TURAS CUMADÓIR by PAULA RYAN 

In her superb new album TURAS CUMADÓIR, Paula Ryan, compelling singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist originally from Tipperary in Ireland, entices us to join her enthralling “songwriter’s journey” (translated from the Gaelic language album title) through a musical landscape filled with an outstanding repertoire of potent, perceptive, self-penned songs, which are beautifully arranged and performed.  

As with Paula’s previous album “Let Me Fly”, TURAS CUMADÓIR is a rarity – a solo album in the true sense! Resisting the trend towards guru producers, in addition to writing all 12 tracks on the album, Paula has single-handedly created all the wonderful arrangements.  In performance Paula uses a fascinating variety of instruments (Marimba, Bazouki, Guitar, Bodhran etc.) to accompany her skilful lead vocals which are ornamented by adeptly crafted, harmonies.   

The album opens with “Vision” – an inspiring call, with a blues tinged folk feel, to “open our eyes” both literally and figuratively.    Raise Our Voice continues in similar vein lyrically encouraging us to reach out across the world in an upbeat peace anthem which was the Winner of the prestigious Peace Song Prize at Shrewsbury Folk Festival, one of the UK’s top folk festivals. The inventiveness of the instrumentation used by Paula on the album is exemplified by “Garryroe”, an ode of longing for one’s childhood home and memories of times gone by and people passed on. The rhythmic hard wood tones of the Marimba and the tantalising finger-picked guitar cradle the voice and the words deftly throughout the song’s contemplation of a past that has gone forever.  However we are not to be mournful too long as with some very adroit Bodhran playing and joyous vocals Paula banishes any lingering woes with the gleeful “You Make Me Laugh”.  

What is remarkable about this album is that within it one can find the most gentle tender love song such as “All I Wanna Do Is Hear Your Voice” alongside the stark lament-like “Caught In A Trap”, the most enthralling story song such as “Only A Cabinet Maker”,  the most fun-loving tongue-in-cheek serenade to her “Handsome Irish Man”,  the pleading cry for release from broken relationship in “I Just Wanna Let Go” and the universal celebration of the simple benefits and joys of music and singing in “Sing For Today” - all equally well written, sensitively performed and beautifully arranged.  

Paula strives not to be confined by the boundaries of any particular musical style or genre and seeks to continually expand her musical horizons.  Just as with many of the greatest songwriters (Springsteen, Mitchell, Dylan, Cohen, Morrison etc….), she also accepts no limits in terms of topics which can, and indeed should, be tackled by the songwriter.  From the sublime to the ridiculous, it’s all just waiting to be put in a song!  

With the stunning and hauntingly evocative closing track on the album -  “O My Blue Eyed One”, Paula shows that she has the ability to capture real life moments and experiences with imaginative melody and ingenious lyrics.  This song also demonstates that Paula has the character to empathise and the craftsmanship as a songwriter to impart a viewpoint in song in a way which strikes a chord with listeners, prompts reflection, may pose questions and raise challenges but always ‘makes something magical happen’ for listener and singer alike. Even on first hearing of  “O My Blue Eyed One” it is patently obvious why this song was nominated as Track/Song of the year by the highly respected Fatea, one of the UK’s leading acoustic music magazines. 

Paula Ryan’s music cannot be fixed in a specific genre, you always hear the Irish roots, but she includes all kinds of influences from other cultures. It is rare to find an entirely solo produced album as diversified, innovative, well-crafted and wonderfully presented as Turas Cumadóir.  

For more information and the latest news, please visit: www.paularyan.co

Turas Cumadóir

Handsome Irish Man

Ebb And Flow

Only A Cabinet Maker

All I Wanna Do Is Hear Your Voice

You Make Me Laugh

Garryroe

Raise Our Voice

Vision

An awestruck ode to the lunar wonder of the moon written and recorded at home during lockdown 2020

Moonstruck

PAULA RYAN (www.paularyanmusic.com) - an award-winning Singer/Songwriter from Tipperary, Ireland  is "a unique voice in the contemporary folk world" (Classic Rock Society Magazine).  Paula's music is infused with the Celtic lyricism and passion of her Irish Gaelic roots and she uses a range of instruments, some standard (Guitar, Bazouki) and some a bit more unusual (Bodhran, Marimba), to accompany original songs which are “really powerful....what song-writing is all about, making you think” (Fatea Magazine). 

Paula's “story-telling” intros and her sometimes serious, sometimes amusing, sometimes 
reflective, sometimes lively, but always sensitive to the song and the music, presentation of her own original material alongside well know Irish songs and traditional favourites is folk entertainment at its best!  There's always plenty of sing-along choruses and lots to join in with!  

Paula 's latest studio album is “Turas Cumadoir (Songwriter's Journey)”  Accoridng to Irish Music Magazine Annual 2022 "Albums like this are a rarity and a breath of fresh air when they come along - this one is a gem which anyone will enjoy".  The album has earned airplay on Ireland's No. 1 national radio station RTE Radio, Tipp FM and other radio stations throughout Ireland as well as in France, Germany and across BBC radio including BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Lincolnshire, BBC Radio Kent and received highly favourable reviews from leading folk/acoustic publications such as fRoots, Acoustic Magazine, FATEA   

Whatever the stage or the size of the audience, Paula's performances are always laced with warmth, wit, musicality and "craic"!

Albums by paularyan