KATE O' CALLAGHAN
CARNDONAGH, COUNTY DONEGAL
Kate O’ Callaghan is a singer/songwriter displaying a pot-pourri of musical styles from soulful blues to jazzy folk. Born and reared in Dublin, she chose to leave behind a career in science to explore a world of music and creativity in Inishowen, Co. Donegal. Inspired by rural living, the awesome beauty of her surroundings and the whole spectrum of emotions that accompany life in general, Kate decided to pick up a guitar and start writing songs of her own in 2009. With an already established background in music - having managed and sung with the Inishowen Gospel Choir for 4 years and worked as a backing vocalist for various acts, including Mark Black & The Roots Orchestra and Jamaican born Natty Wailer & The Reggae Vibes - Kate has performed with various artists (incl. Duke Special, Liam O’ Maonlai, Foy Vance, Moya Brennan and Henry Mc Cullough) and appeared at many festivals and events including Glastonbury, Electric Picnic and the Festival of World Cultures. Kate is regularly accompanied by a number of musicians including Mark Black, Seamus Devenny, Peter Doherty (The Drifters), Finbar Doherty, Ted Ponsonby (Mary Black, Van Morrison and Emmylou Harris) and is currently collaborating with a variety of acts including The Henry Girls, US folk artist Jennifer Kimball, LA based accordionista Amber Lee Baker and the critically acclaimed Massachusetts band Session Americana.
"Kate is a genre of one, distinctive in both her writing style and vocal delivery. Reminiscent of blues club and 60’s beatnick coffee house singers, Kate relates stories of life, feelings of heartache and the passion most people conceal. Her self penned songs are distinctive, thoughtful, heartfelt, provocative, humorous and most definitely all her own. They are unique. She is unique.
With her distinctive lyric blend and the bands offbeat instrumentation, this EP is well worth adding to any collection. Descriptive words layered upon unusual melodies blend together to create a totally original sound. Kate O’Callaghan is someone to watch. She surely has the talent to make her mark in the music world." - Dianes, Fanrealm.
“Kate O’ Callaghan is that rare bird that manages to combine evocative melodies with intelligent considered lyrics. They cover a gamut of emotions from the sublime to the cathartic always imbued by a personal sadness that lingers constantly in the background. But this is the sadness of humanity that has the power to be uplifting” – Peter Doherty, Musician.
