Size2shoes
Encyclopedia
size2shoes is a cross-genre
Irish
band from Limerick City
. The band, who released their début album, size2shoes in December 2008, have been featured on national television and radio in both Ireland and America. They have also performed alongside The Chieftains
, Bobby McFerrin
, Russell Crowe
and Sinéad O'Connor
.
and composer and pianist Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin
taught the duo from an early age to respect music. It wasn't until 2007 that the brothers began to record professionally, collaborating with their mother on the Amen album, later released as Celtic Joy in the United States of America. The duo have recorded with Grammy-winning singer Moya Brennan
and Irish
singer-songwriter Mary Coughlan
.
, and was responsible for booking the likes of The Chieftains
.
Eoin Ó Súilleabháin was given a degree in Philosophy
and University College Dublin
and a Masters Degree in Peace Studies at the University of Limerick
. In 2005, he became Orchestral Manager for the World Youth Orchestra in Rome and toured with them through Jerusalem, Ramallah
, Jordan
and Amman
for both Israeli and Palestinian
audiences. Eoin currently teaches English as a foreign language to refugees at the Adult Education College in Limerick city.
at the University of Limerick
and studied rap music and the rap culture in County Cork
, Ireland.
He sang and played bodhrán with The Chieftains
at Belfast Festival at Queens in 2007 and is an expert in "Human beatbox
" techniques, which introduced him to Bobby McFerrin
with whom he has recorded.
, recorded by Kevin Lynch (U2
, Elvis Costello
) which garnered strong reviews from The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
and Irish media. The album had size2shoes featured on nation-wide media, which prompted them to begin writing more material.
The duo received national acclaim through media in Ireland, being compared to the likes of Scullion
and Sonny Condell
. Their live performance in Dublin in October 2008, which invited Julie Feeney
as a guest singer, drew media comparisons such as "Simon & Garfunkel and Steely Dan
unplugged
".
In September 2009 the duo performed at Electric Picnic
, one of Ireland's biggest music festivals. Their début album was officially launched at Crawdaddy in Dublin, along with the album's first single Sitting By The Sea
. They also supported Irish group Hothouse Flowers
in that same month.
and Spin FM
in early 2009.
In September 2009, size2shoes indicated that they would be recording part of their second album in Australia at the personal recording studio of Russell Crowe
. Size2shoes will also appear in Steven Spielberg
's 2011 film War Horse
and on its soundtrack, stated for release in December of that year.
Cross-genre
A cross-genre is a genre in fiction that blends themes and elements from two or more different genres.-Examples:*Action comedy *Comedy-drama or dramedy *Comedy-horror...
Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
band from Limerick City
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
. The band, who released their début album, size2shoes in December 2008, have been featured on national television and radio in both Ireland and America. They have also performed alongside The Chieftains
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
, Bobby McFerrin
Bobby McFerrin
Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. is an American vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song "Don't Worry, Be Happy". He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner.-Life:...
, Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
and Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
.
Background
The brothers, Eoin and Moley were brought up in a musical household. Their parents, singer Nóirín Ní RiainNóirín Ní Riain
Nóirín Ní Riain is an Irish singer, writer, teacher, theologian and an authority on Gregorian Chant . She is primarily known for spiritual songs, but also sings Celtic music, Sean-nós and Indian songs. Nóirín plays an Indian harmonium , Shruti box and Feadóg...
and composer and pianist Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin
Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin
Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin is an Irish musician. As a pianist, composer, recording artist and academic, he holds the Professorship of Music at the Irish World Music Centre of the University of Limerick...
taught the duo from an early age to respect music. It wasn't until 2007 that the brothers began to record professionally, collaborating with their mother on the Amen album, later released as Celtic Joy in the United States of America. The duo have recorded with Grammy-winning singer Moya Brennan
Moya Brennan
Moya Brennan, born Máire Ní Bhraonáin , also known as Máire Brennan , is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist who began performing professionally in 1970, when her family formed the band Clannad, and is now widely considered as the "First Lady of Celtic Music"...
and Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer-songwriter Mary Coughlan
Mary Coughlan (singer)
Mary Coughlan is an Irish jazz and folk singer and actress. She has received great acclamation in her native country, for her emotional and heartfelt jazzy musical renditions.-Background:...
.
Eoin Ó Súilleabháin
Eoin, the eldest of the brothers first recorded professionally alongside Sinéad O'Connor, Nóirín Ní Riain and the Monks of Glenstal Abbey on the album Biscantorat in 2003. In 2005 he became the director of the Sionna Festival, a large festival based in the University of LimerickUniversity of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
, and was responsible for booking the likes of The Chieftains
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
.
Eoin Ó Súilleabháin was given a degree in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
and a Masters Degree in Peace Studies at the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
. In 2005, he became Orchestral Manager for the World Youth Orchestra in Rome and toured with them through Jerusalem, Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
for both Israeli and Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
audiences. Eoin currently teaches English as a foreign language to refugees at the Adult Education College in Limerick city.
Moley Ó Súilleabháin
Mícheál P. "Moley" Ó Súilleabháin earned an M.A. in EthnomusicologyEthnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
at the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
and studied rap music and the rap culture in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland.
He sang and played bodhrán with The Chieftains
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
at Belfast Festival at Queens in 2007 and is an expert in "Human beatbox
Beatboxing
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
" techniques, which introduced him to Bobby McFerrin
Bobby McFerrin
Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. is an American vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song "Don't Worry, Be Happy". He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner.-Life:...
with whom he has recorded.
