It’s a long awaited release for Aoife McCann who originally started the band with Ellie McMahon as a duo over 10 years ago.
McMahon left a few years later, and since that time AE MAK has been the solo endeavour of McCann who has released a wide-range of music, joyous pop, electronic bangers, art-pop swayers, and collaborated with Le Boom and Dan McIntyre aka Lullahush before returning to the power of voice on this new record described as a “cosmical, spiritual-folk work”.
The new song out today recorded & produced by Aoife and Brían Mac Gloinn of Ye Vagabonds, is pitched as as a lullaby fever dream written for moments of anxiety cooped up in bed with insomnia.
“A regular occurrence for me over the last few years. It was born of a series of fear-whirls: not feeling enough or worthy of the things you want in life; fear of being perceived, or of being perceived at all when self-belief is non-existent; not feeling love from the one you’re pouring your love into; shrinking into a smaller version of yourself; lost, stuck – states many of us suffer with before some self-reckoning kicks in.”
“In these moments, I’d think up ways to comfort myself and feel safe in the present moment, imagining being held or cradled – by an ex partner, by my mother – that somatic, visceral, childlike feeling of being cared for. Memories of my parents’ folk record collection spinning in the living room, singing along or simply being in their presence. Images that brought immediate sources of comfort, sparks of joy, and a sense of place again. Now, it feels like the soundtrack to me taking my power and confidence back from the pain and uncertainty that had engulfed me. The music reflects this emotional space – perhaps even more so the fever-dream part, in fairness to its strangeness”.
“Intuitively, this song became the title of the record. Not as a reference to The Mamas & The Papas, but to my mam and pappi, who raised me on folk music and harmony and shared listening – albums left leaning by the turntable for easy reaching”.
Folk Songs for Mama & Papa is released on May 29th and the title track is released today. Previous single ‘We Came From Stars’ also features.
Record in-store shows:
May 29th – Spindizzy Dublin 5:30pm
May 30th – Music Zone Cork 1pm
May 30th – Steamboat Limerick 5pm
Photography by Tim Shearwood, Design by Eleanor Jameson
Credits for Folk Songs for Mama & Papa (the single):
- vocals & synths – Ae Mak
- guitar – Brad Barr
- drums – Cian Hanley
- Written & arranged by Ae Mak,
- Recorded & produced by Ae Mak & Brían Mac Gloinn
- Mixed by Brían Mac Gloinn & mastered by Kevin Frieden
- Distributed by Wipeout Music
Ae Mak
Instagram | Youtube | Bandcamp
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
