Margaret Healy started gigging the Dublin singer-songwriter circuit in 1999. Through this, she hooked up with singer-songwriter Patrick Barrett (The Hedge Schools) and Ken Burke (singer-songwriter) to make her first album "...and you are?". This was released late 2001 to much acclaim. Part of the album was recorded with Nitin Sawhney in his Spirit Dance studios in London, contributing to the hip-hoppy-electro aspect of the album. Supports with Jim White in HQ, Paul Brady, The Frames, The Four of Us in Vicar St./ The Shelter and Irish tours with Maria Doyle Kennedy and The Ruby Sessions followed, aswell as sets in Lisdoonvarna at the RDS and the Sirens launch. The track "Someting Real" was featured on RTE series The Big Bow Wow, the CD compilation "Sirens" (alongside Patti Smith, Sinead O' Connor, Ani Di Franco.... ), and The Ruby Session CD. The video for "Call It a Moment" was shown on Fish and No Disco with interviews/ live footage and Margaret's live session on Ian Dempsey's morning show was re-aired in the "Five Of The Best" show at the end of the year!
In March 2005, Margaret headed to Spirit Dance London again to begin work on the second album, this time working with Sawhney engineer/programmer Dean Barratt. Recording continued through 2005/06 with Karl Odlum and Kevin O'Byrne. Further recording and editing and two final mixes were done with Steve Shannon in 2007, and then the remaining 8 tracks were mixed by Joe Chester. Phew, what a journey! The other musicians involved in recording were Kevin Murphy (cello), Karl Odlum (bass/guitars/programming), Dean Barratt (programming) Bill Blackmore (trumpet) and Tom Osander (percussion). And a special mention must be given to artist Susan O' Doherty for the wonderful illustrations she painted for the cover art.
The end result of all that hard work "Girls, Boys & Clockwork Toys" was released nationwide on 17th April 2009. The reaction so far has been extremely positive with some great reviews (see below), gig supports for Declan O' Rourke and Mundy and a few spins already on Dan Hegarty's 2FM midnight show and John Kelly's The JK Ensemble on RTE lyric fm! The album launch is in Whelans Upstairs on Wednesday 13th May."...easily one of the best Irish albums of the year. ****" Sunday Business Post,
"...questioning and vulnerable songs, deftly played and beautifully scored..****" Hot Press,
"..should be snapped up by whoever makes the sequel to Magnolia.." The Ticket,
"..a beautiful collection of grown-up songs and dark lullabies that will keep you up at night just to listen one more time." Totally Dublin
Read an interview Margaret did with the Herald's Eamonn Carr: Like Clockwork
