Syren

SYREN is Vancouver Islands own Melody Benbow and Fae Wiedenhoeft. These fine performers have been exciting audiences since 1998 with their special blend of Irish/Scottish traditional and contempory folk. Fae and Melody together create a rich vocal blend that is rivaled only by rare sibling harmonies. Accompanying themselves with guitar, penny whistle, and traditional percussion, the women of SYREN bring a delightful and challenging range of song from Old Scots jigs and reels, to mystical Irish love songs, to passionate ballads of their own composition. This is a duo that shares a passion for their music, the tradition from which it grows, and truly loves performing together. Hearing the Syren song is an enchanting experience and a musical must for fans of traditional Celtic music!
Melody was born in Calgary, Alberta, but has lived on the West Coast most of her life. Her father, George Benbow, was a classical composer and pianist in Alberta and her mother a transplanted native of Yorkshire, England. Melody became enamored of Celtic music from old recordings her mother played around the house. Melody has always loved to sing and after receiving her first guitar at age 14, Melody began writing tunes to accompany poetry, taking particular interest in and inspiration from the poetry of Scotlands Robert Burns.
Fae was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and found her way to the beautiful West Coast of Canada in 1996. From an early age, Fae was influenced by her sister Cathy to dabble in the magic of stage and song. In the beginning, she gave daily performances for a squirrel family inhabiting the large pear tree in the backyard! Fae always loved the magic involved with the Celtic tradition and gives homage to it by reciting poetry and folklore, from hundred years past, at their concerts. She feels quite blessed to have crossed paths with Melody and given the opportunity to create and ignite musical magic!
Melody and Fae gather inspiration from female icons such as Joni Mitchell, Lorenna McKennitt, Kate Bush, and Scotlands own Janet Russell and Christine Kydd. Local Artists such as The Bills, The Gruff, The Be Good Tanyas, Kitangus, The Cold Cut Combo, and countless others continue to inspire and entertain these two spirits.
Melody and Fae believe that all good things are possible. Success isnt measured in dollars but the experience in getting there. The quote, One has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much: summarizes the Syren success.
If you like what you hear and wish to hear more please visit us at
http://www.download.com/syren
Slainte!