Though its conception was chaotic and a bit unorthodox, the end result of Irish Mythen’s newest album, Little Bones, is one of beauty. The tracks are full of heart and soul. The emotional and intellectual depths in her writing know no limits.
The album was born in the midst of a series of high profile performances, and Mythen was on tour for the bulk of it. She laid down the vocals in between touring Australia and the United States. This left the bulk of the recording to be done by her team in her absence; the engineered team of J.M. and S. Varlamov of Crabbe Road Productions (Springvale, PE) handling things on the other end.
Mythen’s end of the creative process involved a lot of listening to recordings and back and forth phone calls. She wasn’t present for a majority of the recording process, so she needed to make sure the instrumentals lived up to her vision.
“I wanted everyone to, yes, take a little creative freedom,” said Mythen. “But I also spoke to everyone beforehand to really nail down what I wanted each song to be about.”
The end result is one that Mythen is immensely proud of. She claims she rarely goes back to an album once she’s finished it, but she hasn’t stopped listening to this one since its release. The production is the closest she’s come to doing a live album. The raw power of her voice is more pronounced than ever. This is especially true on emotionally powerful tracks like ‘Maria’, a wrenching ballad about losing a loved one.
“My voice has the same power but there’s a new softness that I haven’t done before. I’m staunchly proud of the writing on this album.”
The album opens with “Deep In The Woods”, a chilling tale of murder. This strong narrative aspect is something Mythen does well, and she sings her words with conviction. She doesn’t shy away from subjects she’s passionate about. It’s clear as the album goes on that she has a strong sense of moral justice. It shines on tracks like “Let Them In” and “Little Bones”, both anthems for the children who end up caught up in the strife of the world.
Mythen explains that she felt now was the right time for her to make this album. It has its mix of light and heavy songs, but even the more serious subject matter like politics and social justice are handled in a more understated way.
“I tried to write it in a way that people don’t feel like they’re being preached at,” said Mythen. “Even so, I’ve had people message me since the release saying things like, ‘I didn’t know a lot about this topic until hearing you sing about it’.”
Originally from Ireland, Mythen makes her home on Prince Edward Island. She draws similar inspiration from the cultural importance of art and storytelling in both locations. The deeply generational aspect of music is a trait that Ireland and the Maritimes share. Mythen claims that’s what makes it so special.
“Be it music, be it singing, be it story – there’s just something special about it. We work the land and the sea, and we pass down generations of song and story. We’re both such tiny parts of the world but we create such great artists.”
Tour Dates:
06.15.19 – Bristol, UK @ Folk House
06.17.19 – Cambridge Junction, Cambridge, UK @ J2
06.19.19 – Guildford, UK @ Boileroom
06.20.19 – London, UK @ Irish Cultural Centre
06.21-23.19 – Tunbridge Wells, UK @ Black Deer Festival
06.25.19 – Birmingham, UK @ The Kitchen Garden Cafe
06.26.19 – Pocklington, UK @ Pocklington Arts Centre
06.27.19 – Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK @ The Live Theatre
06.28.19 – Glasgow, UK @ Glad Café
06.05.19 – Dublin, Ireland @ Upstairs at Whelan’s
06.06.19 – Liverpool, UK @ Feis Festival