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Mairead Q&A

Get to Know Mairead Phelan

As we prepare for the February 16th release of Solas’ third Compass Record, The Turning Tide, we thought it would be interesting to revisit Mairead Phelan’s Q and A from August 2008. At the time, she was the band’s newest member and her vocal talents were debuted on Solas’ 2008 release For Love and Laughter.  Now, 18 months later, Mairead is a seasoned member of the band and their sound as a quintet has really come into its own. Check out what Mairead had to say:

2. What’s on your iPod? All kinds of everything! Obviously a lot of trad, from old Seamus Ennis recordings to Lunasa, I also love Cathy Davey, Paul Simon, The Cardigans, Maria Callas, Bob Dylan, Kanye West, the Arctic Monkeys, The Pixies, Manu Chao, Bonnie Prince Billy, Joni Mitchell, Blur…. This, that and the other!

3. What are 5 CDs you’d want with you on a desert island? I’d want a few more than five please! Well here’s a few off the top of my head: Tales of Silversleeve by Cathy Davey, Graceland by Paul Simon, Life by the Cardigans, Tripswitch by John McSherry & Donal O’Connor,  Dark Side of The Moon by Pink Floyd.

4. What would you be doing if you weren’t in Solas? I was in medical school before I joined the band so I suppose I’d be toiling away in a library somewhere!

5. Musical hero you’d most like to meet? Nina Simone but that’s not going to happen so I’d have to say Tom Waits.

6. Favorite venue as a performer? I really enjoyed the Somerville Theatre in Boston.

7. Favorite concert/performance as an audience member? Bob Dylan at the Point Theatre in Dublin

8. What sound do you love? My sister playing the cello.

9. What sound do you hate? MY ALARM!

10. Favorite movie(s)? In The Name of The Father and The Lives of Others.

11. Last good book you read?   I just read the autobiography of Mark Oliver Everett, the singer from The Eels called Things the Grandchildren Should Know.  It was really interesting.

12. Favorite clothing store? Urban Outfitters.

13. Favorite comfort food?  Depends:  sometimes chocolate sometimes soup sometimes pizza!

14. Role Model?  My parents.

15. What trait do you most value in your friends? Humour.

16. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Going for a lovely meal with family and friends and/or playing a few tunes!

17. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?  “deadly” “cool”

18. What is your most treasured possession? My flute.

19. Which talent would you most like to have? I’d love to be a tightrope walker or a trapeze artist.

20. What is your Motto? You only live once.