Cara Dillon

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Cara Dillon is a folk singer from Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, born in 1975. In 2001, she launched her career as a solo artist in the UK with her debut self-titled album. However, Dillon had been pursuing a career in music since her teenage years, progressing through folk bands Oige and Equation and spending time working with her husband Sam under the duo name Polar Star. She also collaborated with artists from a variety of genres along the way.

Cara Dillon
Photo shoot for 3rd album After The Morning, 2006
Origin	Dungiven, Northern Ireland
Years active	2001–present
Genres	Folk, Rock, Pop
Labels	Rough Trade

1 Biography
2 Awards and Accolades
3 The Future
4 Discography
5 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] The Early Years 1992-1995

Cara comes from an area steeped in Irish traditional music. Since she was a school girl she has always been singing and performing. She learned local folk songs from teachers and workshops held in the town. She can also play the fiddle and whistles. Irish music festivals (fleadhs) held singing competitions every year in her area and at the age of 14 she triumphed by winning the All Ireland Singing Trophey.

In 1992 she formed a band called Oige (an Irish word meaning 'youth') with school friends Murrough & Ruardhrai O'Kane, bringing her take on Irish traditional songs to audiences in Ireland, Great Britain and further a field. During this time she also performed with big names such as De Dannan and Phil Coulter. Oige recorded two albums with Cara, a studio and a live album. Inspiration was recorded in 1992 to sell at concerts in Europe. The live album, simply called Live, was recorded at a concert in Glasgow in 1994. A cassette tape version also exists under the name Live In Glasgow.

Cara left Oige in 1995 after being asked to replace Kate Rusby in a so-called folk supergroup Equation. However, she guests on their second studio album, Bang On, playing fiddles on the last track Maids Of Mitchelstown.

[edit] The Major Years 1995-2000

Equation comprised of five members: Sean, Sam and Seth Lakeman, Kathryn Roberts & Cara Dillon. They signed a major record deal with Warner label Blanco y Negro and recorded an album at Peter Gabriel's Realworld Studios in the winter 1995/1996. The album was called Return To Me was produced by David Bottrill. There was a single release, He Loves Me, with an accompanying promotional video. The band performed on MTV and VH1 but weeks before the release of the album the record company had it shelved. It was never released in 1996, but in 2003 it saw a release under Rough Trade Records when Geoff Travis (the band's former manager) bought its rights.

Dillon left Equation with original band member Sam Lakeman because of musical differences and they immediately signed a separate deal with the same label. The duo were known as Polar Star. During this time Dillon formed a strong musical partnership with Lakeman. They recorded several albums with top songwriters and producers, one of which was recorded in San Fransisco, but none of their work saw a release. The record company were not happy with the absence of hit singles and Dillon also claims that they were not happy with what they had done. By the turn of the century, Dillon had decided that she would never be able to give the record company what they wanted. Circa 2000, Dillon and Lakeman ended a 5 year period of exile under a major record label and signed yet another deal, this time with an independent label: Rough Trade Records.

[edit] The Rough Trade Records 2001-Present

Dillon recorded her first album in The Firs, Lakeman's parents' house. There were also recordings made in Co. Donegal, Ireland. The album was mixed by John Reynolds (Sinead O'Connor, Damien Dempsey). It contained 9 traditional songs Dillon had since her schooldays and also had two original songs Blue Mountain River (which became a single in Ireland) and I Wish I Was. The album was released on 16th July 2001 to critical acclaim. The reaction to the album, according to Dillon, was very unexpected. The opening track of the album remains to be her most memorable: Black Is The Colour. The track was given a very modern and appealing arrangement with hammond organs, stuble bass playing and these combined with a delicate, catchy piano riff and a pure, crystalline vocal earned her comparisons to Kate Bush. Throughout 2001 and 2002, Dillon toured the album in the UK, Ireland and Europe and her fan base grew steadily. The album won many awards and got very positive reviews (some of which are listed below). The couple ended 2002 on a high with their marriage in December.

The follow up album, Sweet Liberty, was released on 22nd September 2003. In terms of sales and airplay, the album was a bigger success. Sales were helped by the inclusion of Dillon's popular version of There Were Roses and the album entered the Irish Album Charts and the UK Indie Album Charts. The album was promoted with songs High Tide, There Were Roses and Everywhere. The album also had a more balanced mix of traditional and original material, including another Kate Bush-esque track, Falling Like A Star, and Broken Bridges. Both songs showed Dillon and Lakeman's songwriting could successfully cross musical borders. Also included was a cover of the Anne Briggs song Standing On The Shore. Sam Lakeman's production skills shined through on this album, firmly installing the importance of this partnership in bringing Dillon's success. The album was again mixed by John Reynolds & Alan Branch and was recorded 'at home in Somerset'.

In January 2004, Dillon travelled to Japan on a promotional tour of the album. Cara's solo career up this point was polished with her receiving the Meteor Irish Music Award for Best Irish Female. With two albums under her belt, Dillon's music was showcased on an international scale. Her relationship with WOMAD played a crucial part in this. The couple returned to the studio again in summer 2004 to record their third album.

