| Lasairfhíona | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Celtic Folk |
| Occupations | Singer Songwriter |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Website | Official site Official Myspace site |
| Notable instruments | |
| Piano | |
Lasairfhíona (pronounced Lah-sah-reena), also known as Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola, is an Irish singer/songwriter. She is deeply rooted in the sean-nós singing style of her home on Inis Oírr, one of the Aran Islands. She is a graduate of Celtic Studies from Trinity College Dublin.
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Her début album An Raicín Álainn (pronounced An Rackeen Ah-lyn), was launched in 2002 at the Festival Interceltique in Lorient, Brittany. It was selected by Hot Press music magazine as one of the best folk albums of 2002. It was described by fRoots magazine as "one of the most sumptous traditional albums to have emerged for some time."
Lasairfhíona was the subject of a special documentary on the RTÉ Léargas television series (directed by Moira Sweeney) in 2002. In 2003, Lasairfhíona sang on Sinéad O'Connor's DVD, Goodnight, on the track Thank You, You’ve Been A Lovely Audience.
Lasairfhíona performed during this time in venues around Ireland, including the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Town Hall Theatre in Galway and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Lasairfhíona also took part in many television and radio programmes. Her song "Dragonfly", set to music by Lasairfhíona and Hector Zazou was on the soundtrack for the DVD Play Magazine. This showcased the fashion collection for Fall/Winter 2004/2005 of the designers Prada, Issey Miyake, Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Chou.
In 2004 Lasairfhíona’s singing featured on a compilation album of the best emerging Irish music that was produced by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in Ireland and The Music Board of Ireland to mark the Irish presidency of the European Union.
Lasairfhíona's second album was released early in 2006. It is called Flame of Wine, a literal translation of Lasairfhíona's own name. It included newly composed songs in Irish and in English. The album is co-produced by Máire Breatnach. The latter also provides some musical accompaniment along with musicians Mary Bergin, Johnny McDonagh, Bill Shanley and Lasairfhíona's brother, MacDara.
Also in 2006, Lasairfhíona was nominated for a Meteor Irish Music award.