Beginning and first album (2007–2009)
Although the duo had been writing songs for a number of years, they did not begin recording together until 2007. In 2008 they finished recording their début album, size2shoesSize2shoes (album)
size2shoes is the début music album by Irish band size2shoes. The album was recorded and mixed by Smalltone artist Kieran Lynch , and was recorded at Dromore Studios in County Tipperary in Ireland...
, recorded by Kevin Lynch (U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
) which garnered strong reviews from The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
and Irish media. The album had size2shoes featured on nation-wide media, which prompted them to begin writing more material.
The duo received national acclaim through media in Ireland, being compared to the likes of Scullion
Scullion (group)
Scullion is an Irish folk rock band that came into being in the mid 1970s. They were quite popular in Ireland, and released several LPs, but only two CDs have been released to date - the compilation Ghosts And Heroes on the Kitten label in 1992 and another compilation Eyelids into Snow - A...
and Sonny Condell
Sonny Condell
Sonny Condell is an Irish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and graphic artist. He is mainly known as a member of the Irish bands Tír na nÓg and Scullion. He released some hits in Ireland as a solo artist like "Down in the city" in 1977 that he covered later with the Belgian singer Micha...
. Their live performance in Dublin in October 2008, which invited Julie Feeney
Julie Feeney
Julie Feeney, award-winning Irish composer, song-writer, singer and music producer.-Overview:Feeney is an award-winning and critically acclaimed Irish composer, singer, record producer, musician, songwriter, theatre artist and educator. She composes both instrumental and electronic music, and...
as a guest singer, drew media comparisons such as "Simon & Garfunkel and Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
unplugged
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
".
In September 2009 the duo performed at Electric Picnic
Electric Picnic
The 2005 festival took place on Saturday 3 September and Sunday 4 September. It is best remembered for Arcade Fire's performance which came before their subsequent mainstream success...
, one of Ireland's biggest music festivals. Their début album was officially launched at Crawdaddy in Dublin, along with the album's first single Sitting By The Sea
Sitting by the Sea
"Sitting by the Sea" was the first promotional single taken from size2shoes' début album size2shoes, released in the same year. The song was written and arranged by Moley and Eoin Ó Súilleabháin and mixed by Kieran Lynch and was produced by Bill Whelan .-Personnel:* Guitars/vocals: size2shoes*...
. They also supported Irish group Hothouse Flowers
Hothouse Flowers
The Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock group that combines traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock.-Career:The group first formed in 1985 when Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachna Ó Braonáin began performing as street musicians, or buskers, on the streets of Dublin,Ireland as "The...
in that same month.
Second album and soundtrack (2009–Present)
size2shoes are currently recording their second album and have performed songs from the record in both the National Concert HallNational Concert Hall
The National Concert Hall is a concert hall located on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin, Ireland, close to St. Stephen's Green, and is the principal national venue for classical music concerts in Ireland....
and Spin FM
Spin FM
Spin FM is a radio station in the Cayman Islands in the British West Indies. The station is owned by Paramount Media Services. It airs a dance music format. The station often features disc jockeys that also entertain in Cayman Islands nightclubs....
in early 2009.
In September 2009, size2shoes indicated that they would be recording part of their second album in Australia at the personal recording studio of Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
. Size2shoes will also appear in Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's 2011 film War Horse
War Horse (film)
War Horse is a 2011 British-American war drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and is intended for release in the United States on 25 December 2011 and in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2012...
and on its soundtrack, stated for release in December of that year.
Collaborations
- 2008 - Celtic Joy, with Nóirín Ní RiainNóirín Ní RiainNóirín Ní Riain is an Irish singer, writer, teacher, theologian and an authority on Gregorian Chant . She is primarily known for spiritual songs, but also sings Celtic music, Sean-nós and Indian songs. Nóirín plays an Indian harmonium , Shruti box and Feadóg...
- 2008 - SanctuarySanctuary (Irish charity album)Sanctuary is an album supporting charity which was recorded in July 2007 at Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick, Ireland. The album features artists Moya Brennan, Mary Coughlan, Nóirín Ní Riain, Cara O'Sullivan, Jimmy O'Brien-Moran, the Monks of Glenstal and many others...
, (various artists) - 2007 - Amen, with Nóirín Ní Riain
- 2003 - Biscantorat, with Nóirín Ní Riain, Sinéad O'ConnorSinéad O'ConnorSinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
and The Monks of Glenstal Abbey
See also
- Nóirín Ní RiainNóirín Ní RiainNóirín Ní Riain is an Irish singer, writer, teacher, theologian and an authority on Gregorian Chant . She is primarily known for spiritual songs, but also sings Celtic music, Sean-nós and Indian songs. Nóirín plays an Indian harmonium , Shruti box and Feadóg...
- Mícheál Ó SúilleabháinMícheál Ó SúilleabháinMícheál Ó Súilleabháin is an Irish musician. As a pianist, composer, recording artist and academic, he holds the Professorship of Music at the Irish World Music Centre of the University of Limerick...
- Sanctuary (Irish charity album)Sanctuary (Irish charity album)Sanctuary is an album supporting charity which was recorded in July 2007 at Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick, Ireland. The album features artists Moya Brennan, Mary Coughlan, Nóirín Ní Riain, Cara O'Sullivan, Jimmy O'Brien-Moran, the Monks of Glenstal and many others...