Clodagh Simonds
Encyclopedia
Clodagh Simonds Clodagh
; (born May 16, 1953), is an Irish musician, songwriter and singer. She was born in Banbridge
, Co. Down, Northern Ireland, UK and raised and educated in Killiney
, Co. Dublin.
, with two schoolfriends, Alison Bools (later Williams, later O'Donnell) and Maria White. They released their first single, "Feelin' High", on SNB Records in 1968, when she was 15. Three years later, and with an expanded lineup, Mellow Candle released their only album, Swaddling Songs, which made little or no impact beyond Ireland until around twenty-five years later. The group disbanded in 1973. Between 1972 and 1975 she guested on Thin Lizzy
's second album, Shades of a Blue Orphanage
, and two Mike Oldfield
albums, Hergest Ridge
and Ommadawn
, helping Oldfield to coin the title of the second. Between 1976 and 1986 she lived in New York where she worked in a band with Carter Burwell
and Stephen Bray
, as well as writing music for two theatre productions at La MaMa
ETC, and occasionally working for Virgin Records
.
Working within the recording industry had a negative impact on her career aims, and subsequently she resumed her long-abandoned studies of piano, and began studying music of other cultures. In 1992, Simonds relocated from London to West Cork
in order to focus on writing music, and in 1996 Six Elementary Songs was released on the Tokyo
-based label Evangel Records. This mini-album was produced by Tom Newman
. That same year, Virgin Prophet was released by UK label Kissing Spell, consisting mostly of recordings for Deram by a pre-drums lineup of Mellow Candle. It also featured two even earlier solo demos, written and recorded by Simonds at the age of 16.
Twenty-five years or so after the release of the Mellow Candle album, interest in the band reawakened, starting in Japan, and the album has now been re-released several times, attaining cult status. One of Simonds' songs, "Silversong", was covered by All About Eve
in 1988, and another, "Poet and the Witch", was covered by Stephen Malkmus
in 1998. In 1999, she sang a version of the Syd Barrett
/James Joyce
song "Golden Hair" for Russell Mills
' album Pearl & Umbra. Between 2005 and 2007, under the name Fovea Hex, she released 3 EPs, collectively entitled Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent, featuring Michael Begg, Carter Burwell
, John Contreras, Roger Doyle, Brian Eno
, Roger Eno
, Robert Fripp
, Percy Jones
, Cora Venus Lunny
, Donal Lunny
, Andrew M. McKenzie of The Hafler Trio
, Sarah McQuaid, Hugh O'Neill, Colin Potter of Nurse with Wound
, Geoff Sample, Lydia Sasse, Laura Sheeran, and Steven Wilson
. Each EP was available in a special edition that included an additional disc, containing an extensive re-working of that EP's material by The Hafler Trio.
As a performing unit, Fovea Hex usually consists of Clodagh Simonds, Laura Sheeran
, Cora Venus Lunny
, Michael Begg and Colin Potter, with either Julia Kent
, Kate Ellis or John Contreras on cello. In May 2007 Fovea Hex performed at the invitation of David Lynch
at the Fondation Cartier in Paris, as part of his The Air Is On Fire retrospective exhibition. Having also performed in Austria, Spain and Italy in 2007 and 2008, Fovea Hex made their debut Irish performance at the Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, Co. Laois, in August 2008.
Clodagh Simonds presently lives in Dublin.
Clodagh
Clodagh is a female given name of Irish origin.It comes from the River Clodagh, which goes through County Tipperary and County Waterford in Ireland. The river has sometimes been spelled Clodaigh. Like many rivers in Ireland its name is also associated with a female deity...
; (born May 16, 1953), is an Irish musician, songwriter and singer. She was born in Banbridge
Banbridge
Banbridge is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road. It was named after a bridge built over the Bann in 1712. The town grew as a coaching stop on the road from Belfast to Dublin and thrived from Irish linen manufacturing...
