Gemma Hayes - 'High & Low'
With her signature hushed vocals delicately intertwined with atmospheric strings, High & Low serves as a soul-stirring homecoming for the talented singer-songwriter and a welcome reprieve for fans.
Irish singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes's last release was close to a decade ago, her Mercury Nominated Bones + Longing album was heralded as a triumph and possibly the finest album among her five critically acclaimed studio albums. A mix of harmoniously radio-friendly pop tunes and ethereal experimental soundscapes captured ears and imaginations alike.
Set to release a sixth unnamed album this Autumn, High & Low is a melancholic glimpse through the current creative window Gemma has re-opened to the public. High & Low is a beautifully accessible folk composition that immediately engages and transports through to its melodic, story-book lyrics and hypnotising strings. An assured and emotionally transcendent Hayes exudes an air of sure-footedness and confidence, creating a compelling listening experience.
Co-produced with long-term collaborator David Odlum of The Frames, together they have paved a lyrical pathway that explores the eternal quest for connection - High & Low delves into the profound sense of disconnection while yearning for profound bonds. Gemma elucidates;
"The song encapsulates the sensation of feeling disconnected, while desperately longing to be part of something greater. It intertwines grief and longing, as it portrays the emptiness left by the departure of a loved one, rendering a ghostly presence that hampers our ability to truly feel alive."
Despite a break in releasing, Gemma has not been a ghostly presence herself. She has stayed engaged with her fans and the industry through a recently sold-out London’s Omeara and Dublin’s Whelan’s as part of a UK and Ireland tour. She has also made an appearance on national TV, providing a poignant rendition of Summer’s En’ on RTÉ’s The Tommy Tiernan Show.
If High + Low is an indication of what is to come from Gemma Hayes’s upcoming album, it will call fans and neutrals alike to listen with both ears, hearts and minds.
Written by Stephen Fahy
