Emily Magner Hurley is a talented folk artist hailing from Cork, boasting skills as a composer, coloratura soprano and songwriter. Her academic journey led her to a Master’s level study of composition at University College Cork, laying the foundation for a career that spans teaching, librarianship and composing sacred choral music. Her four-year tenure as a composer in residence with the Cork International Choral Festival further underscores her revered status in the Irish musical landscape.
Beyond her artistic endeavours, Emily is as an advocate raising awareness about stuttering and contributing to mental health causes. Her collaboration with Stuttering Awareness Mental Wellbeing Ireland (SAMWI) highlights her mission of pairing the positive impact of music with the organisation’s mission, reaching as far as the White House’s Oval Office.
In 2020, Emily made her entrance with her debut solo piano record, Airs and Graces, earning accolades on Raidió na Gaeltachta and making an impact on Lyric FM, US Radio and C103. In October last year she returned with her sophomore release, sharing her second album Orainn, delivering ten traditional Irish folk compositions, reimagined in her own style for modern audiences.
Lifted from the album, she brings us the single titled “Aililiú Na Gamhna,” the perfect taste of Emily Magner Hurley’s bright vocal-driven sound, allowing listeners to reconnect with an Irish heritage, learn the language, or just discover some old music reframed in a dazzling new way. Opened by layers of vocal harmonies, crafting a lively backing for Emily’s stunning lead voice to dance above, “Aililiú Na Gamhna” sets up an engaging and elegant sound from the start.
With the gentle rhythm set by the backing vocal arrangement, the lead lines flutter throughout, resulting in a beautiful rendition of an enduring Irish folk piece. It’s a truly graceful song that showcases Emily Magner Hurley’s sensational vocal panache and her ability to bring to life traditional music in an exciting new way while raising awareness for an important cause in the process.
Listen to Aililiú Na Gamhna below
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