Dublin-based folk duo VARO have announced details of their eagerly anticipated collaborations album, The World That I Knew – set to be released on May 9.

Recorded, mixed and produced by John 'Spud' Murphy, the project features some of the most renowned figures in Ireland's contemporary folk and traditional music scene – including Ian Lynch (Lankum), John Francis Flynn, Anna Mieke, Alannah Thornburgh, Junior Brother, Slow Moving Clouds, Niamh Bury, Inni-K, Ruth Clinton and Cormac MacDiarmada (Poor Creature), Lemoncello and Branwen.

To coincide with the announcement, VARO (made up of Lucie Azconaga and Consuelo Nerea Breschi) have shared the first single from The World That I Knew – 'Red Robin' featuring Alannah Thornburgh.

“We learned this song from a 1977 recording of Mikey Kelleher (1907-1987), found in an online collection of songs from County Clare," the duo say of the single. "We immediately fell in love with the melody and lyrics, which describes a state of mind rather than a real story. It seemed to paint a paysage of melancholy, memories and loneliness, and at the same time of extreme human warmth and connection with the elements of nature.

“Working with Alannah has been an absolute pleasure,” they continue. “She’s insanely talented and the loveliest woman. The harp perfectly creates this soft melancholic and emotional sound we were looking for.”

Alannah Thornburgh – an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and composer – recently released her own single 'Away With The Fairies', from her upcoming debut solo album, Shapeshifter.

Alannah and another of the collaborators on The World That I Knew, Branwen, will join VARO at their headline show at the Pepper Cannister Church, Dublin on Saturday, January 25, as part of TradFest 2025.

Watch the official music video for 'Red Robin', filmed by Daniel Bolaños Meade and directed by VARO, below:

The digital album and the limited edition 12" vinyl is available to pre-order now via VARO's Bandcamp page.