Steve Wall and Simon O’Reilly have released their brand new single ‘Rise with the Sun’. The two collaborated on the song over WhatsApp and shared files online, with Simon recording the music and mixing the song in his studio near Lahinch and Steve recording vocals and some extra bits in Dublin. Simon O’Reilly is a composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, music video maker and founder of Music Minds festival, he is based in Lahinch in the west of Ireland and owner of Fern Studios. He has worked with many musicians including The Contempo Quartette, Susan O’Neill, Davey Spillane, Twin Headed Wolf, Kila, Luka Bloom and The Monks Of Glenstal amongst others. Steve Wall has penned some of the best-known songs in Irish rock music: “Brewing up a Storm”, “Romeo’s on Fire”, “Half Past Two” and “To the Bright and Shining Sun” to mention just a few. Best known in Ireland as the singer with legendary Irish bands The Walls and The Stunning, he also juggles a successful acting career.
‘Rise with the Sun’ is a refreshing and glorious new tune. The track floats upon an alternative country rock backdrop while pedal steel guitar and reggae hued beats inject balmy tropical tones into the mix. Lyrically the track gives an honest and quirky depiction of a person’s struggle with will power and self-discipline and the challenge to stay focussed. Lyrics ‘I’m a hunter gatherer in my prime, I stocked up on frozen foods and I’m already watching season two, Close the curtains and turn the dimmer down’ express relatable experiences over the past year while lines such as ‘Sometimes I get a little bit lonely but I can never find the right emoji’, – although tongue in cheek, resonate with darker emotional undertones. The refined instrumentation and lyrical content within ‘Rise with the Sun’ displays Steve Wall and Simon O’Reilly’s enjoyable musicianship and deft production skills.
Speaking of the single Steve Wall says: “It’s my first collaboration outside of The Stunning and The Walls and I’m really buzzed about it. It was refreshing for me to get music that someone else had written for a change and to see what kind of song I could make out of it. Simon was great to work with. We both have years of experience so neither of us is precious when it comes to the creative process and we were on the same page the whole time which helped”.
With Simon O’Reilly adding: “Over many long conversations about all things music, I found myself to be in sync with Steve’s musical sensibilities and styles. We have a mutual passion for guitars, gear and everything encompassing the creative process. During the last two months, working on this uplifting song was joyous. I hope the song can do a bit of the same for the listener”
Watch the video for ‘Rise with the Sun’ below
Author : Danu
