Interview: Lorraine Nash Discusses The Forthcoming Official Single Release Of “River”!

Lorraine Nash in an upcoming Irish multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, who recently created huge waves on the folk music scene with her debut EP titled ‘Wildflower’.

Following on from the success of her EP, Lorraine is set to release the song “River” as an official single on October 23rd. This single release will be the third to feature from the EP, following on from “Wildflower” and “Changing Tides”.

Lorraine has kindly taken the time to speak with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution about “River”, along with getting to know more from the artist.

Hey Lorraine, thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Can you start by telling the readers a little bit about yourself?

Lorraine: Hey, thanks so much for having me! I’m a 21-year-old singer songwriter from Kerry and I just released my first EP in June. I’m also studying English in University at the moment.

When did you first discover your love for music?

Lorraine: I had been sent for music lessons when I was younger for many different genres of music and I enjoyed all of them. I didn’t need to be told twice to practice and was always thinking about what instrument I wanted to learn next.

Can you recall the first song you performed in front of an audience, & do you still include it on your setlist?

Lorraine: One of the first songs I had written that I felt comfortable showing people was called Seaside. I don’t think it would have a place in my setlist today but I still come back to it sometimes because writing that one song that I was proud of was the encouragement I needed to try and write more.

Have you always known that music was a career that you wanted to pursue?

Lorraine: I actually had many different ideas about what I wanted to do, I had wanted to be a vet and then an architect, or even something in science, but when I left school this is what I was most drawn to. I had started a music course with the idea that it would be a year out to decide but it ended up making my mind up for me.

How would you describe your musical style to someone unfamiliar with your music?

Lorraine: I think I have been influenced by quite a few genres of music that I have grown up listening to and playing but I think the outcome of that lies somewhere between Folk, Country and Americana.

You are about to release “River” as a single on October 23rd. How did the idea to create this song come together?

Lorraine: I wanted to write something that felt like a story. The first verse and chorus came quite easily and then I spent quite a bit of time on the other verses to make sure it flowed like I wanted it to. I had a bit of fun with the instrumentation on this one, we kind of tried loads of different things. When the melody for each verse and chorus was the same, I felt that I needed to vary the other factors of the song.

What would you consider to be the main inspiration behind this track?

Lorraine: I had written this song inspired by the Irish ballads that I love listening to. There is something comforting about a simple melody and those poetic lyrics. I tried my best to emulate that in this track.

What does the song personally mean to you?

Lorraine: To me this song was written at a time when I was unsure about what to do with my life, I suppose the main idea behind it was that all you can do is follow your gut. In a way it is about letting go of any expectations other people might have for you.

What message would you like listeners to take away from this upcoming release?

Lorraine: I love hearing different meanings people find in my songs so I think if the listener can relate to the lyrics in their own way that’s a wonderful thing.

If you could duet with anyone in the world, who would you choose?

Lorraine: That’s a really tough one! Singing Boulder to Birmingham with Emmylou Harris would be a dream come true though.

What song do you always keep on your playlist & why?

Lorraine: One that’s been there for quite a while is Hold on by Alabama Shakes, it’s just one of those songs that will put me in a good mood at any time.

What was the last album you listened to & did you enjoy it?

Lorraine: The last album I listened to was one I had been anticipating for a while. Fleet Foxes just released a new record, “Shore”, and they can do no wrong in my eyes.

Who would you consider to be your biggest inspiration?

Lorraine: From a female singer songwriter’s perspective, the first person that springs to mind is Joni Mitchell.

What are some of the things you enjoy outside of music?

Lorraine: Outside of music I really enjoy art. I have been drawing and painting as long as I can remember which has actually come in handy when I needed cover art for my music. As well as that I love to read, lockdown was a good chance to catch up on all the books I had been meaning to get stuck into.

What advice would you offer someone at pursuing a career within the music industry?

Lorraine: I would definitely say to take the time to think things through! When you’re starting out first impressions mean so much so don’t put anything out into the world that you aren’t happy with.

Finally, is there anything you would like to say to the readers of Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?

Lorraine: I hope you enjoyed hearing a little bit about my creative process! My full EP, “Wildflower”, including my new single River, is available for streaming on Spotify and Apple music. There are also physical CD’s available on Bandcamp if you really love it.