Róis blends sean-nós, folk, experimental sounds on the darkly stunning ‘Caoine’
Róis is a Fermanagh composer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and electronic artist.
The artist Rose Connolly first came to attention via the 2023 EP Uisce and Bean, which former site contributor Mike McGrath Bryan put under our ears in his Bandcamp piece last year.
The music of Róis has taken a darker edge on new forthcoming EP MO LEAN, out October 4th, and the exploratory expansive feel in those songs are here magnified and zoomed in, with a greater emphasis on sonics, dynamics and the power of a voice, perhaps underscored by the EP’s theme of celebrating Ireland’s ancient traditions around death, from start to finish.
The EP was self-released, written and produced by RÓIS with additional production from John Spud Murphy (OXN/Lankum), and was inspired by recordings of keening songs.
MO LEAN features several new original recordings and reworks of songs and hymns based around the concept of death, life, mourning and catharsis.
The EP is preceded by the single ‘Caoine’, a reference to the tradition found in Irish culture and elsewhere of Keening – mourning the dead through wailing, often at a graveside or wake.
The song brings together ambient sounds, a beautiful soaring vocal, blipping electronics, synths and electronic production. It’s stunning.
Spotify:
The artist will embark on an Irish Wake themed tour:
The Irish Wake Tour reimagines the wake in contemporary times. The period between death and burial, this cultural tradition is a core part of Irish life, bringing the community together to deal with the grief of loss. Yet, it is declining and many wake traditions are almost lost.?
Live Dates
Sat 12th October – Accidental Theatre, Belfast (presented by Moving On Music)
Fri 25th October – Connolly’s, Leap (presented by Connolly’s of Leap)
Sun 27th October – Workman’s Cellar, Dublin (presented by Foggy Notions)
Sat 2nd November – De Barra’s, Clonakilty (presented by De Barra’s)
+ more to be announced soon.
R?is says:
“I am beyond thrilled to soon release this concept EP and embark on a tour to perform it live. The Irish Wake is not just a cultural tradition but a powerful celebration of life that deserves to be revived. Historically, the Catholic Church sought to suppress many of these ‘pagan’ customs, and after the Famine, much of what made the wake unique faded away. One of the most fascinating aspects of the wake was its role in matchmaking—finding love in a place where the impermanence of life was most palpable. The wake was not just about mourning; it was also about embracing life’s most primal elements—sex, love, and death. Finding and making love in the room next to the deceased would have been the perfect way to celebrate the here and now.
These customs, though shocking to some, were an integral part of the human experience, a way to connect with others when life and death were so closely intertwined.
This tour performance has evolved into quite a theatrical piece, one that takes you on a cathartic journey while exploring these rich, and sometimes unsettling, traditions. We need to relinquish our fear of dying to fully thrive in life and within our sexual environment. The Irish Wake, in its essence, is a declaration of life in its rawest, most honest form.”
RÓIS Biography
RÓIS is a composer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and electronic artist from Fermanagh, whose songs breathe new life into a forgotten Ireland. Blending elements of folk, sean-nós, electronics, and jazz harmony, RÓIS’ genre-bending sound transports listeners to a different realm. With shapeshifting sets, no two performances are ever the same, as audiences accompany R?is into her sound world. Expect twists and turns of tempo and genre, and moments of sheer magic, as she conducts the energy of the room. This is a place where the ancient meets the new.
R?is ethereal voice has been compared to the likes of Björk, Meredith Monk and Hatis Noit. It is a vocal style rooted in traditional sean-nós singing, as she summons the dead and forgotten, with ancient ‘keening’ songs. With RÓIS’ performances the old and the new are enmeshed, alongside encapsulating visuals, in the hope of creating good art. Leading audiences into a realm of mysticism and creating a space for introspection, these live experiences are completely unique.?
