Make Me An Island

The Unique Sound World of Jennifer Walshe

For 20 years Jennifer Walshe has blazed a trail across the world of contemporary music, all the while making work that was far greater than the sum of its parts and much much more than simply music.
Far from being high brow or inaccessible, the most human of touches shapes everything she does in all sorts of magical ways. Jennifer joins Dónal to discuss the many tributaries that comprise her unique journey into sound as well as offering some insights into her singular vocal technique.
 
https://jenniferwalshe.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.cmc.ie/composers/jennifer-walshe
Photo by Blackie Bouffant. 
 

Make me an Islander #10 with Villagers

From the very first demos, the arc of the Villagers story has pointed inexorably upwards, always reaching for the higher ground, a climb like no other.
In this episode Conor O'Brien joins Dónal in The Sugar Club for a discussion on some of those lofty peaks and how he got there.
In-between there's a bunch of live songs as well as a run through some key points of influence from Pierro Umiliani to Dorotthy Ashby, Robert Wyatt and Linda Perhacs.
 
https://wearevillagers.bandcamp.com/music
 
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32902440
 

Newsflash from the Makers of Make Me An Island

An introduction to We Are The Makers, a new series of long-form audio documentaries on Irish artists and their practice. Released today across all the usual platforms, and commissioned by Solas Nua in Washington D.C., first up is photographer Eamonn Doyle who before making a series of groundbreaking photo books of his Dublin street-work, had already made his mark in music with his D1 techno label and the Dublin Electronic Arts Festival.
Find the full episode here: https://pod.link/1553840432
 

An Illustrated Guide to Arthur Russell's Iowa Dream with Peter Broderick

The latest in a series of stunning posthumous Arthur Russell releases, Iowa Dream plays to all of his many strengths. Recorded in The Sugar Club in December, Episode 42 features an illustrated guide to the album by an artist who had an integral role to play in its compilation, editing and mixing, Peter Broderick.
 
Peter explains how he came to be involved in the production as well as performing a few of his favourite Russell songs, Words of Love, Ely and You Can Make Me Feel Bad.
 
https://arthurrussell.bandcamp.com/album/iowa-dream
 
https://peterbroderickmusic.bandcamp.com/music
 
 
 

Make Me An Island Live #2 with Myles Manley

Recorded live at The Sugar Club in December, the second in the Make Me an Island live series features Myles Manley on stage together with Solamh Kelly and Chris Barry.
They play their brilliant 'Cometh The Softies' record in its entirety from start to finish before retiring for a chat with Dónal about its making. 
https://mylesmanley.bandcamp.com/album/cometh-the-softies
 

Make Me An Island Live #1 with John Francis Flynn

Recorded at The Sugar Club in Dublin in December, the first in a series of Make Me An Island Live shows features the mighty John Francis Flynn.
Along with producer Brendan Jenkinson and fiddler Ultan O' Brien, John performs a selection of tunes from his forthcoming debut album I Would Not Live Always before chatting to Dónal about the recording process and the journey so far.

Make Me An Islander Special with Pat Collins and Elaine Howley

Recorded in The Kino in Cork in December 2020, singular film-maker Pat Collins joins Dónal to discuss three of his films: The definitive sea-nós movie Song of Granite, a forthcoming documentary about the American folklorist Henry Glassie and a work-in-progress documenting the ground-breaking Micheal Keegan-Dolan dance production, Mám.
Musical dream topping is provided by special guest Elaine Howley (The Altered Hours, Crevice, Howlbox)
https://harvestfilms.ie/
 

Make Me An Islander #9 with Katie Kim

Fresh from her ground-breaking collaboration with Radie Peat on Nollaig na mBan, Katie Kim joins Dónal to tell the story behind their work together as well as to discuss the making of her new album with producer John ‘Spud’ Murphy.
Along the way she makes the case for the genius of Mica Levi as well as discussing the merits of Tirzah, Ursula Bognor and more. Diversions there are many!
https://katiekim.bandcamp.com/music
 
 

Nollaig na mBan Make Me an Islander Special with Branwen

For the first show of 2021 Dónal is joined by Branwen for an illustrated guide to some inspirational female artists the world over as well as to hear some songs from her masterful solo record Hunted and Haunted.
 
"As this is being released on Nollaig na mBan, I wanted to say that I think it's fantastic to take a moment to give the airspace to celebrating some amazing female artists and I'm delighted to contribute to it. I hope we can continue to move closer to a place of equality and equilibrium in the music industry for all genders and celebrate them in all genres. As my friend said when people kept telling her she was the best female banjo player they knew, "I'm actually the best banjo player you know". (Which is true!)" Branwen, January 6th 2021.
 
https://branwen.bandcamp.com/

Make Me An Islander Christmas Special with Radie Peat

Radie Peat is the special guest Islander on this Christmas episode.
 
She talks about her forthcoming collaboration with Katie Kim and Ellie Myler of Percolator as well as guiding us through a selection box of musical wonders.
 
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/katie-kim-and-radie-peat-tickets-131859488279