Villagers

Dublin has a long &amp; legendary tradition of writers, &amp; since Conor O’Brien adopted the name Villagers, the singer-songwriter-producer has joined the club with a rich &amp; diverse body of work. The new Villagers album, That Golden Time, underlines O’Brien’s unwavering commitment to a uniquely nuanced, literate &amp; melodic fusion of folk, pop &amp; rock that has won accolades from peers such as <a href="spotify:artist:2BGRfQgtzikz1pzAD0kaEn" data-name="Elvis Costello">Elvis Costello</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0O98jlCaPzvsoei6U5jfEL" data-name="Damon Albarn">Damon Albarn</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2j3K3e7Jnnmd2KwlFgCC5u" data-name="Guy Garvey">Guy Garvey</a> &amp; <a href="spotify:artist:2cCUtGK9sDU2EoElnk0GNB" data-name="The National">The National</a>.

O’Brien released his debut album Becoming A Jackal in 2010. From a whisper to a literal howl, the record went to #1 in Ireland, was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize &amp; the title track won the Ivor Novello for Best Song.

The more band-orientated album {Awayland} followed, it won the Choice Music Prize Album of the Year, alongside a second Mercury nod. Darling Arithmetic was a sparser step forward that revealed even more of O’Brien’s songwriting nous, suitably rewarded with the Ivor Novello for Best Album &amp; his third Irish #1. The Art Of Pretending To Swim knitted Villagers’ multi-faceted approach with added soulfulness &amp; rhythmic swing, a sound that the kaleidoscopic Fever Dreams expanded further.

O’Brien is a prolific collaborator, writing for <a href="spotify:artist:2rBcvLKWCZs9w1qIWv560v" data-name="Charlotte Gainsbourg">Charlotte Gainsbourg</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2vObsQCPsbVfkqHlQOu2zc" data-name="Nico Muhly">Nico Muhly</a> &amp; <a href="spotify:artist:7Lf3LOZp3U3u2f6cWMd3AH" data-name="Paul Weller">Paul Weller</a>, as well as duetting with <a href="spotify:artist:3TScZ6zJkavDy0tqoGqiCf" data-name="John Grant">John Grant</a> &amp; <a href="spotify:artist:0z7Yuv7DuDQ5SaVn4VSlLt" data-name="Lisa Hannigan">Lisa Hannigan</a>, &amp; performing with <a href="spotify:artist:1pNP4idjNnhPXDLi0Jz12R" data-name="Andre de Ridder">Andre de Ridder</a> &amp; <a href="spotify:artist:6ArmVuGn8UtsupvhL3suRy" data-name="stargaze">stargaze</a>. But it’s his own songs, &amp; his own dulcet voice that has forged O’Brien’s reputation as Ireland’s premier melody-maker.