Conor Walsh
{{Short description|Irish musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Conor Walsh
| background = non_performing_personnel
| image =
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = 1979
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|1979}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mayonews.ie/news/living/1127080/radio-doc-on-conor-walsh-airs-this-weekend.html|publisher=The Mayo News|date=16 June 2020|title=Radio doc on Conor Walsh airs this weekend}}
| birth_place =
| instrument = piano
| origin = Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland
| genre = Contemporary classical, ambient, electronic
| years_active =
| label = Ensemble Music
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|conorwalshmusic.com/}}
}}
Conor Walsh (1979–2016) was an Irish musician, composer, and record producer based in County Mayo.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/it-s-a-shame-he-s-not-around-to-see-this-an-album-found-on-conor-walsh-s-laptop-1.3809752|title='It's a shame he's not around to see this' – an album found on Conor Walsh's laptop|first=Eoin|last=Butler|date=7 March 2019|publisher=The Irish Times|website=irishtimes.com}}{{cite web|url=https://musicbrainz.org/artist/15483849-5bde-4ead-ac3c-065aca062385/releases|title=Conor Walsh on musicbranz|website=musicbrainz.org}} He is known for combining classical and electronic music, with the Irish Independent writing, "The Mayo musician's haunting original compositions, which pop up frequently these days on TV and radio, are unwaveringly slow and melancholic."{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/unlocking-the-final-gift-of-mayo-musician-conor-walsh-39297707.html|title=Unlocking the final gift of Mayo musician Conor Walsh|first=Eoin|last=Butler|date=20 June 2020|publisher=Irish Independent}}
Biography
Walsh had worked in social care before pursuing music full time and relocating to a rural cottage.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/culture/2020/0618/1148223-documentary-on-one-conor-walsh-passing-through/|title=Documentary on One Conor Walsh Passing Through|publisher=RTÉ|date=18 June 2020}}
In 2013, he toured with Irish musician Hozier.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishpost.com/news/hozier-leads-tributes-late-irish-musician-conor-walsh-83060|publisher=Irish Post|title=Hozier leads tributes to late Irish musician Conor Walsh who died suddenly on Friday|date=14 March 2016}} In 2014, he appeared on season 12 of Other Voices.{{cite web|url=https://www.othervoices.ie/news/other-voices-series-12|title=Other Voices Season 12 Schedule|publisher=Other Voices|website=othervoices.ie}}
Walsh's debut EP The Front was released in 2015 by Ensemble Music.{{cite web|url=https://journalofmusic.com/news/first-release-ensemble-records-conor-walshs-front-launched-month|date=21 October 2015|title=Ensemble Records release Conor Walsh The Front|publisher=Journal of Music}}
The Last Mixed Tape wrote of the release, "Walsh's deft piano playing creates a harmonic body of sound that forms the majestic backbone of 'The Front'".{{cite web|url=https://thelastmixedtape.com/2015/10/14/listen-conor-walsh-streams-majestic-new-track-the-front/|title=Listen - Conor Walsh streams majestic new track 'The Front'|first=Stephen|last=White|date=14 October 2015|publisher=The Last Mixed Tape}}
Walsh died of a heart attack in March 2016. His debut album, The Lucid, was released posthumously in 2019, having been compiled by his sister Fiona Walsh, his friend Enda Bates, who produced his first EP, and fellow musician Rob Farhat.{{cite web|url=https://journalofmusic.com/listing/10-03-19/conor-walsh-lucid-album-launch|publisher=Journal of Music|title=Conor Walsh 'The Lucid' Album Launch|date=15 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://imro.ie/news/conor-walsh-posthumous-album-the-lucid-released/|title=Conor Walsh's Posthumous Album 'The Lucid' Released|date=12 March 2019|publisher=Irish Music Rights Organisation|website=imro.ie}} In a four-star review, Eamon Sweeney of The Irish Times wrote that the album "hangs together as a sparkling collection of piano-based gems played in Walsh's rich and unique style".{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/conor-walsh-the-lucid-review-a-sparkling-posthumous-collection-1.3821842|first=Eamonn|last=Sweeney|date=15 March 2016|title=The Lucid: Album Review|publisher=The Irish Times}} GoldenPlec wrote, "There's an undeniable poignancy in hearing an absent performer play music that is itself so focused on absence".{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenplec.com/album-reviews/conor-walsh-the-lucid/|first=Eanna|last=Cunnane|date=13 April 2019|publisher=GoldenPlec|title=The Lucid Album Review}} Irish musician Talos sampled Conor's music on his track Dawn, The Front.{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenplec.com/featured/talos-interview/|first=Anna|last=Buckley|date=5 February 2019|title=Talos Interview|publisher=GoldenPlec|website=goldenplec.com}}
Discography
=EPs=
- The Front, 2015
=Albums=
- The Lucid, 2019
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official|https://conorwalshmusic.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Conor}}
Category:Neoclassical composers
Category:Musicians from County Mayo
Category:People from Swinford, County Mayo
Category:Recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
{{Improve categories|date=September 2022}}