What makes a great song – the lyric, the melody or something altogether more elusive? In this mini-series, Ireland’s songwriters step into the spotlight for an unplugged performance. On Monday 20 May, we’re joined by singer-songwriter Oisin Leech.

Irish songwriter Oisin Leech, and one half of revered duo The Lost Brothers, has just released his debut solo album entitled ‘Cold Sea.’ The new and critically acclaimed album was produced by Brooklyn based musician Steve Gunn – known as an esteemed solo artist himself and also known for his collaborations with the likes of Kurt Vile, Yo La Tengo and Cass McCombs.

Oisin is from County Meath and has been a musician his whole life. Punk music was his first passion – his first band at age 14 were called The Vermin and covered songs by the UK Subs and The Clash – putting on nights in his back garden shed for his school pals or whoever might turn up. In his early teens hearing Bob Dylan was life changing and opened up the world of roots and folk music. Oisin lived and busked for years in places like Naples, San Francisco and Liverpool.
‘Colour Of The Rain’ from his debut LP ‘Cold Sea’ is written about those years living by the sea in those cities.

The new songs on ‘Cold Sea’ are inspired by the ocean, the landscape around Donegal, by personal journeys, by becoming a father, by Seamus Heaney’s poems, Paddy Kavanagh’s poems, Joni Mitchell’s songs, and by Bruce Chatwins’ novel Songlines. And also by his love of cinema and film.

Oisin studied Theatre and English Literature in Trinity College Dublin for 4 years often writing and directing plays at the Samuel Beckett Centre.

His debut album ‘Cold Sea’ was recorded in an old sea-facing schoolhouse in Donegal on the most northerly tip of Ireland over 5 days in summer. Steve Gunn and Oisin turned the old schoolhouse into a working studio hiring and borrowing recording equipment from neighbouring musicians. They worked here rather than a proper studio so that they could work when and how they pleased – often recording into the wee small hours to capture the right take. Recording in these surroundings (where the songs were mainly written) gave the creative process a unique sense of place and gave the process a freedom.

In April Oisin performed the album Cold Sea on a run of gigs including Dublin at The Sugar Club where Steve Gunn joined him onstage. Also onstage was fiddle player Roisin McGrory. These unique gigs have been dubbed The Maiden Voyage Tour.

⭑⭑⭑⭑ ““This gathering has the sense of bringing us, the audience, in on the magic.”
(Sunday Business Post Live Review)

⭑⭑⭑⭑ Uncut

⭑⭑⭑⭑ Mojo

⭑⭑⭑⭑ Record Collector

⭑⭑⭑⭑ Shindig

⭑⭑⭑⭑ Rolling Stone