- Music
- 28 Jan 22
On the back of a string of critically acclaimed single releases last year – each accompanied by cinematic music videos – Derry duo Amberlight return with a belter…
Amberlight – with Lauren Doherty on vocals and Paul Casey on guitars and production – are back. Upcoming release, 'The Song My Heart Sings' is their most ambitious track yet – a haunting song about love and loss, light and hope, drenched in Celtic tones and wrapped in a thoroughly modern production.
'The Song My Heart Sings' serves up an intriguing cinematic-like experience, drawing influence from an otherworldly John Williams-like score. Deftly produced with a nod to Hans Zimmer, the track is sprinkled with a piping-hot flurry of Nigel Kennedy-esque violin riffs and served with a healthy dollop of seemingly ancient Celtic wizardry.
The pair revel in their differing musical backgrounds. A classically trained singer, Doherty delivers hauntingly evocative lyrics with her effortless pitch-perfect delivery, while Casey is a singer-songwriter whose lyrics are grounded in cinematic production.
Amberlight has established Casey’s longing to combine music and film:
“When we’re writing these songs I immediately see how I want them to look; the videos are essential to the music and vice versa," he says. "There’s always a story that we’re trying to tell through the imagery."
"It’s easy to sing and perform these songs once we’ve got into the story," Doherty adds. "The writing process has been a joy; pushing boundaries and finding myself out of my comfort zone has definitely helped me develop as a singer and more importantly as a writer."
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The video for 'The Song My Heart Sings' was shot by Casey against the backdrop of an Irish winter and summer. During lockdown, he shot a music video for his rendition of Van Morrison’s ‘In the Days before Rock ‘N’ Roll’ for Hot Press’ 75th birthday tribute to Van. The reaction inspired him to put his own music to film, and now each Amberlight single comes with its own ‘mini movie’. An ardent film fan, the Derry man is reveling in the creative process now more than ever, as he fuels his passion for music and cinema.
The duo are joined by the rock-solid Liam Bradley on drums and percussion, along with the masterful touches of John McCullough on piano and the firestorm fiddle playing of Damien McGeehan. The lifeblood of the Amerlight sound, each musician brings a unique musicianship to the track.
An impassioned believer in collaboration, Casey has worked with Bradley and McCullough for many years and believes their melting pot of ideas keeps him grounded in the music. Following his fiddle-playing on the aforementioned Van tribute, Damien McGeehan has also become a steadfast muse for Amberlight’s music. Lastly, bass duties normally fall to Belfast-born Nick Scott who again has been an essential wingman to Casey over the years.
'The Song My Heart Sings' is available on all digital platforms on February 4. Before then, watch the video for 'The Song My Heart Sings', directed by Paul Casey, below: