Limerick singer-songwriter Claire Heffernan releases new single ‘Gemini’ on November 17

Claire Heffernan is an Irish solo artist with diverse musical influences, embracing soulful contemporary piano-vocals and Celtic harp accompaniments.

‘Gemini’ will be available across all streaming platforms, ahead of her forthcoming EP

By I Love Limerick correspondent Ellie McCarthy

Following the success of Claire Heffernan’s debut single, ‘Snow Moon’, earlier this year, which reached number one on iTunes singer/songwriter charts and number three in all genres, the Limerick singer-songwriter’s new track is a breakup song that captures the power of choosing to set oneself free and live life on one’s own terms.

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‘Gemini’ is largely an acoustic track, with all vocals, Irish harp and piano performed by Claire. Speaking on the writing process, Claire Heffernan said, “I wrote this song during a breakup. It was a way to process all my emotions, and I feel like this sort of angst came out again in the studio with the way we arranged the track. It’s full of dramatic drops, dynamics, but also tenderness.” The single’s production was halted mid-recording with the onset of the first lockdown in 2020. “Time away from the studio was at first really disappointing, but in the end, it allowed me space to reimagine the song, and the entire EP, and to design more ­ambitious musical arrangements while I was waiting to return.”

‘Gemini’ is the lead single from this Limerick artist’s debut EP ‘Young Heart’, which is set to be released in 2023. This 4-track EP, with its ballads of heartache and healing, has been described as Celtic-ethereal-pop-with-a-hint-of-folk that is very easy to listen to.

Claire is an Irish solo artist with diverse musical influences, embracing soulful contemporary piano-vocals and Celtic harp accompaniments.

By her 20s, Claire was studying music at a master’s level, graduating first in her class, and it was around this time that she quickly became one of Ireland’s most sought-after soloists.

Claire could be found entertaining thousands of visitors each year with her harp and voice at the world-famous Bunratty Castle banquets and all along the Wild Atlantic Way, while also performing nationwide as ‘Ireland’s Best Wedding Musician’, a title held for 3 years consecutively.

Most recently, she worked with Peter Foott, creator of ‘The Young Offenders’, on a feature film that is yet to be announced. Her diverse musical pursuits and ensemble performances have afforded her opportunities to perform in Germany, Amsterdam, Vienna, and Estonia; for RTÉ lyric FM, RTÉ’s Today Show, and National Geographic; as pianist for Mark Feehily, backing vocalist for Red Hurley, and solo support to Mundy.

In 2022, Claire turned her focus toward her long-awaited original music, and undoubtedly it was worth the wait.

Listen to Claire’s most recent song ‘Snow Moon’

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