MayKay
Encyclopedia
Mary-Kate Geraghty—known as MayKay—is an Irish
musician known as the frontwoman of Fight Like Apes
, with whom she has released numerous records and received several award nominations. She has also given solo performances as a DJ. In addition to this, herself and Duke Special
lent their voices to an event at the National Concert Hall
on 1 July 2010.
Nadine O'Regan of The Sunday Business Post
has described her as "easily one of the best — and most mesmerising — front women Ireland has delivered in recent times" and possessing "an air of unpredictability that means crowds will crane their necks to make sure they see as well as hear her". Today FM
presenter Alison Curtis
has described her as "extremely watchable, almost going into Debbie Harry
territory". Lauren Murphy of entertainment.ie
praised her ability to sing "pastoral as well as blow-your-eardrums-out cacophony" on the track "Snore Bore Whore". The Munster Express
described MayKay as being at her "breathy vampish best" on the same track. Male fans have professed simultaneous feelings of terror and attraction online.
A native of County Kildare
, MayKay was born in 1986. She is the daughter of journalist Kathy Sheridan. Sheridan is a regular Fight Like Apes concert-goer and bought a record player specially to listen to the band's debut album on vinyl.
She was a choir singer for some time. The singer met bandmate Jamie (known as "Pockets") when the pair were vacationing in Spain
during their teenage years. She spoke of their meeting in a 2007 interview with Eamon Sweeney of the Irish Independent
: "One night, I told Jamie I loved singing, so he made me sign a contract on a piece of tissue in a bar saying that I would never do anything musically without him". She studied medicinal chemistry
then philosophy
in Trinity College, Dublin
. However, she dropped out of college when Fight Like Apes began to first find success.
On stage MayKay dresses in either black or white and is known for her "her long black hair and banshee
wail". She often plays the keyboard with her head during live performances. She has also played the drill. She and most of the band members, with the exception of the drummer, are known for their consumption of alcohol. She likes bands such as Adebisi Shank
, Giveamanakick
, Grand Pocket Orchestra and Jape
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
musician known as the frontwoman of Fight Like Apes
Fight Like Apes
Fight Like Apes are an Irish alternative rock band formed in Dublin in 2006.Their current members are Mary-Kate "MayKay" Geraghty , Jamie "Pockets" Fox and Tom Ryan , while original member Adrian Mullan left the band in 2010 due to creative differences...
, with whom she has released numerous records and received several award nominations. She has also given solo performances as a DJ. In addition to this, herself and Duke Special
Duke Special
Duke Special, real name Peter Wilson, is a songwriter and performer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A piano-based songwriter with a romantic style and a warm, distinctly accented voice, he has a distinctive look, with his long dreadlocks, eyeliner and outfits he describes as "hobo chic"...
lent their voices to an event at the National Concert Hall
National Concert Hall
The National Concert Hall is a concert hall located on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin, Ireland, close to St. Stephen's Green, and is the principal national venue for classical music concerts in Ireland....
on 1 July 2010.
Nadine O'Regan of The Sunday Business Post
The Sunday Business Post
The Sunday Business Post is an Irish national Sunday newspaper published by Post Publications Limited. Post Publications is owned by Thomas Crosbie Holdings. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, Ireland, the average weekly circulation was 57,783 for the period January to June 2009. The...
has described her as "easily one of the best — and most mesmerising — front women Ireland has delivered in recent times" and possessing "an air of unpredictability that means crowds will crane their necks to make sure they see as well as hear her". Today FM
Today FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
presenter Alison Curtis
Alison Curtis
Alison "Ally" Curtis is a presenter of radio on Irish national radio station Today FM and a respected figure on the Irish music scene...
has described her as "extremely watchable, almost going into Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
territory". Lauren Murphy of entertainment.ie
Entertainment.ie
entertainment.ie is a Dublin-based Irish website which provides extensive cinema, TV, live music, theatre, comedy, exhibition and festival listings for free, as well as celebrity gossip, music and movie news, movie and DVD reviews, CD reviews and up-to-date lottery results.The site was developed in...
praised her ability to sing "pastoral as well as blow-your-eardrums-out cacophony" on the track "Snore Bore Whore". The Munster Express
The Munster Express
The Munster Express is a newspaper based in Waterford City established in 1860. It is Waterford's only remaining broadsheet local newspaper. The newspaper covers stories from across Waterford city and County Waterford. It retails at €2.00...
described MayKay as being at her "breathy vampish best" on the same track. Male fans have professed simultaneous feelings of terror and attraction online.
A native of County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, MayKay was born in 1986. She is the daughter of journalist Kathy Sheridan. Sheridan is a regular Fight Like Apes concert-goer and bought a record player specially to listen to the band's debut album on vinyl.
She was a choir singer for some time. The singer met bandmate Jamie (known as "Pockets") when the pair were vacationing in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during their teenage years. She spoke of their meeting in a 2007 interview with Eamon Sweeney of the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
: "One night, I told Jamie I loved singing, so he made me sign a contract on a piece of tissue in a bar saying that I would never do anything musically without him". She studied medicinal chemistry
Medicinal chemistry
Medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry are disciplines at the intersection of chemistry, especially synthetic organic chemistry, and pharmacology and various other biological specialties, where it is involved with design, chemical synthesis and development for market of pharmaceutical...
then philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. However, she dropped out of college when Fight Like Apes began to first find success.
On stage MayKay dresses in either black or white and is known for her "her long black hair and banshee
Banshee
The banshee , from the Irish bean sí is a feminine spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld....
wail". She often plays the keyboard with her head during live performances. She has also played the drill. She and most of the band members, with the exception of the drummer, are known for their consumption of alcohol. She likes bands such as Adebisi Shank
Adebisi Shank
Adebisi Shank are a three-piece instrumental experimental rock trio from Wexford, Ireland.-History:In 2011 the band won Best Album, Best Rock Act and Best Design at The Digital Socket Awards 2011, a music awards show organized by Irish music bloggers. In 2011 they were also nominated for a Choice...
, Giveamanakick
Giveamanakick
Giveamanakick—typeset as giveamanakick and abbreviated as GAMAK— were an Irish rock music duo from Limerick. The two band members were Stephen Ryan , the vocalist and guitarist, and Keith Lawler , the drummer.Giveamanakick performed regularly in Ireland, toured the United Kingdom with...
, Grand Pocket Orchestra and Jape
Jape (band)
Jape are an Irish electronic–rock band from Dublin. Formed as a side project by Richie Egan whilst part of The Redneck Manifesto, they have released four albums to date; Cosmosphere , The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me , Ritual and Ocean of Frequency...
.
External links
- MayKay speaks to Elaine Hughes of Hot PressHot PressHot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
about her 2007 - Video interview with Jenny HustonJenny HustonJenny Huston is a Canadian presenter of radio and television in Ireland. She is disc jockey on RTÉ 2fm, an occasional presenter on RTÉ Radio 1 and a television presenter with channels operated by Raidió Teilifís Éireann.; Huston presents an indie rock and pop music show on Friday nights and a rock...
from RTÉ 2fmRTÉ 2fmRTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
at Oxegen 2008Oxegen 2008Oxegen '08 was the fifth Oxegen festival to take place, following the dissolution of its predecessor Witnness in 2004. It took place on the weekend of Friday 11 July, Saturday 12 July and Sunday 13 July at Punchestown Racecourse near Naas in County Kildare, Ireland. For the first time the festival...
. - Photos of MayKay from the website of Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
show The JD Set