[asteroids]
Esther O’Connor
Glasgow, Scotland
Redhead Records
Manager jamesduffins@hotmail.com
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Fusing her gorgeous vocals to instantly hummable
folk
and country-inspired melodies, her music’s
memorably been
described as ‘Neil Young meets Beyonce round at Joni Mitchell’s house’.
‘I’ve been involved in the music business in one way or another my
entire life, and it’s where I feel most at home to work and earn a living.’ She says her
influences[twochop-public idtype="1" id="912729524480425883"]
go back decades, explaining: ‘Beinginfluenced by the great singer songwriters
from the 60s and 70s, there is a retro feel to my music. I love people that use music to connect
and tell stories, and some of my favourites are Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Carol King. I’m also
inspired by soulful country blues music, people like Bonnie Rait, Foy
Vance,
John Martyn and The Fortunate Sons.’
- Source: List.co.uk
- Date: 28 October 2008 (updated 13 Jan 2009)
- Written by: Emma Newlands
With her lion’s mane of theatrically red
hair and strikingly pretty, elfin features,
Esther O’Connor looks decidedly more
otherworldly than your average pop-
folk-rock princess. It only takes one song to be a star
and in “Lost Innocence” she has a sure-fire hit. Well, sure-
fire, given a realistic marketing budget. You’ve got to have
heard
of her
before
you can buy it, or something like that. And therein lies a familiar tale we will come on to
shortly.
Meanwhile the video to “Lost innocence” may look like an advert for
Visit Scotland but if you came across the comely 
Ms. O’Connor rolling around in the
surf in her
ragged fairy dress while you were tramping the nearby heather, you might just put up with the midges
and bad weather. It also helps that “Lost innocence” is a totally irresistible tune
with a great catchy hook. Perfectly crafted pop with folksy mandolin that 
reminds you that Rod
Stewart is also a Scot.
Ethereal, ethnic and all gossamer
and lace, O’Connor recalls Stevie Nicks in her heyday. The
comparison doesn’t end there as “Lost Innocence” is pure Fleetwood Mac of the
Rumours vintage, acoustically driven and highlighted with sweet double-
tracked
harmonies. There are shades of Nicks in her vocal which has a
transatlantic
note that interestingly is a trait shared with many a
Scottish singer. It also has more than a hint of husky and Gaelic
about it.
BY TONY HARDY ON OCTOBER 22ND, 2009 IN LISTEN
END