, Co. Down, Northern Ireland, UK and raised and educated in Killiney
Killiney
Killiney is a suburb of Dublin in south County Dublin, Ireland. It is within the administrative area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County. The area is by the coast, south of neighbouring Dalkey, and north to Shankill area in the most southern outskirt of Dublin....
, Co. Dublin.
Biography
At the age of eleven, she formed her first band, Mellow CandleMellow Candle
Mellow Candle were a progressive folk rock band. Principally Irish, the members were also unusually young, Clodagh Simonds being only 15 and Alison Bools and Maria White 16, and still at school, at the time of their first single, "Feelin' High", released in 1968 on Simon Napier-Bell's SNB...
, with two schoolfriends, Alison Bools (later Williams, later O'Donnell) and Maria White. They released their first single, "Feelin' High", on SNB Records in 1968, when she was 15. Three years later, and with an expanded lineup, Mellow Candle released their only album, Swaddling Songs, which made little or no impact beyond Ireland until around twenty-five years later. The group disbanded in 1973. Between 1972 and 1975 she guested on Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
's second album, Shades of a Blue Orphanage
Shades of a Blue Orphanage
Shades of a Blue Orphanage is the second studio album by Irish band Thin Lizzy, released in 1972. The title is a combination of the members' previous bands: Shades of Blue and Orphanage....
, and two Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
albums, Hergest Ridge
Hergest Ridge
Hergest Ridge is a large elongated hill which traverses the border between England and Wales between the town of Kington in Herefordshire and the village of Gladestry in Powys. Its highest point, which is in England, is 1397 feet high.- On Offa's Dyke Path :...
and Ommadawn
Ommadawn
Ommadawn is the third record album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1975 on Virgin Records. The cover photograph was by David Bailey. It peaked at #4 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was reissued in June 2010 with additional content.- Album history :...
, helping Oldfield to coin the title of the second. Between 1976 and 1986 she lived in New York where she worked in a band with Carter Burwell
Carter Burwell
Carter Benedict Burwell is an American composer of film scores.-Life and career:Burwell was born in New York City, the son of Natalie , a math teacher, and Charles Burwell, who founded Thaibok Fabrics, Ltd...
and Stephen Bray
Stephen Bray
Stephen Bray is an American songwriter, drummer, and record producer from Detroit. Bray is best known for his collaboration with Madonna.Bray began studying music through private instruction in Detroit, and continued his education at Berklee College of Music in Boston.Bray owns and operates Saturn...
, as well as writing music for two theatre productions at La MaMa
La Mama
La Mama may refer to:* La Mama - a German disco group* La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in East Village, Manhattan, New York City, founded 1961* La Mama Theatre in Carlton, Victoria, Australia, founded 1967...
ETC, and occasionally working for Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
.
Working within the recording industry had a negative impact on her career aims, and subsequently she resumed her long-abandoned studies of piano, and began studying music of other cultures. In 1992, Simonds relocated from London to West Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
in order to focus on writing music, and in 1996 Six Elementary Songs was released on the Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
-based label Evangel Records. This mini-album was produced by Tom Newman
Tom Newman
Tom Newman may refer to:*Tom Newman , British player of English billiards and snooker*Tom Newman , musician and producer*Tom Newman , researcher in nanotechnology...
. That same year, Virgin Prophet was released by UK label Kissing Spell, consisting mostly of recordings for Deram by a pre-drums lineup of Mellow Candle. It also featured two even earlier solo demos, written and recorded by Simonds at the age of 16.
