Brigid Mae Power

Power was born in London, England to Irish parents. Her family relocated to Ireland when she was eleven years old,{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2023/07/04/brigid-mae-power-i-underestimated-how-vulnerable-i-would-feel-with-everyone-knowing-my-business|title=Brigid Mae Power: ‘I underestimated how vulnerable I would feel with everyone knowing my business’|work=The Irish Times|date=4 July 2023|last=Power|first=Ed}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/culture/2018/1016/1003589-something-for-the-weekend-brigid-mae-powers-cultural-picks/|title=Something for the weekend-Brigid Mae Power Cultural picks|date=16 October 2018|access-date=30 August 2021|work=RTÉ News}} where she learned to play the button accordion before starting to sing and play piano as a teen.{{cite news|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brigid-mae-power-mn0003508716/biography|title=Brigid Mae power Biography|author=Donelson, Marcy|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Allmusic}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/brigid-mae-power-welcome-to-her-world-c39sxxdzg|title=Brigid Mae Power-welcome to her world|author=Murphy, Lauren|date=28 January 2018|access-date=30 August 2021|work=The Times}}

Power began releasing music under the name "Brigid Power-Ryce" in 2010 when her debut EP, You Are Here, was released by the independent label Rusted Rail.{{cite web|url=https://www.advertiser.ie/Galway/article/22126/brigid-power-ryce-to-launch-debut-ep-with-r%C3%B3is%C3%ADn-dubh-gig|title=Brigid PowerRyce to launch debut EP with Roisin Dubh gig|author=Andrews, Kernan|date=11 February 2010|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Galway Advertiser}} This was followed by two self-released EPs, Ode to an Embryo in 2011 and Eee Tuts in 2013. Her live album, I Told You The Truth, recorded in St. Nicholas Collegiate Church in Galway, was released in 2014 by the label Abandon Reason. In a review of the album, The Irish Times wrote: "the setting gives her haunting vocals a spiritual resonance".{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/newfound-sounds-for-may-1.1772884|title=New Found Sounds May|author=Barry, Aoife|date=25 April 2014|access-date=30 August 2021|work=The Irish Times}}

After meeting American musician Peter Broderick at a gig, Power travelled to Broderick's Studio in Portland, Oregon in 2015 to record her debut studio album.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2016/08/16/490000447/brigid-mae-power-on-world-cafe|title=Brigid Mae power on World Cafe|date=16 August 2016|access-date=30 August 2021|work=npr.org}} After finishing the album's production, she received a two-album deal from American label Tompkins Square Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/galway-musician-brigid-mae-power-on-metoo-and-drawing-from-her-own-experience-of-abuse-on-her-new-album-36779583.html|title=Galway musician Brigid Mae power on metoo and drawing from her own experiences of abuse on her new album|date=16 August 2016|access-date=30 August 2021|author=Meagher, John|work=Irish Independent}}

Power's self-titled debut album, Brigid Mae Power, was released in 2016 and was a critical success, receiving positive reviews from Pitchfork,{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21971-brigid-mae-power/|title=Brigid Mae Power|author=Snapes, Laura|date=22 June 2016|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Pitchfork}} Record Collector,{{cite web|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/brigid-mae-power|title=Brigid Mae Power|author=Goldsmith, Mike|date=15 July 2016|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Record Collector}} and The Guardian.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/26/brigid-mae-power-album-singer-songwriter-review|title=Brigid Mae Power - Singer Songwriter review|author=Empire, Kitty|date=26 June 2014|access-date=30 August 2021|work=The Guardian}}

In an interview with Uncut, Power stated that the album was inspired by her experiences as a single mother.{{cite web|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/brigid-mae-power-reviewed-77317/|title=Brigid Mae Power reviewed|author=Mulvey, John|date=10 June 2016|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Uncut}}

She promoted the album with a tour of the UK and Japan.{{cite web|url=https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2016/08/brigid-mae-power-brigid-mae-power/

|title=Brigid Mae Power|author=Kidman, David|date=9 August 2016|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Folk Radio UK}}

Power's second studio album, The Two Worlds, was released in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2018/03/brigid-mae-power-the-two-worlds/

|title=Brigid Mae Power-The Two Worlds|date=March 2018|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Folk Radio UK}} The album was met with widespread critical acclaim from the music press, with Pitchfork writing: "The Two Worlds is Power's most ambitious and her most introspective".{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/brigid-mae-power-the-two-worlds/|title=Brigid Mae Power-The Two Worlds|author=Sodomsky, Sam|date=9 February 2018|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Pitchfork}} The album received 4-star reviews from Uncut,{{cite web|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/brigid-mae-power-two-worlds-103387/|title=Brigid Mae Power-The Two Worlds|author=Bonner, Michael|date=8 February 2018|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Uncut}} The Guardian{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/feb/09/brigid-mae-power-the-two-worlds-review-tomkins-square|title=Brigid Mae Power-The Two Worlds Review|author=Snapes, Laura|date=9 February 2018|access-date=30 August 2021|work=The Guardian}} and Record Collector.{{cite web|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/two-worlds|title=-The Two Worlds|author=Goldsmith, Mike|date=28 February 2018|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Record Collector}} The Line of Best Fit also wrote: "Stately, solemn, slow-burning and seriously beautiful, most of The Two Worlds isn't far removed from its predecessor's intimate templates".{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/brigid-mae-power-the-two-worlds|title=-Brigid Mae Power turns the volume up and then down again on The Two Worlds|author=Oinenon, Janne|date=16 February 2018|access-date=30 August 2021|work=The Line of Best Fit}}

Power's third album, Head Above the Water, was released in 2020 by Fire Records. In 2021, she appeared on Other Voices.{{cite web|url=https://www.othervoices.ie/artists/brigid-mae-power |title=-Brigid Mae Power|access-date=30 August 2021|work=othervoices.ie}}

Power released her fourth LP, Dream from the Deep Well, in 2023. The album likewise received favourable reviews from critics, with an aggregrate score of 76% on Metacritic. {{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/dream-from-the-deep-well/brigid-mae-power|title="Dream From the Deep Well" on Metacritic}} The album also entered the UK Official Folk Albums Chart at number 10.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/brigid-mae-power-dream-from-the-deep-well/|title=Dream From the Deep Well on Official Charts|work=Official Albums Chart}}

file:Brigid Mae Power at Rough Trade West (53013887318).jpg

Albums

• Brigid Mae Power (2016)
• The Two Worlds (2018)
• Head Above the Water (2020)
• Dream from the Deep Well (2023)
• Songs for You (2025)

EPS

• You Are Here (2010)
• Ode to an Embryo (2011)
• Eee Tuts (2013)
• The Ones You Keep Close (2017)
• Burning Your Light (2021)

Live albums

• I Told You the Truth (2014)

{{Reflist}}

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• {{Allmusic}}
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Category:Irish folk singers

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Irish singers

Category:21st-century Irish women singers

Category:Singers from London