Galway's harmonious Whileaways on song with latest album

They'll have a seven-piece band for their Town Hall show, having last played there in February with Mary Coughlan and Leo Moran and Pádraig Stevens, when they anchored the venue's 30th birthday party.

Now, it's time for their own celebration with the launch of their fifth studio album, ‘When You Are Falling’.

With 12 songs – most of which were written individually by the three – it’s a gem, as they explore love, loss, ageing, hope, connection and renewal.

“We did it in spurts, starting two years ago and the whole thing has taken longer than it might have, as we have a new relationship with Brian which has given us the luxury of time,” Nicola says of ‘When You are Falling’.

The Brian in question is the album's executive producer Brian Brinkerhoff, who, having admired the group from afar, contacted them a few years ago, suggesting a collaboration.

“He contacted us out of the blue,” Nicola explains, adding with a laugh; “Our initial reaction was: 'who the f**k is this lad and what does he want with us?'.”

What he wanted was to bring their songs to a bigger audience and he's been working towards that on this album, which they finished about a year ago, having recorded 22 songs in total.

The trio Googled Brian after he first contacted them, but because he doesn't give himself a credit on a lot of the work he produces, there wasn't much information online. However, he's a biggie who worked with mega-players in the US, including BMG Music Publishing and Walt Disney Music Publishing, before establishing his own Singular Recordings and Music Publishing.

He was with Walt Disney for almost a decade, working on soundtracks for films including ‘The Lion King’, ‘Pocahontas’, ‘Toy Story’, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’, ‘Hercules’ and ‘Tarzan’. His own company, meanwhile, has published number-one songs from Miranda Lambert, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker, and he has recorded with artists including Gretchen Peters and Eliza Carthy.

Although he liked the Whileaways' music, Brian took things slowly initially.

"First, he asked us to put backing vocals on Heather Little, a singer from Nashville he works with," Nicola says. He was delighted with the result and, after meeting them, mooted the idea of making a record.

“He only takes on a couple of projects a year and his involvement gave us the luxury of space and time,” Nicola says of his support.

Brian is the executive producer, on 'When You Are Falling', while Andrew Borwick, with whom the trio have worked previously, produced it. He brought huge care and playfulness to the recording process in Black Mountain Studios, County Louth, with his bottom line on each song being, 'how would you play it at a gig?'.

They recorded more than 20 songs, before finally whittling that number down to 12.

“For some reason, certain songs are bedfellows,” says Nicola of that process. “A theme, for want of a better word, only reveals itself afterwards.

“And sometimes, what each of us needs is a bit of encouragement from the others, because nobody will be as hard on your writing as you are yourself,” she adds.

Brian also had an input on the final 12. “It was a novelty to have someone who'd say things like 'please leave that in',” she observes, laughing.

“You have to be willing to cede a bit of control,” Nicola says about having a mentor, but they're happy it has worked.

They've already released a couple of singles from the album, including the title track, which began as a lullaby when Noriana was putting her children to bed. It has a deeper resonance too, as they reflect on the experiences that come with getting older.

They all have a different approach to work, so they write their songs individually but collaboration is at the heart of what they do.

“Noriana has a wonderful head for melodies and plays her voice like an instrument. I'd be more lyrical-forward,” Nicola explains. Her own focus is greatest “when there's an album on the horizon”, while Noelie is more consistent “and has a lifetime of songs on his computer. Noriana is probably somewhere in between the two of us”.

The three – who bring in drums or double bass for bigger gigs – love their Whileaways’ work while also being involved in other projects.

For Tuam man Noelie, this includes touring with his childhood heroes, the Saw Doctors. His first professional gig was at the age of 13 when his band supported them for their 1991 West Awake show in Tuam. The Sawdocs sent a tour bus to collect the teenage band, who were blown away by the gesture.

Nicola, meanwhile, performs with the Half-Door, a trad and folk song project with her brother Fabian and long-time friend and collaborator, Kerry singer Pauline Scanlon.

Noriana’s recent projects includes performing in a trad ensemble that includes Bothy Band fiddler Kevin Burke.

And, since 2019, they've all been involved in Bird on a Wire, a collective which offers a unique interpretation of Leonard Cohen's songs. This followed a request by the owner of Killarney's Gleneagle Hotel to Pauline Scanlon to create a Leonard Cohen show as a surprise gift for his wife. It's became a phenomenal success and “was a gift to us too”, Nicola says.

They're rooted in their place and are central to the regular Thursday night String Band sessions at Campbell's Tavern in Cloughanover.

“It's never just us,” says Nicola, adding that the sessions “allow you to stay connected with other musicians and learn new songs and tunes off other people.”

They've stayed local for the album's striking artwork too. It's by Lara Luxardi, who’s originally from Italy and lives Galway. They got in touch with her, having seen and admired her work in the city.

This was Lara's first time creating an album cover and before she began working on the image, she listened to ‘When You Are Falling’. Her image of a solitary figure sitting on a rock in the sea, portrays vulnerability and resilience, and while there’s isolation there’s also deep connection. The album’s release on September 25, will be followed by gigs in Ireland and the UK.

More information at the www.thewhileawaysmusic.com.