Lisa Hannigan to release debut Feb. 3

Lisa Hannigan, the acclaimed Irish singer whom The New York Times calls “exquisitely ethereal,” is poised for the release of her much anticipated solo debut Sea Sew. Set for release February 3 on ATO Records, the album has already garnered airtime on tastemaking radio station KCRW and earned early praise from The Los Angeles Times, which calls it “charmingly idiosyncratic.” Hannigan recently completed a tour supporting Jason Mraz on his 42-date North American tour.

Hannigan’s chance meeting with acclaimed singer-songwriter Damien Rice led to a long period of collaboration and development. From the outset, Hannigan quickly generated attention for her own vocal performances and spent the subsequent few years touring the world, meeting wonderful musicians and friends, writing songs and contributing backing vocals on many friends’ records. Such collaborations included the Frames and Mic Christopher and Hannigan even sang with the legendary Herbie Hancock. She gradually found her voice, needing the microphone less and less.

During her seven-year collaboration with Rice, Hannigan compiled a notebook of songs and fostered the desire and confidence to put them onto a record. Hannigan, along with a talented band of friends—including Tom Osander on drums, Shane Fitzsimons on double bass, Donagh Molloy on trumpet, melodica and glockenspiel, Gavin Glass on piano, Lucy Wilkins on violin and Vyvienne Long on cello—recorded Sea Sew over 14 days in Dublin.In advance of the album’s release, Hannigan has made available the songs “Lille,” “Sea Song,” “Pistachio” and “I Don’t Know” for streaming via her website. “I Don’t Know,” the first single off Sea Sew, will be released early next year.

Check out www.lisahannigan.ie and www.myspace.com/lisahannigan for current info.