Alannah Thornburgh has released ‘Away With The Fairies’, the second track off of her upcoming debut solo album Shapeshifter, due out on February 12.

Speaking of her inspiration behind the single, Thornburgh explains: “'Away with the Fairies' warns of the cursed 'foidin meara' or ‘stray sod’ - a patch of enchanted woodland that if stepped upon, sends you into a state of disillusionment and confusion that can only be rectified by turning one's coat inside out.

“It is said to be a curse cast by the fairies as a warning to passers-by to not get too close. I first learned about ‘foidin meara’ after a conversation with Swinford woman Bríd O’Connell.”

Check out the track below:

Coming next month, Thornburgh’s upcoming record Shapeshifter is a collection of compositions inspired by the rich traditions of fairy folklore and mythology from rural Ireland, particularly her native County Mayo.

It will be accompanied by an Irish album launch tour, which will kick off in Mayo’s Linenhall Arts Centre and wrap up in Kilkenny’s Fennelly’s on May 10, with stops in Cork, Dublin and Belfast along the way. Find out more here.

The project began when Thornburgh was commissioned to compose a piece for the Linenhall Arts Centre’s New Music in Mayo series, curated by traditional musician Emer Mayock.

“I was always fascinated by the fairy fort behind my Grandad’s house,” the musician shares. “A conversation with him about the tale of ‘Mick na mBréag’ (Mick the Liar), who crossed the fairy folk, inspired the composition of a piece that ultimately became part of this album.” This sparked a journey of exploration into the world of fairy lore, which would culminate in Shapeshifter.

With the support of the Arts Council's Next Generation Award, Thornburgh conducted interviews with nearly 50 historians, storytellers, and locals, collecting stories and experiences that inform her music. These conversations are woven throughout the album, adding an authentic and archival quality.

Musically, Shapeshifter draws heavily on traditional Irish and folk influences, while some tracks embrace subtle jazz elements, with the musician’s father contributing saxophone to several pieces.

You can pre-order the record here.

Find the full list of tour dates below:

April 4 – The Linenhall Arts Centre, Co. Mayo
April 11 – Levis’ Cornerhouse, Ballydehob, West Cork
April 12 – Maureen’s, Cork City
April 17 – The Cobblestone, Dublin
April 27 – Prim’s Bookshop, Kinsale, Co. Cork
May 9 – The Duncairn, Belfast
May 10 – Fennelly’s, Kilkenny