Dillon's third album was released on 27th February 2006. The album was the longest in the making to date and featured several guest appearances. The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra recorded for two tracks on the album, Garden Valley & The Snows They Melt The Soonest; Martin Simpson, the acclaimed blues guitarist featured on Grace; two of Ireland's finest traditional musicians Mairtin O'Connor and Cathal Hayden perform on Bold Jamie and Cara duetted with Paul Brady on album highlight The Streets Of Derry.

The album gave Cara her most successful radio hit to date, Never In A Million Years, garnering a good amount of airplay on radio stations in the UK and Ireland. The song featured on the Radio 2 playlist for 6 weeks and was record of the week on BBC Radio Ulster. Despite the encouraging reception of the song, an official single release was never given to the song. It was released on download-only by iTunes a week prior to the album release and climbed into the top 40 most downloaded songs that week. An official single release was planned for after the album came out but it did not happen. The next single to be released from the album was a double A side: This Time/I Wish You Well. It featured a new Radio Mix of This Time with added vocals and guitars. The single generated some airplay on Radio 2 in July 2006 and was scheduled for release on 14th August, however Rough Trade cancelled it, citing a lack of airplay. Some copies of the single are in circulation but are difficult to find.

[edit] Collaborations/Guest Appearences

Throughout Dillon's career she has ventured into many successful collaborations with a range of artists. In 1998, she was guest vocalist for Mike Oldfield on the single from his Tubular Bells III album. In 2001, she featured on two tracks on the John Reynolds project Interview With The Angel, an album by Ghostland. Cara sang on the tracks Faith In Love and Sacred Touch Of Beauty, the former being the album's lead single. 2005 saw Cara guest on the soundtrack to the British comedy featuring Rowan Atkinson and Maggie Smith, Keeping Mum. In 2006, Judge Jules released his debut album, to which Cara provided vocals on the lead UK single Ordinary Day. The trance track was a big club hit and entered the UK dance charts at 3.

Also on the dance scene, Dillon's award winning version of Black Is The Colour was remixed by DJ Pete Devine (2Devine/Coco & Green) and became an instant hit on the dance floors in 2005. Over the next year, the popularity grew steadily and the track topped many polls and became a favourite of the top DJs on the scene. Following legal difficulties with the clearance of the track for release, the remix will be released on the Anjunabeats dance label on 11th December 2006.

[edit] Other

In 2003, Dillon performed at the Belfast Festival at Queen's Opening Ceremony with the Ulster Orchestra. In 2006, Dillon was honoured with the invitation to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club in Ireland. She sang the Irish song Mo Ghile Mear to an audience of over 1 billion worldwide with Afro Celt Soundsystem vocalist Iarla O Lionaird, a 60 piece choir and 23 piece band. In October 2006, she performed at the re-opening of the Grand Opera House in Belfast.

[edit] Awards and Accolades

2002 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award - Best Traditional Song (Black Is The Colour)
2002 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award - Horizon Award (Best Newcomer)
2002 Hot Press Award - Best Roots Act
2002 Big Buzz Magazine Award - Best Traditional Act
2003 Big Buzz Magazine Award - Best Traditional Act
2004 Meteor Irish Music Award - Best Irish Female
2004 Irish Tatler Woman Of The Year Award (Music)
2005 Big Buzz Magazine Award - Best Traditional Act

[edit] The Future

Dillon & Lakeman announced in September 2006 that Cara was expecting twins early in the new year.
Cara Dillon vs. 2Devine - Black Is The Colour will be released 11th December 2006.
Cara is nominated for a second Meteor Irish Music Award for Best Irish Female Singer 2007. Vote for her through Meteor.ie

[edit] Discography

Click on the CD covers for more details.

[edit] Albums

Cara Dillon (2001)

Sweet Liberty - Top 40 UK Indie Albums Chart (2003)

After The Morning - UK Indie #20, iTunes Top Folk Albums #3, Virgin Megastores Folk Bestsellers #2 (2006)

[edit] Singles/Promos

High Tide - Promo (2003)	There Were Roses - Promo (2003)	Everywhere - Promo (2004)	Never In A Million Years - iTunes Exclusive - iTunes Top 100 #39 (2006)
This Time/I Wish You Well (2006)

[edit] Collaborations/Guest Appearances

Oige - Live (1994)	Equation - Return To Me (1996) (2003)	Oige - Bang On (1996)	Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells III (1998)
Ghostland - Interview With The Angel (2001)	Equation - First Name Terms (2002)	Seth Lakeman - The Punch Bowl (2002)	Tommy Flemming - Voice Of Hope (2005)
Keeping Mum - Music From The Motion Picture (2005)	Judge Jules - Proven Worldwide (US) (2006)	Seth Lakeman - Freedom Fields (2006)	Judge Jules - Ordinary Day - UK Dance Singles Chart #3 (2006)
Judge Jules - Proven Worldwide (UK) - UK Indie Chart #40 (2006)	Anjunabeats Worldwide 1 - Various (UK) - 2Devine (2006)	Cara Dillon vs. 2Devine - Black Is The Colour (UK) - Promo CD (2006)	Cara Dillon vs. 2Devine - Black Is The Colour (UK) - Promo Vinyl (2006)