Edel Mac Aodh, heading for the Juke Joint, and further
That's because the song's writer, Tony Kirwan, kept raising the key while they were working on Edel's new single of the song, until they hit the 'sweet spot' in her capability. "It was much higher than I'd usually sing," she says. "I usually sang in lower registers, but it seems to work."
Indeed it does. Her performance passes the 'shiver down the spine' test. Suggesting that we're going to be following Edel along a musical path with significant promise.
Though she always loved to sing, where she is just now is an almost accidental confluence of opportunities. An invitation to sing with the Kilcullen Gospel Choir. An open mic night in Sallins. A video of her singing there pushed out on Facebook, and Newbridge-based singer-songwriter Tony Kirwan spotting it.
Edel is the daughter of Tommy and Mary Mackey in Nicholastown — "Kilcullen through and through" — and even in primary school she was singing in the school choir with Miss Birchall. As a student in CPC she had been very involved in choir and solo parts, and also sang the solos in the TY musical production of 'Godspell'. She went on to study in the School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology at Cathal Brugha Street in Dublin.
"School was great for singing, because there was the opportunity to do it. But when I went to College I sort of gave up on it. I didn't have self-confidence about it, and there wasn't any particular outlet for me while I was there." So Edel concentrated on her studies, gaining a particular interest in fine baking that was to become the focus of her creativity.
"I loved baking, making cakes particularly. After I finished I worked for a while in retail in the Kildare Village, building up a small hobby sideline making cakes." Then her entrepreneurial instinct kicked in, and she became involved with the Kildare Local Enterprise Office. They brought her through the essentials of setting up a viable small business, which two years ago became Tiers of Joy, specialising in novelty, birthday and wedding cakes.
"The Enterprise Office people were really helpful, and when I finished the course there were financial and other supports to help me get going. I'd very much recommend them to anyone thinking of setting up a business."
Very happy with her business, and building it steadily, there was nevertheless something missing. "There was an element of frustration somewhere. I realised it was the music. I still loved it, loved going to gigs. But I wasn't singing. So I decided I'd just better get back to it."
Coincidentally came an invitation to sing at a Kilcullen Gospel Choir concert in CPC. "They said I'd be on with Rob Strong, so I jumped at it. I did a duet with him at the end, 'Oh Happy Day', and it was great."
So to the open mic opportunity last year, where she was invited to sing at the 'Something in The Water' Festival in Sallins, accompanied by Lee Murphy. The videos were put up on Facebook, including Edel's rendition of 'Joleen'. Tony Kirwan, a good friend of the late Jimmy Aspell in Kilcullen, spotted them. "We were in The Spout one night at a gig, and Tony came over and asked if he'd write a song for me, would I record it? I said 'Oh yes', and he came back some weeks later with four. I picked 'Juke Joint' because I woke up singing it."
The song has an old theme, about a mother not wanting her daughter to go to the Juke Joint 'because that boy is back in town', and so on. Edel and Tony worked on it, with guitarist Colm Cahill, making sure it was right before going into the recording studio.
Soft-launched on Youtube, the single's views are growing, and a debut radio play was facilitated by Liam Kett recently on his KFM Radio show. "That was another massive experience, hearing yourself for the first time on the radio."
Edel is very happy with how it is all going. There's another song in the pipeline. And she'll be among a strong lineup on Friday night. Anyone listening to 'Juke Joint' will be very comfortable that she can hold her own there.
Her singing preferences are 'anything', but particularly blues, rockabilly, "and the big songs, I have quite a powerful voice when I get it going." She sings the classics like 'Son of a Preacher Man' and 'Bobby Magee', but tries to get something different out of them than the originals. "All that music is slowly coming back around again."
Developing her business and her music have both made Edel the person she is today. The relatively recent revival of her singing has also helped her regain self-confidence in facing an audience, which she had as a CPC student but for some reason it faded. "The older you get, you're not as fearless as when you're younger. You can be inside your head a bit waiting, freaking it, but once you get up and do it the excitement comes back. Now I'd really like to get a band together, ideally from Kilcullen where there's a lot of talent." But she's not planning to give up on Tiers of Joy, which is successful, satisfying, and a powerful element of her creative side.
Life so far has shown Edel that she has what it takes to do anything she puts her mind to. She says what she has learned most is 'never say no'. "If you can get past the fear of not knowing what's going to happen, and just do it. Say yes, when people offer you opportunities, just keep saying yes, and see where they take you."
Even if it takes you to the Juke Joint.
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