A cover of the Waterboys classic is coming out on DFA Records this month, a song written in tribute to Keith McIvor, JD Twitch of Optimo who was an inspiration to many.
The Watergirls cover of ‘The Whole of the Moon” was conceived by Alan Thomson aka Teamy, a DJ, label manager, and core Optimo family member with Mhairi (vah-ree) McClymont on vocals, Bob Weston on bass, CC:Disco and Fantastic Twins on vocals, James Murphy doing the “Bowie bit” in the bridge and production and engineering from Pearl M Wong, Mary Kiani, and Pablo Morales.
“The Whole of the Moon” is what most call a classic. It’s a song about awe and hope and love for the people who show us the best of this often broken world, the blessed few who light the way and introduce us to things and thoughts.
The thing about Keith was that, through music, he was incredible at bringing people together,” says Teamy, a DJ, label manager, and core Optimo family member. “I honestly think about 80% of my friends are people I met directly or indirectly through Optimo. Mhairi McClymont, who is the lead vocalist here, isn’t one of them though. We went to school together and were best friends until our first or second year in university, when we kind of drifted apart only to be reunited at…Optimo.”
After Keith’s terminal brain cancer diagnosis in 2025, the two were left on opposite sides of the world. “Not being able to hug your closest when they are bawling their eyes out is not nice.” Then, “The Whole of the Moon” came on the radio.
“I felt quite driven to make a version of it that could be played in the disco, or maybe more specifically a version that I could imagine being played at Optimo and asked Mhairi if she’d do vocals. I guess it was a way for me to offer her a way to channel the feelings that were exacerbated by the distance, for us to be close despite the distance.It’s meant to be played out. It’s meant to make two friends hug and sing into each other’s faces. It’s for Keith and for everyone like him.”
The vinyl is also up for pre-order and will arrive on October 2nd the same date as the full digital release, which includes two remixes by Hardway Bros aka Sean Johnston, co-founder of A Love From Outer Space. Bandcamp.
All proceeds will be donated to the Beatson Cancer Charity to fund the purchase of headphones and music players and to support glioblastoma research the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, based at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
![The Waterboys - The Whole of the Moon [Official HD Remastered Video]](https://nialler9.com/wp-content/cache/flying-press/b539e27785a47796f49c614d446105af.jpg)
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.
