The Cuban-Irish singer-songwriter returns with an evocative song and video.
‘Demons In The Liffey’ is a stripped-back but not sparsely produced song, that uses spacious atmospherics and muted guitar tones to emphasise Qbanaa’s heartfelt vocals, addressing the artist’s relationship with her mother in Dublin while living away in London, rising with strings, voice message recordings, sitar and close hushed harmonies.
The video by Q and Babygirl, features footage of the singer as a child, underscoring a life lived, a close relationship enduring over time, with the title inspired by “the haunting memories of trauma that surface during conversations with her mother.”
Watch the video: Qbanaa – ‘Demons In The Liffey’
“I wrote ‘Demons in the Liffey’ during a period of intense reflection after a complicated breakup and a strained relationship with my mother,” says Qbanaa.
“It’s about confronting the pain of my past, but also about the hope and promise of healing. I hope this song speaks to anyone who has ever felt torn between love and pain, and inspires them to find their own path to reconciliation.”
Qbanaa live:
Oct 25th – St Lukes, Cork
(Cork Guinness Jazz Festival with Maya Delilah)
Qbanaa bio
Qbanaa is a dynamic Cuban-Irish singer-songwriter who seamlessly blends her Cuban heritage with modern influences such as soul, jazz, and Latin rhythms. Fans of artists like Erykah Badu, Greentea Peng, and Amy Winehouse will resonate with her sound. She has supported high-profile artists like Liv.e, Mahalia, recently Ruby Waters on her European tour and has graced major festivals such as Electric Picnic, All Together Now, Cork Jazz, Forbidden Fruit, Other Voices and Body & Soul.
Since the release of her debut single Truth and Desire in 2022, Qbanaa has achieved critical success in Ireland and UK. Her track ‘Best Time’ climbed to No. 34 on the International Irish Radio charts and No. 3 on the Breakers chart, where she was the only independent artist featured. Named one of RTÉ’s Rising Stars for 2024, she was also invited to a prestigious songwriting camp alongside global artists, with support from Jameson and Anderson .Paak.
Her six track EP Elisa is due for release in the coming months. Produced in Cuba and completed in Dublin, the project draws from her influences, personal icons, and raw life experiences, creating an immersive world for her listeners.