Twenty-five years or so after the release of the Mellow Candle album, interest in the band reawakened, starting in Japan, and the album has now been re-released several times, attaining cult status. One of Simonds' songs, "Silversong", was covered by All About Eve
All About Eve (band)
All About Eve were a British rock/pop band. The creative core consisted of the Coventry born Julianne Regan , and the Huddersfield born Andy Cousin , with other members changing over the years...
in 1988, and another, "Poet and the Witch", was covered by Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Joseph Malkmus is an indie rock musician and icon, and a member of the band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.-Early years:...
in 1998. In 1999, she sang a version of the Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
/James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
song "Golden Hair" for Russell Mills
Russell Mills
Russell Mills is a British artist who was born in Ripon, Yorkshire, UK in 1952. He paints, creates multimedia installations, designs stage sets and lighting and has produced record covers and book covers for Brian Eno, the Cocteau Twins,Michael Nyman, David Sylvian, Peter Gabriel, and Nine Inch...
' album Pearl & Umbra. Between 2005 and 2007, under the name Fovea Hex, she released 3 EPs, collectively entitled Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent, featuring Michael Begg, Carter Burwell
Carter Burwell
Carter Benedict Burwell is an American composer of film scores.-Life and career:Burwell was born in New York City, the son of Natalie , a math teacher, and Charles Burwell, who founded Thaibok Fabrics, Ltd...
, John Contreras, Roger Doyle, Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
, Roger Eno
Roger Eno
Roger Eugene Eno was born in Woodbridge, England in 1959. He is known primarily as an ambient composer.He began euphonium lessons at twelve and at sixteen entered Colchester College to study music...
, Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
, Percy Jones
Percy Jones
Percy Jones may refer to:* Percy Jones , American baseball player* Percy Jones , Welsh world champion flyweight in 1914* Percy Jones , bass guitarist...
, Cora Venus Lunny
Cora Venus Lunny
Cora Venus Lunny is an Irish violinist. Her father is the musician Dónal Lunny and she is the niece of Manus Lunny.Established as one of Ireland's leading classical musicians since her teens, Cora Venus Lunny is active as a soloist, chamber musician, interpreter of contemporary classical ...
, Donal Lunny
Dónal Lunny
Dónal Lunny is an Irish folk musician. Lunny has been at the forefront of the evolution of traditional Irish music for more than thirty-five years and has participated within the renaissance of traditional Irish music in that time period...
, Andrew M. McKenzie of The Hafler Trio
Hafler Trio
The Hafler Trio is a conceptual and sound art collaborative between Andrew M. McKenzie, the only permanent member, and guest musicians. The project has seen the release of numerous albums and CDs in experimental musical styles ranging from electronica, cut-up, ambient, environmental soundscape,...
, Sarah McQuaid, Hugh O'Neill, Colin Potter of Nurse with Wound
Nurse with Wound
Nurse with Wound is the main recording name for British musician Steven Stapleton. Nurse with Wound was originally a band, formed in 1978 by Stapleton, John Fothergill and Heman Pathak...
, Geoff Sample, Lydia Sasse, Laura Sheeran, and Steven Wilson
Steven Wilson
Steven John Wilson is an English musician, best known as the founder, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
. Each EP was available in a special edition that included an additional disc, containing an extensive re-working of that EP's material by The Hafler Trio.
As a performing unit, Fovea Hex usually consists of Clodagh Simonds, Laura Sheeran
Laura Sheeran
Laura Sheeran, Irish singer and musician, born Galway 19th April 1987.Sheeran is a Dublin-based singer, musician, composer and artist. She performs with Fovea Hex, having been recruited for the group by Clodagh Simonds....
, Cora Venus Lunny
Cora Venus Lunny
Cora Venus Lunny is an Irish violinist. Her father is the musician Dónal Lunny and she is the niece of Manus Lunny.Established as one of Ireland's leading classical musicians since her teens, Cora Venus Lunny is active as a soloist, chamber musician, interpreter of contemporary classical ...
, Michael Begg and Colin Potter, with either Julia Kent
Julia Kent
Julia Kent is a New York City-based, Canadian-born cellist who is best known as an original member of the all-cello group Rasputina, and later on as a member of Antony and the Johnsons....
