Spotlight Sounds; Episode twenty two with MARYANN

Welcome back to Spotlight Sounds, a series by Secrets Behind the Sound celebrating the vibrant world of Irish music. Dive into the blend of tradition and innovation that characterises Ireland's contemporary music scene, featuring both established and emerging artists. Explore the influences and experiences shaping Irish musicians and join us as we delve into their creative processes, stories, and journeys. Through in-depth discussions, Secrets Behind The Sound recognises the groundbreaking contributions of Irish artists to global creativity. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer, Spotlight Sounds invites you to explore the captivating realm of Irish music—a journey into the stories, sounds, and enigmas that make up Ireland's music scene.

On this week's episode of Spotlight Sounds, we turn our attention to Carlow's own rising star, MARYANN. A vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and storyteller, MARYANN has a unique ability to blend powerful vocals with introspective lyrics, creating a sound that resonates deeply with her audience. With a background in musical theatre and influences like Maisie Peters and Nina Nesbitt, her music seamlessly combines catchy melodies and heartfelt narratives. Following the successful release of her debut EP in September 2024, MARYANN continues to carve her path in the Irish music scene. Her most recent single, “At Christmas,” out November 23rd, is a playful yet heartwarming anthem celebrating the chaos and joy of the holiday season, making it a must-add to your festive playlist. Produced by Joe Cleere, this track is a perfect showcase of MARYANN’s wit, charm, and knack for infectious pop songwriting.

Can you start by introducing yourself and your musical background?

I’m MARYANN - a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter from Carlow. I’ve been writing stories in one form or another for as long as I can remember. When I was in primary school, it was tall tales of super-naturally gifted children who went on magical adventures. As I got older, I would fill my creative writing assignments full of my fondest memories of places and people I loved - only exaggerating when my fantastical teenage brain thought it was suitable!  In my mid-teens, I daydreamed about boys I liked, who didn’t like me back - I wrote musings inside the covers of my copies about what I thought true love would be like; romantic ideals based on rom-coms.

At 14, I took up playing guitar, and would bate away at the latest Taylor Swift album in the evenings after school. At some point, I merged my two interests and started to put my little poems to music. They became songs, and eventually I was writing about real boys, and real friendships, real fights, and real break-ups; although there was far less fanfare and over-the-top gestures than I’d imagined…

When I went to college, I started piano lessons, and wrote a lot more songs at the piano, as well as my guitar. In the hardest times of my life, writing songs became like therapy for me; and over time, with practice, I’d like to think that the songs have gotten better. (I’ve written a lot of them, so they’d want to be!). As a performer, I’ve evolved a lot over the years; spanning across genres - covering areas across musical theatre, pop, rock, country, traditional Irish music, and folk. In 2022 and 2023, I spent 6 months living and working in Lanzarote; performing in pubs almost every night of the week. When I came home, I was gigging and writing, along with finishing my degree. I started thinking seriously about the sort of project I’d want to put out there. I put together 5 songs that I’d written, and after being awarded an ArtLinks Bursary for 2024, I recorded and released my debut EP with producer Joe Cleere. It’s a body of work that I’m really proud of, and that I think does a really great job of representing me as an artist. Most recently, I’ve released an original Christmas song called “At Christmas”!

How would you define the genre you as an artist primarily identify with, and how do you incorporate other influences into your sound?

I probably fall under the very wide umbrella of indie-pop. Often, people say "singer-songwriter pop" and things like that, but for me, that’s just a pop singer who writes their own music, which I don't see as having a particular sound! For my production inspiration, I love pop girlies like Taylor Swift, Maisie Peters, Sabrina Carpenter, and Alessi Rose. My songwriting is often inspired by country and folk influences like Dolly Parton, Nina Nesbitt, Kacey Musgraves, and Joni Mitchell. I also have a long-lasting love for musical theatre, and I hope that I bring part of that vivid storytelling to my own songwriting.

What are some of the challenges Irish artists face in today’s music industry?

