SongLives

SongLives showcases Ireland and North America’s most exciting contemporary singer-songwriters, working on an intimate and personal scale to bring the rich tradition of busking on Dublin’s Grafton Street to New York City.

Cat Dowling and Hannah McPhillimy

Cat Dowling writes beautifully dark pop songs, offering low-key beats colored with layers of sonic delights and a voice both hushed and passionate that has drawn comparisons with Portishead. Her voice has been lauded as one of the most wonderful and evocative in Irish contemporary music.

Belfast-based songwriter Hannah McPhillimy’s thoughtful music brings jazz-inflected indie warmth against a windswept backdrop. Her beguiling voice and ear for melody has prompted comparisons to the likes of Feist, Regina Spektor and Daughter, while her fiercely personal lyrics and “quietly captivating” (Culture NI) live performances have seen her dedicated fan-base grow steadily across her native Ireland and beyond.