, Kate Ellis or John Contreras on cello. In May 2007 Fovea Hex performed at the invitation of David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
at the Fondation Cartier in Paris, as part of his The Air Is On Fire retrospective exhibition. Having also performed in Austria, Spain and Italy in 2007 and 2008, Fovea Hex made their debut Irish performance at the Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, Co. Laois, in August 2008.
Clodagh Simonds presently lives in Dublin.
Albums
- Mellow Candle - Swaddling Songs (Deram, 1971)
- Fovea Hex - Bloom (part 1 of Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent, Janet Records/Die Stadt, 2005)
- Fovea Hex - Huge (part 2 of Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent, Janet Records/Die Stadt, 2006)
- Fovea Hex - Allure (part 3 of Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent, Janet Records/Die Stadt, 2007)
Singles
- Mellow Candle - Feelin High/Tea With The Sun (SNB, 1968)
- Mellow Candle - Dan The Wing (Deram, 1971)
- Fovea Hex & Andrew LilesAndrew LilesAndrew Liles is a UK based sound artist and multi-instrumentalist. He has a vast output of recordings that he has released since the mid-1980s, covering a variety of styles as experimental music, dark ambient music, progressive rock and even hints at hard rock....
- Gone Every Evening (Die Stadt, 2007)
Selected credits
- Thin Lizzy - Shades of a Blue Orphanage (vocals, piano, mellotron)
- Mike Oldfield - Hergest Ridge (vocals)
- Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn (vocals, lyrics)
- Jade WarriorJade WarriorJade Warrior may refer to:*Jade Warrior , a Finnish-Chinese movie*Jade Warrior , an English progressive rock band*Jade Warrior , the English progressive rock band Jade Warrior's debut album...
- Kites, (vocals) - Mike Oldfield - AmarokAmarok (album)Amarok is the 13th record album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1990. It is considered by fans to be his most distinctive work: a single sixty-minute track of continuous, uninterrupted but constantly-changing music....
(vocals) - Russell Mills - Pearl & Umbra (vocals, harmonium)
- Tunnels with Percy JonesPercy Jones (musician)Percy Jones is a Welsh bass guitarist, and was a member of jazz fusion band Brand X, from 1974 to 1980, and a reformed version which lasted from 1992 to 1997...
- Natural Selection (treated vocals) - Current 93Current 93Current 93 is an eclectic British experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet .-Background:Tibet has been the only constant in the group, though Steven Stapleton has appeared on...
- Black Ships Ate The SkyBlack Ships Ate the SkyBlack Ships Ate the Sky is a 2006 album by Current 93. The album features numerous guest vocalists, such as Antony Hegarty, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Marc Almond, and Shirley Collins. It features nine versions of the 1763 Methodist hymn "Idumæa", with lyrics by Charles Wesley, each featuring vocals by...
(vocals, zither, psaltery) - MatmosMatmosMatmos is an experimental electronic music duo originally from San Francisco but now residing in Baltimore signed to the Matador Records label. M. C. Schmidt and Drew Daniel are the core members, but they frequently include other artists on their records and in their performances, including...
- For Alan Turing (vocals for Molly Malone) - Human Greed - Black Hill: Midnight At the Blighted Star (piano)
- Steven WilsonSteven WilsonSteven John Wilson is an English musician, best known as the founder, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
- InsurgentesInsurgentes (album)Insurgentes is the title of the first full-length solo album released by British musician and record producer Steven Wilson, known for being the founder and frontman in psychedelic/progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
, (vocals, lyrics)
External links
- Janet Records Website
- Interview with The Irish Times, November 2008
- Interview with Tokafi (January 2007)
- Interview with Black (German magazine, 2007)
- Interview with BlowUp (Italian magazine, 2007)
- Fovea Hex on Myspace
- Review of "Bloom", Pitchfork Media
- Review of "Huge", Pitchfork Media
- Review of "Allure", Pitchfork media
- Mellow Candle - comprehensive history extracted from IRISH FOLK, TRAD AND BLUES - A SECRET HISTORY
- Electric Picnic
