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Release Date: 02 May 2025

MOTHERLAND SONGS is the debut album from Dublin born singer, actor and songwriter Edel Murphy. This release features new arrangements of Irish and North American contemporary folk anthems and modern classics from great female artists such as Joan Baez, Natalie Merchant, Mary Black and Kate Bush. Described as having "a voice that would silence angels” (artsreview.com). Edel Murphy brings new life to memorable female characters in songs by The Beatles, Dolly Parton and Judy Collins. Produced by Irish musician Ewan Cowley, new songs written by Murphy and by US songwriter Carsie Blanton feature also in these recordings evoking the universal experiences of working life, independence, love, inequality, and the search for social justice.

EDEL MURPHY

Edel is a singer, actor and musician from Dublin, Ireland. Early in her career she toured the world backing up Emmy-nominated Irish music group Celtic Woman and starred as Soprano Soloist with the world renowned Riverdance - The Show at The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin and at Hammersmith Apollo, London. She featured at 3Arena Dublin in early 2020 at that show's 25th anniversary run and appears on its 25th Anniversary filmed special.

Starring in Motherland Songs since its debut show in Dublin in 2019, Edel has toured Ireland several times with the show to wide acclaim and been described as having "a voice that would silence angels" (artsreview.com).

Edel and producer Ewan Cowley began their collaboration when they were touring the world in the hit show Celtic Woman. During jam sessions on long tourbus journeys across the US, with ukuleles and guitars being passed around, the pair found they shared a love of American songwriters like Nanci Griffith and Natalie Merchant, Nina Simone and Paul Simon. When they both came off the road to continue their solo careers, the idea of creating a show for Edel to showcase her unique voice and celebrate songs written or made famous by great female artists had been born.

In 2016 Edel released her first EP, "Bluebonnet Spring", featuring her original song "Careless Hands" which has enjoyed both UK and Irish radio play (BBC, RTÉ) followed by the single 'Atlantic Sky' (2018). Future recordings will include studio performances of songs from the Motherland Songs show released via Irish label Cavalier Records and distributed via Crashed Music Group.