Everybody knows already, but the cost of everything involved in making music is a huge challenge. I was very lucky this year to receive an ArtLinks bursary to allow me to create my EP. Touring is incredibly expensive, and very few artists can afford to sidestep the sky-high costs of making and sharing music in today’s day and age. What’s more – in a way, we’re lucky, we have so much talent here. However, it does mean that the industry is incredibly saturated, which can make it even more difficult to break through.

How do you see the current state of the music scene in Ireland? Are there any emerging trends or unique characteristics that stand out to you?

I think there’s more emerging musicians in Ireland than we’ve had in a really long time, with social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram showcasing a wide variety of incredibly talented songwriters and musicians, each with their own unique voice. There’s also a real cultural resurgence going on in Ireland over the last number of years, with a lean towards fusing Irish traditional culture and language with contemporary songwriting and production, from artists like IMLÉ. The meeting of social media and this cultural resurgence is allowing Gaeilge to be accessible to more and more people- with on-screen Irish lyrics and translations for popular songs serving as a whole new way to immerse oneself in music and Irish at the same time.

Can you walk us through the creative process when writing and composing music?

Most of the time, I do lyrics first, usually in my notebook if I’m sitting down to start writing purposefully, or in my notes app on my phone if I’m out and about, or wake up in the middle of the night with an idea. I often think of something clever; a new way of saying something – and try to build off that. I like rhyming to cadences, and I like to use humour as much as I can, especially when writing about heavier subjects. If I want to write about something specific, I’ll stew about it for a few days, and then it sometimes all occurs to me at once. On occasion, I will write part of a song, leave it for a while, and come back to it months later and add another bit, eventually finishing it. That’s what happened with my song “What If?”.

How has your sound evolved since your first release, and what have you learned about yourself as an artist along the way?

It’s not been a long time since my first release, only 3 months. Still, I think that I’ve become more comfortable with recording my music. I’ve been lucky enough to work with the same producer on all my music, and this has facilitated me to experiment with various sounds, instruments, and effects. I think when I started out, I was overly conscious of not using too many effects, but over time I have allowed myself to follow my gut when I think something sounds good. I always make a short inspiration-playlist to send to the producer I work with so that we’re on the same page about the kind of direction we’re going in.

Diversity is an important aspect of any music scene. How do you think your music contributes to the diversity of the Irish music scene?

I think it’s important to have more and more women creating music that’s authentic to them in the Irish music scene. I think that it’s especially important for women to be honest in their music about serious issues that may be difficult to discuss – struggles with drugs/alcohol, anger, shame, feeling like an outcast. Of course, I come from a position of privilege and can’t speak for everyone – but I do think that the more we talk about taboo issues, the less taboo they’ll become. I try my best to talk about these more awkward aspects of womanhood, relationships and coming of age in my music, and I hope that it helps somebody.

As an Irish artist, what advice have you got for other artists trying to navigate the industry and find their unique voice?

Stay true to what you want – as an artist and as a person. Make authentic connections with others. Take every opportunity, and don’t be afraid to stick your neck out.

What can listeners expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming releases, collabs or projects you’re excited about?

No new releases in the immediate future- just this week I released my original Christmas song “At Christmas”, which is available to stream everywhere now and also to download on Bandcamp. I plan to release some singles next year, so definitely keep your eyes peeled!

I am going to finish off by asking you, If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Dolly Parton, 100%. She’s a legend’s legend, with an endless supply of talent, wisdom, and heart.

MARYANN’s journey as an artist showcases her incredible versatility, authenticity, and dedication to her craft. From her roots in storytelling to her musical evolution spanning genres and influences, she embodies the creative spirit of Ireland’s emerging music scene. Whether she’s performing on stage, crafting relatable and introspective lyrics, or experimenting with new sounds in the studio, MARYANN brings a unique voice to every project. With her heartfelt debut EP, the festive charm of At Christmas, and exciting plans for the future, it’s clear that MARYANN is just getting started. Keep an eye on this rising star—her music is sure to leave a lasting impression.