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Niamh Regan is a critically acclaimed songwriter from county Galway. Released in the midst of the lockdown in 2020, her debut album Hemet announced her arrival as one of the most distinctive songwriters in Ireland today. Earning nominations for both the RTE Folk Awards and the Choice Awards album of the year, the album received soaring praise, and led to performances on The Late Late Show, Other Voices, and La Blogothèque.
Following her studies in flute and guitar in the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Regan honed her craft as a songwriter by travelling between Ireland and California, writing about her experiences along the way. As a result, her songs seamlessly weave the intimacy of the Irish lyrical tradition with the expansive breadth of American songwriters such as Karen Dalton, Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell, but the resulting sound is entirely her own.
A natural storyteller, Regan’s songs are windows into her world, snapshots of the intimacy of everyday life. This is evident on her upcoming EP, In the Meantime, which was generously supported by the Galway International Arts Festival Elevate Bursary. The EP is a collection of songs written during the challenges of the pandemic, exploring themes of acceptance, uncertainty, independence, family guilt, silence, and ordinary acts of love. With her singular mastery, Regan's songwriting draws us into the intricate details of everyday life and elevates them into something universal.
Praise for Hemet
“A game-changing record” – The Journal of Music
“A quietly stunning debut” – The Sunday Times
“A quiet and determined triumph” – The Irish Times
“One of the best albums released this year… sublime” – Nialler9
“Stunning” – Hot Press
“A bewitching album” – Irish Independent
“A heartfelt, timeless, and captivating release” – Folk Radio UK
RTÉ Radio 1 – Album of the Week
