About That Song: Karan Casey
About That Song #74
In our special series, singer-songwriter Sarah Morris interviews artists about the songs that shaped them.
Hi! I’m Sarah Morris. I’m wildly in love with songs and the people who write them. There have been a few songs in my life that have been total gamechangers—songs that made me want to be a songwriter and songs I’ve written that made me feel like I am a songwriter. About That Song is a space where I can learn more about those pivotal songs in other writers’ lives.
In the 74th installment of this series, I was excited to chat with Karan Casey, an Irish singer-songwriter whose career in Irish folk music spans three decades. The Washington Post calls her “the Irish equivalent of Emmylou Harris”! I asked her to tell me about the musical moments and songs that had a big impact on her as an artist.
Karan Casey. Photo credit: Daragh Kane.
Sarah: Hi Karan Casey!! What a pleasure it is to meet you. In addition to blazing a musical trail, you’ve worked tirelessly to lift others up—perhaps most notably through your work in founding FairPlé, an organization aimed at achieving fairness and gender balance for female performers in Irish folk music. Your most recent album, Nine Apples of Gold, just celebrated its first anniversary, and you’re nearing the end of a 10-day U.S. tour in honor of International Women’s Month (including a stop here in Minnesota!).
This feels like an excellent reason to learn a bit about the songs that have influenced you along your journey. Do you remember the song you heard that made you want to be a songwriter? Tell us about that song.
Karan: “Mississippi Goddam” by Nina Simone. It made me think I could write something topical and relevant to today!
Sarah: Oh wow, that’s a big place to start—and it seems to have pointed your pen well toward making a true difference over the years. Once you began writing, did you feel like a writer immediately? It took me a few years of writing before I believed it—was there a song that gave you that “a-HA! I AM a songwriter!” moment? Tell us about that song.
Karan: When I wrote “Lovely Annie” after the death of my mother, I really told how I was feeling. The stark loneliness after her death was captured in the song. I feel that I became a grownup writer after this experience. I really got to grips with songwriting techniques—learning how to truly express and nail down what it is you want to say. It’s important to figure out what it is you’re after!
Sarah: It is—sometimes I don’t figure that out until I’m near done with a song, and sometimes it informs the process from the beginning. With something as important as honoring your mother in song, I imagine there is a benefit to having clarity of intention throughout the writing process.
I was incredibly moved by your song, “Sister I Am Here For You,” which features the voice of your bandmate Niamh Dunne, especially the third verse—“Hope and love are our lifeline / Freedom can you hear her chime / For Truth is the daughter of Time.” I sat with that last phrase for an extra minute—truth is the daughter of time—that feels incredibly powerful and comforting. What can you tell us about that song?
Karan: “Sister I Am Here for You” was written by myself and Sean Óg Graham. We tried to capture many of the sentiments played out in our activism of FairPlé, the camaraderie and the friendships formed. It also features the vocals of the amazing Niamh Dunne.
Sarah: That sense of camaraderie comes through loud and clear to the listener. You studied jazz at Long Island University, and I've been told you're heavily influenced by American roots music. On your song, “The Weeping Time,” I hear this in both the rolling instrumentation and the lyrics, which take the listener to The Altamaha River of Georgia. Can you tell us about that song?
Karan: “The Weeping Time” came about from a text sent to me by Teresa Grady, a longtime peace activist from Ithaca who is a dear friend. Her text read like a song about her time in Georgia and about the Gullah Geechee people. I’d love to get down there.
Karan Casey. Photo credit: Daragh Kane.
Sarah: That’s quite a song to come from a text! And I hope that you are able to visit there. Speaking of visiting—do you have any upcoming Midwest shows where we might hear you sing that song?
Karan: Yes! I’m excited about returning to the Midwest and in particular, St. Paul, where I haven’t played since right before COVID. Our upcoming shows are a mixture of old and new music, and I’m very excited to be traveling with the dynamic duo of Niamh Dunne on fiddle and vocals and Sean Óg Gragam on guitar and vocals—both of whom are featured on my latest album.
Also, I’m hosting another Irish Song Tour in April. I really love bringing people around Ireland, and it’s such great fun. We visit the hidden Ireland meeting colourful characters, poets and historians and get to hear incredible musicians and just hang out and chat, which is the nicest part. It’s like a dream for me to be going around Ireland seeing extraordinary sights with Niall Vallely, Deirdre Cronin and a great gang of people. Come along with us!
Karan Casey is wrapping up her Midwest tour with shows tonight in Chicago, tomorrow in Milwaukee, and this Sunday, March 16, at the Celtic Junction Arts Center in St. Paul! The music starts at 7:30pm. Get your tickets now!
Listen to “The Weeping Time”
Nine Apples of Gold Album Credits
Karan Casey - Vocals and Piano (tracks 1 & 4)
Seán Óg Graham - Guitar, Piano, Harmonium, Electric Guitar, Bouzouki, Banjo, Programming, Ukulele, Button Accordion
Niamh Dunne - Fiddle, Viola, Guest Vocal (track 2), Harmony Vocals (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7)
Conor Mc Creanor - Double Bass, Electric Bass
Ashley Hoyer - Mandolin
Hannah Hiemstra - Drums, Percussion
Kate Ellis - Cello
Pauline Scanlon - Guest Vocal (tracks 3), Harmony Vocals (track 8)
Ríoghnach Connolly - Guest Vocals (track 4)
John Mc Cullough - Piano, Hammond, Rhodes
Alex Borwick - Trombone
Portglenone Songbirds - Birdsong
Seán Óg Graham - Producer
Engineered by Sen Óg Graham at Bannview Studio
Additional vocals (Karan Casey and Pauline Scanlon) recorded by Niall Vallely at Crow Valley Music Studio, Cork
Additional vocals (Ríoghnach Connolly) recorded by Biff Roxby at Wood Rooms, Salford
Mixed by Seán Óg Graham at Bannview Studio
Mastered by Katie Tavini at Weird Jungle
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Morris. Photo credit: Tom Smouse.
Sarah Morris is a superfan of songs and the people who write them, and a believer that certain songs can change your life. A singer-songwriter / mama / bread maker / coffee drinker who recently released her fifth album of original material, she’s been known to joyfully sing with people in her Big Green Bathroom.
