Karan Casey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karan Casey
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | 1969 (age 55–56) Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland |
| Genres | Celtic Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer songwriter producer Pianist |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Crow Valley Music (own label) Compass Records |
Karan Casey (born in 1969) is a talented Irish folk singer. She used to be a member of the Irish band Solas. Today, she lives in Cork, Ireland.
Contents
Karan Casey's Early Life and Music Journey
Growing Up with Music
Karan Casey was born in Ballyduff Lower, a place near Kilmeaden in County Waterford, Ireland. Her family always encouraged her to sing. She sang at home, in her church choir, and at school.
Learning and Performing
Karan first studied piano at Waterford Regional Technical College. Then, in 1987, she went on to study music at University College Dublin. While she was a student, she learned to copy Ella Fitzgerald's amazing scat singing style. She even performed in a Dublin bistro several nights a week! Later, she studied classical music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. She sang in different bands, including jazz and folk groups. A famous Dublin folk singer named Frank Harte also greatly influenced her. During this time, she even started her own band called "Dorothy."
Moving to the USA and Joining Solas
New York City Adventures
In 1993, Karan Casey moved to New York City to study jazz. While there, she started going to Irish traditional music sessions. These are informal gatherings where musicians play traditional Irish tunes. She began singing Irish traditional music again, mostly in local bars and community centers.
Becoming Part of Solas
In 1994, Karan sang with a group called Atlantic Bridge. Then, in 1996, she joined the popular band Solas. She recorded five songs on their very first album. At the same time, she also performed her own jazz and folk songs at a club in Manhattan. In 1997, Karan released her first solo album, Songlines. This album was inspired by a novel with the same name. It featured both traditional Irish and modern folk songs, and some members of Solas also played on it.
Karan Casey's Solo Career
Stepping Out on Her Own
Karan Casey left Solas in early 1999 to focus on her solo music. She moved back to Ireland, but she often traveled between her home in Cork and America for performances.
Collaborations and New Albums
In 2000, Karan worked with other singers on a musical album called Seal Maiden. This album was about the mythical creature known as the selkie, a seal-woman. The story was written by an Irish playwright and narrated by Karan. Many talented musicians contributed to the album.
In 2001, Karan released her second solo album, The Winds Begin to Sing. Critics really liked it, and it helped her build a strong solo career. She released Distant Shore in 2003 and toured a lot in America and Europe.
Sharing Family Songs
In 2005, Karan released Chasing the Sun. This album included traditional Irish and folk songs that she learned from her mother and grandmother. It also featured some songs written by Karan herself and by Belfast musician Barry Kerr. This album was the last one she released with certain labels. After that, Karan, her husband Niall Vallely, and other artists started releasing her music independently through their own company.
Reuniting with Solas
In 2006, Karan joined her old band Solas for a special live DVD and album called Reunion: a Decade of Solas. She performed with all the past and current members of the band.
Starting Her Own Label
In 2008, Karan and her husband started their own music company called Crow Valley Music. They released her album Ships in the Forest through this label.
Duets and Personal Songs
In 2010, Karan released Exiles Return, a duet album with her former Solas bandmate John Doyle. The Irish Echo newspaper even named it one of the top 5 albums of the year!
In 2014, Karan released Two More Hours, her sixth solo album. This was special because all the songs were written by her. It was a very personal album and featured duets with Irish singer Mick Flannery, as well as contributions from Abigail Washburn and Aoife O’Donovan. The album showed Karan's love for R&B, jazz, and blues, creating a fresh mix of sounds.
Recent Work and FairPlé
In 2017, Karan was a special artist at University College Cork. She also toured the UK and the US, performing at famous places like New York's Carnegie Hall.
In 2018, Karan helped start FairPlé. This group works to make sure female performers in Irish traditional and folk music are treated fairly and have equal opportunities.
In 2019, she released her album, Hieroglyphs That Tell the Tale. This album was produced by the well-known Scottish producer Donald Shaw. It also featured Karan's long-time musical friends. The album showed off Karan's great songwriting skills, inspired by artists like Janis Ian and Bob Dylan. She was joined on vocals by many women singers she admired, including Karen Matheson and Maura O'Connell.
In December 2022, she released a single called "Nine Apples of Gold." An album with the same name followed on February 22, 2023.
Karan Casey has also worked with many other famous musicians, including Bela Fleck, Maura O'Connell, Tim O'Brien, Lunasa, and The Dubliners.
Karan Casey's Personal Life
Karan Casey married Irish concertina player Niall Vallely in February 2007. They have two children, Muireann and Áine. She often works on music projects with the Vallely brothers and their bands.
Karan Casey's Music Albums
Solo Albums
- 1997 – Songlines
- 2000 – Seal Maiden (with friends)
- 2001 – The Winds Begin To Sing
- 2003 – Distant Shore
- 2005 – Chasing The Sun
- 2008 – Ships in the Forest
- 2014 – Two More Hours
- 2018 – Hieroglyphs That Tell the Tale
- 2023 – Nine Apples of Gold
With Solas
- 1996 – Solas
- 1997 – Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers
- 1998 – The Words That Remain
- 2006 – Reunion: A Decade of Solas (CD/DVD)
Other Recordings and Collaborations
- 1996 – Her Song: Exotic Voices of Women from Around the World (Various Artists)
- 1997 – Celtic Tapestry, Vol. 2 (Various Artists)
- 1997 – Holding up Half the Sky: Women's Voices from Around the World (Various Artists)
- 1997 – Her Song: Exotic Voices of Women from Around the World (Various Artists)
- 1997 – Voices of Celtic Women: Holding up Half the Sky (Various Artists)
- 1998 – Africans in America (Original Television Soundtrack) (Various Artists)
- 1998 – Celtic Tides (Various Artists)
- 1998 – Greatest Hits (Paul Winter)
- 1998 – Legends of Ireland (Various Artists)
- 1998 – Winter's Tale (Various Artists)
- 1999 – Celtic Solstice (Paul Winter)
- 1999 – Holding up Half the Sky: Voices of Celtic Women Vol 2 (Various Artists)
- 1999 – Thousands Are Sailing (Various Artists)
- 2000 – Emerald Aether: Shape Shifting/Reconstructions Of Irish Music (Bill Laswell)
- 2000 – Fused (Michael McGoldrick)
- 2000 – Fits of Passion – High Spirited Celtic Captured by Starbucks (Various Artists)
- 2000 – Ceol Tacsaí (Various Artists)
- 2001 – Celtic Christmas: Silver Anniversary Edition (Various Artists)
- 2001 – Evening Comes Early (John Doyle)
- 2001 – Two Journeys (Tim O'Brien)
- 2001 – Lullaby: a Collection (Various Artists)
- 2003 – Brown Girl in the Ring (Various Artists)
- 2004 – Very Best of Celtic Christmas (Various Artists)
- 2004 – Other Voices: Songs from a Room Vol 2 (Various Artists)
- 2005 – Lullaby: 20th Anniversary Special Edition (Various Artists)
- 2005 – 20 Great Kid’s Songs: 20th Anniversary Special Collector’s Edition (Various Artists)
- 2005 – Folktopia (Various Artists)
- 2006 – Magic Nights in The Lobby Bar (Various Artists)
- 2006 – Acoustic Affair Vol. 1 (Various Artists)
- 2007 – A Christmas Celtic Sojourn Live (Various Artists)
- 2007 – Excalibur: Vol. 2 (Alan Simon)
- 2008 – Absolutely Irish (Various Artists)
- 2010 – Exiles Return (with John Doyle)
- 2014 – A Prairie Home Companion- Duets 2 (Various Artists)
