- Culture
- 06 Jul 22
The Kerry native previously acted as lead singer for Irish band Walking On Cars, but has recently begun a widely acclaimed solo career.
Pa Sheehy has released a poignant music video for his new single 'Surrender' featuring the angelic vocals of Sinead White. Hot Press are ecstatic to be premiering this beautiful visual below.
Sheehy, formally of Walking On Cars, paved the way for his debut solo EP The Art of Disappearing with hit single 'Róisín'. The track received widespread acclaim on it's 2021 release, similarly to release of his EP which shot to Independent Number 1 in the Irish album charts.
This new single comes just before Sheehy performs at Indiependence Festival, Cork on July 29, as well as a host of European Tour dates this year. The singer will stop off at Limerick's Dolan's, Dublin's Academy, and Belfast's Limelight 2.
Speaking about 'Surrender', the Kerry native said: "This song swivels through childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Contrasting imagery that creates a longing for what was and a sadness for what is. It was written in the middle of nowhere with a few friends this time last year. Some songs are hard to write and some songs just fall on your lap. This song was written so easily. I hope people can connect with it the same way I do."
The music video for 'Surrender' highlights the ache behind this track. Choosing to display the video in an almost rewound motion adds to the clear emotional value the track holds to the musician. The lyrical mastery shows off Sheehy's musical maturity and experience, eloquently played-up-on by his raspy vocal. The simple build of instrumental and harmony throughout the melody tugs on your heart strings in all the right ways. Sinead White's delicate vocal adds an extra dimension to the song that you wouldn't expect to need until it comes in.
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After a decade fronting the Irish chart-conquering Walking On Cars, in 2020 Sheehy decided the time had come to venture out as a solo artist.
The artist explains his decision to leave the band, saying: "When lockdown hit, the level of peace that came over me was something I’d never felt before. I slowed down and stopped thinking of the next song and the next gig for the first time in ten years. I knew it wouldn’t last forever so when I was ready to "take on the world again." I need to keep reminding myself to take a breath every now and again.
"There was no bust up or other big drama; it(the band) had just run its course," Pa adds.
"Following all those years of band democracy, I wanted to be able to totally do my own thing, which has been very liberating. Walking On Cars was an amazing period in all our lives. The people of Dingle were with us from our first gig in a local bar, Two albums later and we had toured all across the world, played to 14,000 people in Dublin’s 3Arena; and performed before Kendrick Lamar at Electric Picnic to 35,000 people singing back every word. So all in all, we did good."
Check out the 'Surrender' video below.
Pa Sheehy Tour Dates 2022:
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10.10 - Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
11.10 - Maschinenhaus, Berlin, Germany
12.10 - Artheater, Cologne, Germany
18.10 - Academy, Dublin, Ireland
19.10 - Dolans, Limerick, Ireland
20.10 - Limelight 2, Belfast, Ireland
22.10 - Omeara, London, UK