Anam Danu is a collaboration between two long-standing musicians – originating from different continents but sharing a Celtic heritage – setting out to create original, unusual and innovative adult-oriented pop music on the west coast of Canada. When vocalist/pianist Siobhan Monaghan and songwriter Andy Dawson Reid joined forces in 2019, they brought to the collaboration their many years of varied musical experience. Seeking to create something fresh and musically satisfying, they found their connection based on a love of classic pop songs and shared musical ambitions. Siobhan and Andy look to create alternative adult-oriented music that is soulful, powerful and cinematic.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Anam Danu, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Hello Kamil. Good to chat and thanks for the opportunity:
Siobhan: I grew up in a musical family. My mother was a beautiful singer, and my father also had an excellent singing voice and played traditional fiddle music. My siblings are also very musical. There was music playing all the time in our home, especially on Sunday afternoons. When my parents had people over, we were expected to perform our “party pieces”! I started playing the piano when I was a young child and had to sit on encyclopaedias to reach the keys.
Andy: I also grew up in a musical family. My father was an avid amateur pianist and classical composer and my mother ran a ladies choir. I became a boy chorister at about 10 years of age and developed a great love of choral music. A little later I discovered songwriters such as Jimmy Webb, Dylan, Brian Wilson and, of course, The Beatles. I remember the first time that I heard ‘Eleanor Rigby’, being stunned at the possibilities that were revealed.
Describe your favorite and least favorite part about being a musician.
Siobhan: My favorite part about being a musician is touching people’s emotions, and creating an environment of connection with the audience. When the audience and the band are in the groove, it’s pure magic. The least favorite part is sometimes the sound or acoustics are poor and it can be exhausting trying to hear yourself above the crowd and your fellow musicians.
Andy: Three favourite parts – the music itself (for me the purest and greatest art form) – working with other musicians (the whole always much greater than the sum of the parts) and, of course, reaching out to an audience. Least favourite? Never enough time!
Your latest song is 'Perfect'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
Siobhan: This song was written by Andy, and I fell in love with it the moment I heard it. We recorded it in one afternoon and it felt pure and straight from the heart. He’s such a talented man, and I really enjoy collaborating with him.
Andy: The fascination and fear of perfectionism are deep rooted and, I believe, can be the cause of much harm. The desire to perfect others is particularly pernicious. Musically, the simple theme that is the heart of the song arrived unannounced one day and invited me to find suitable words with which to clothe it.
How do you differ from most other artists?
Siobhan: We are different from other artists in that we make music that is not your usual love ballad material. Our music is about a variety of topics such as nature, living through a pandemic, politics, friendships, aging - always something new. We recorded our second album “Winter Blue & Evergreen” completely remotely from each other due to COVID restrictions. All our music has been recorded in a studio up until this point, but this year we are preparing to perform before a live audience.
Andy: I have reached the conclusion that my musical brain is wired differently to most others. Fortunately, Siobhan manages to see something of value in my slightly odd melodies and weird cadences.
Where are you from and do you have a stable home or do you prefer travelling?
Siobhan: I live on Vancouver Island, in Victoria, British Columbia with my husband and my little dog, Basil. I used to travel a lot to play music, but these days I tend to stay close to home.
Andy: I am from the south of England, a little outside London, but I have now put down my roots on the beautiful west coast of Canada – on Vancouver Island. I need a stable base from which to work.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Siobhan: Anam Danu’s music is original, unusual and innovative adult-oriented pop music. It has been described as soulful, powerful and cinematic. As our website anamadanu.com describes us “Searching out the unpredictable elements that make great songs unique, their music and lyrics evoke subtle to powerful emotions and vivid images utilizing a musical palette that varies from sparse piano accompaniment to full orchestral soundtrack. Siobhan’s contralto voice – accompanied by her distinctive vocal harmonies – is always front and centre”.
Andy: That pretty much covers it. Someone recently described us as “Quirkily unique”- which sounds about right to me.
How do you nurture your own creativity?
Siobhan: The way we feel and think is influenced by our surroundings. To nurture my own creativity, I created a sound proof music room in my home with all my music equipment, pianos, guitars hung on the wall, and colorful music themed pictures. This is my rehearsal and recording space. I also enjoy silversmithing, so I have another room where I have all my tools and set up for doing that. There’s lot of natural light, fresh air, and access to a private patio where I can enjoy my flowers, water feature and nature. I feel “plugged in” when I’m out in the forest camping or walking by the ocean. I also prioritize my time by creating space in my life to collaborate with others on creative projects. What brings me joy keeps the creative juices flowing.
Andy: I have created a small studio in the basement of the house that my wife and I found when we came (returned, in her case) to Canada. It is blessed with views of the sea and if I spend any time at all here I can pretty much guarantee that inspiration will pay a visit.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
Siobhan: Annie Lennox
Andy: Peter Gabriel
Who's your ideal musician to collaborate with and why?
Siobhan: Andy Dawson Reid is my ideal musician to collaborate with. He’s incredibly talented musician and composer, and a really decent and kind man. It’s refreshing to work with a man who respects and welcomes your ideas, input, and intelligence. He encourages and inspires me, and working together is exciting, playful, and always an adventure. And as a bonus, he is also a whiz with technology and software.
Andy: Siobhan Monaghan, without a doubt! She is hugely talented and has a gorgeous voice, but she is also fearless and has very clear ideas as to what is of value and what is not. If she sees merit in an idea she will take it and transform it into something much greater than it would otherwise have been. If it doesn’t work for her she tells me so - and we quietly drop the idea. For a songwriter this is an absolute godsend.
What are your plans for the future?
Siobhan: We are preparing to perform live this year, and are in the process rehearsing and finding other musicians to join us.
Andy: What she said…
Many thanks for inviting us to participate. Good fun and an education to have to think these things through.