Mary Coughlan’s career in music has been one hell-of-a-ride. Often described as the greatest female vocalist that Ireland has ever produced, Coughlan proudly stands alongside some of the world’s most iconic jazz singers. She is unique in blending whisky-blurred, smoke-seared, husky notes with the laconic wit of Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee. She draws the line of deep, down and dirty blues singers back to Bessie Smith with the sardonic, bitter-sweet defiance and despair of Edith Piaf. Yet Mary Coughlan delivers it all in a delicious and unapologetic Irish drawl: sceptical, rueful, mournful and melting and ardent for love.
Mary Coughlan is one of our greatest singers because over 40 years she has made the most grown-up, uncompromising, wholly personal yet utterly universal music on either side of the Atlantic about what goes on between men and women.
Mary’s latest album Repeat Rewind, released in October 2024 via Strange Brew, which marked her fourth decade in music, received widespread accolades: RTÉ broadcaster John Creedon named it his Album of the Year 2024; RTÉ Radio 1 named it Album of the Week upon release; The Irish Times named it in their Top 5 Jazz Albums of the Year 2024; it was shortlisted for 3 Hot Press Reader’s Poll Awards; The Financial Times wrote about Mary’s “irresistible hooks” and MOJO Magazine commented on her lyricism - “Adult disappointments dissected in strong, lo-fi set by honey-voiced Irish national treasure” - in their four star review.
It's hard to believe that four decades have passed since Coughlan went into the studio to record her debut album, 'Tired and Emotional'.
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