Maria Shiel

Maria Shiel is a songwriter, musician and artist from the west of Ireland and has performed shows across Ireland, Europe and the USA including legendary venues such as CBGB’s in New York and The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

In the early 2000's Maria formed the roots/ hip-hop band Guava and went on to tour nationally, sharing stages with Damien Rice, Glen Hansard and Paddy Casey. In 2011 she set up collaborative record label KYO Records to promote international musical collaboration and went on to work with musicians from all over Europe, China, Russia, and the USA including Finland's electronic producer Axel Thesleff. Through Kyo Records she released music under her electronic moniker MS44 and collaborated with acclaimed Irish producer Eomac.

Maria is gearing up to release her full length solo record ‘Fire in the Sea!’, the long awaited follow up to 2015’s mini-album ‘Star’.

The initial ‘exclusive pre-release’ is set as a physical LIMITED EDITION ART/CD release package before the full online release later in the year. (SEE: www.mariashiel.com/shop).

* In the first week of the promo pre-release Fire in the Sea's track 'Calling Me Back' made the coveted spot on the ‘RTE Radio One Recommends Playlist’ for two weeks and received extensive national radio airplay in Ireland.

‘Fire in the Sea!’ is inspired by the ocean and combines influences from both sides of the Atlantic including old time country, indigenous roots music and vocal harmony groups from the 1950s and 1960s. The album showcases Maria’s own esoteric take on trans-atlantic sea-folk along with an aesthetic influenced by the work of Mark Rothko, Japanese anime and the street art of Bristol.

" What we have here is quality songwriting, expert musicianship, and melodies you'll be humming from one side of the Atlantic to the other." - The Irish Times

" This is music for staring out to sea on stormy days and for dancing around fires on clear moonlit nights." - Not Bad

“Bristling with Confidence. A remarkable and honest debut album.” - Finbar Hoban

“An avant-garde blend of past, present and future encompassing earthy and folk influences from around the world” - SoundCloud Reviews