and vulnerable – voice.

Following on from the video release of Blue Fantasia, an enthralling experimental piece earlier this year, and Sideways, a gorgeous, evocative lullaby of sorts, with it’s lush vocal harmonies and intimate lyrics, Edel says “I’ve always been drawn to artists who speak from the heart, the ones who are honest and fearless in their approach. Certainly I’ve been inspired by Joni Mitchell and singers like Billie Holiday and Nina Simone who share a piece of their soul with you when they sing.”

Meade first gained recognition with her Swoo-Beh Project in 2011, establishing herself as one of the most exciting young composers to emerge in recent years. In 2014 she toured across Ireland and Denmark with The Joni Project, performing her unique interpretations of the music of Joni Mitchell while 2015/2016 saw her performing sell-out concerts across Ireland with her acclaimed Tribute to Lady Day, celebrating the legacy of jazz vocalist, Billie Holiday.

Meade’s songwriting came to the attention of Irish jazz vocalist Honor Heffernan in 2008, who has been singing Meade’s song ‘Love Lost’ ever since. Her original music has been recorded by Irish jazz pianist Scott Flanigan on his 2015 piano trio album ‘Point of Departure’ and on Chilean jazz guitarist Roberto Danobeitia’s nonet recording, ‘La Ironia del Tiempo’ featuring Sunnyside recording artist, Camila Meza, following a chance encounter in New York in 2012.