Irish folk-duo, Saint Sister return today with the release of their debut album Shape of Silence. Gemma Doherty and Morgan MacIntyre (Saint Sister) are known for their stunning vocal harmonies and fusion of traditional Irish folk and minimalist electronica. Across twelve tracks, Shape of Silence is a stunning album steeped in a sense of longing.

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LISTEN TO SHAPE OF SILENCE HERE

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“We wanted to explore the connections between people, and the conversations that are borne out of figuring yourself out in relation to another person. The beginning of the record feels very conspiratorial. But then the songs become a little darker, a little more self-aware and discerning and a little lonelier. ” – MORGAN MACINTYRE

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The essence of shared upbringing influences Saint Sister’s music and, more than that, their friendship. With Shape of Silence, Saint Sister prove how worthwhile that investment has been. Their debut EP Madrid – recorded with Alex Ryan (bassist with Hozier) – was released in November 2015 and has since reached 2 million streams on Spotify and the duo have continued to work together with the long-term co-producer for Shape of Silence.

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“We found a really good energy between the three of us, and over the course of time have started trusting each other’s instincts a lot more and getting comfortable pushing the boundaries” – GEMMA DOHERTY

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Tracks like “You Never Call” and “Causing Trouble” touch on themes of nostalgia and longing. The band embraces their Celtic roots with the stripped-back “Tir Eile” meaning ‘other land’ in Irish, which powerfully displays their incredibly haunting vocals. “Steady”, one of their more electronically-influenced tracks sets extracts from author Kevin Breathnach’s “Tunnel Vision” against a trip-hop infused breakbeat. The last track on the record, “The Mater”, offers a searing account of the pain and self-realisation that comes at the end of a relationship and the final act of self-isolation.

Premiered via Billboard Magazine, Saint Sister’s single “Twin Peaks” has received airplay on BBC Radio 1, triple j, and Double J. With following singles “You Never Call” and “Steady” added to Spotify playlists across the globe, the band have received support from the likes of Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart as well as a multitude of press including NPR, The Guardian, The Independent, Stereogum, Metro, TLOBF, and The Irish Times.

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