Sister Ghost is the artistic moniker of Derry-based musician Shannon Delores O’Neill, an artist who’s been a significant force in the Northern Irish music scene since she first introduced her sound in 2015 with the single “Spineless Whisper.” Known for her unique blend of noisy art rock cut with pop and poetic lyricism, she takes cues from an array of influences, including the grunge scnene of Seattle as well as artists such as Patti Smith and Kate Bush.
Her talents have earned her accolades such as the Best Live Act at the NI Music Awards in 2019, as well as recognition for her mentorship and support of female and gender-expansive musicians through the Girls Rock! NI chapter she established in 2016. With a background in bands from the age of 12, she’s developed her musical talents over the years, eventually creating Sister Ghost as a solo project where she could fully express her vision.
Her DIY ethos was clear from the beginning, as she wrote and demoed her early work in her attic, playing and singing everything herself on an 8-track recorder. Her latest release, “Dark Matter,” is the lead single from her upcoming debut album, Beyond The Water, set to be released in October.
Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Brad Wood, known for his work on Liz Phair’s Exile on Guyville and Veruca Salt’s American Thighs, the album represents the result of years of dedication and perseverance in the underground music scene while the record also features the drumming talents of Jeff Friedl, known for his work with A Perfect Circle and DEVO.
“Dark Matter” signals a new era in Sister Ghost’s musical journey. The track serves up an uptempo indie rock sound, driven by energetic drums and bright guitar tones. Shannon’s commanding vocals are a standout, threading memorable hooks throughout the song as the production talents of Brad Wood’s brings the track alive in a truly impactful way.
From the airy guitar tones, the song erupts into an energetic indie rock anthem full of splashy drums and slick guitars before dropping the arrangement back to make way for Shannon’s smooth, yet powerful vocal performance. Building to an explosive chorus of lofty vocal leads and enveloping instrumentation, with “Dark Matter,” Sister Ghost delivers an epic and instantly catchy outing that builds the hype for her highly anticipated forthcoming debut album later this year.
Commenting on the single, she shares, “Dark Matter is one of my favourites from the album, it’s bittersweet and nostalgic and it’s where the album title is lifted from. Musically it’s influenced by some of my favourite big-sounding 80s bands like Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, The Call etc. I wrote the lyrics for this song after being moved to tears watching the French film ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ by Céline Sciamma, as I really felt it echoed some of my own queer experiences. That’s also why there’s some French in the bridge section of the song, which translates to ‘my love, she glows in the fire’.”
Listen to Dark Matter below
Photography credit: Y-Control Photography
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