Lockdown proves productive for newcomer making waves

A relative lack of experience hasn’t been a huge issue for Galway-born singer-songwriter Anna Carmody. Because, despite only starting to write songs towards the end of last year, the acoustic songstress has amassed a wealth of support online and has succeeded in creating a palpable buzz around her debut EP, scheduled for release early next year.

From improving her standard of home recording to growing more confident in her lyrics, it has been a productive six months that recently culminated in a Hot Press feature.

The Galway native, based in Tullamore, played a slot for Hot Press’ Instagram Lockdown Sessions on Sunday June 28. The series of streamed gigs has included major Irish artists like Powpig, Little Hours and Maria Kelly.

It is just one example of the steps Anna has managed to make in her budding craft while stuck at home and it is further proof of the impact social media can have on an artist’s career.

“It went well but I was very nervous to tell you the truth,” she admits of the Hot Press performance.

“The nerves did take over in a couple of places but I got it under control. I had a great reaction from everybody afterwards and a couple of great messages. Hot Press were happy with the gig so overall, it was a great experience.

“It’s weird singing to a camera and you don’t have any crowd there watching you at all. I’m used to playing live on stage so I had to adapt and get used to the whole thing. It just feels like you’re playing to yourself. You know they’re there watching but the fact that you can’t see them can be kind of nerve wracking.

“Sometimes when you’re singing live you can feel the energy in the room from everybody so you know if people are enjoying it.”

Linda Coogan Byrne and Aine Tyrrell’s recently published Gender Disparity Report drew national attention to an unconscious bias towards male musicians on Irish radio. The research found that, out of the top 20 Irish artists across 28 music-paying radio stations encompassing 560 artists, just 41 are female.

For a young female artist, heavily inspired by other women in the industry, it was a shocking report.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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