ferna

From the North Coast of Ireland, ferna tells the stories that otherwise get lost in the noise.

On a mission to amplify quiet sentiments and shift focus to hidden characters, ferna delivers a remarkable sound that merges the organic and the electronic, filled with mixed emotions, fragile beauty and powerful hooks.

The musical alias of composer & singer-songwriter Hannah McPhillimy, ferna has already performed alongside the likes of Foy Vance and The Gloaming, at RTE’s Other Voices and across the Atlantic in the Irish Arts Centre. In 2019, she moved to the US to complete a Masters in Music Composition at the University of Michigan culminating in a piece for orchestra ‘walk on’ which was premiered in Hill Auditorium. Back on home turf, her first official release as ferna took home the NI Music Prize for Single of the Year 2022 in November, while singles 'new city' and 'morning after' have been playlisted on RTE2fm and caught the attention of BBC6Music's Tom Robinson respectively.

In Spring 2023 ferna will release her debut album ‘understudy’, launching on the 4th of May as part of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, a summation of this artistic reach. The songs are inspired by the likes of Milkman, the intense novel by Anna Burns, by the life story of Coretta Scott King (author, leader and wife of MLK) and the photography of Francesca Woodman, who found resonance in blurred images and unexpected angles.

"the north coast indie pop minded artist has emerged to become an electrifying musician with a gift for storytelling" – BELFAST TELEGRAPH, Top 12 for 2023

‘a bit of a wonder’ -THE IRISH TIMES

‘a rising star’ – HOT PRESS

‘the future’s bright for ferna’ - BBC INTRODUCING

‘Beautiful and arresting’ – RADIO NOVA, Irish Music Month nominee