STRANGE Boy releases his much-anticipated debut album HOLY / UNHOLY via WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD today, Friday 25th June 2021.
“When I was working on this album and when Enda (Gallery) was brewing up the beats for me, I got a sort of anxious feeling like I wasn’t going to be able to do the concept we had justice. It was also the worst possible time for me to write an album as there was a lot of suffering going on within my family.
“Eventually though, through me being at mental rock bottom, the album revealed itself and the entire thing was writing within a month or two. I wouldn’t say I’m proud of it, I’d say I’m proud despite it.
“There’s nothing honourable or romantic about being in a bad place so I’m just glad that this album is finished. Regardless of whoever likes it or doesn’t it’s 100% my experience and there’s not much else to it. Just another one in a long line of humans talking about some sh*t that happened. That’s all” he said.
The Limerick rapper Jordan Kelly, aka Strange Boy, introduced his first LP with singles ‘Waiting’ (video: https://youtu.be/x4Ul5-MZ2pE ) and ‘Prayers’ which both summed up what this album is about: combining Hip Hop and Irish traditional music, the old and new cultural influences dominant in this country, with a sophistication that would have you swearing this genre always existed.
Strange Boy presents his full set of skills in 10 astonishing tracks telling his story, a story that is unique but relatable for many other young Irish people. The album features guest appearances from fellow Limerick rapper Hazey Haze, Strange Boy’s brother Seán McNally Kelly, and Grammy-winning star Moya Brennan, who bring a balance and variety to the album. The music was composed and produced by Enda Gallery in Kilfenora, Co. Clare during lockdown.
‘Holy/Unholy’ by Strange Boy is available on all digital platforms Friday 25th June 2021 via the Berlin label Welcome to the New World.
Stream/Download the album here https://found.ee/HolyUnholy
“I’m honoured by life and by Jordan to have been chosen to create this together with Strange Boy. It felt the whole time, 18 months since the first phone call, where we explored and decided on the concept to unite the new and the old in this way, to the very last listening sessions, that we were making some truly special.
“I had some of my favourite moments as a producer sitting in my late grandfather’s house hearing him deliver 10 tracks in 3 days vocally. It was clearer to me than ever that he is not one of the best hip hop artists in Ireland now, but rather one of the best artists on planet earth at any time.
“I hope he gets the resonance he deserves. Few albums have felt more right to me than this. Not a single photo was taken during recordings, we focused on the music. We shut everything out.
“I composed the music up in Kilfenora and he came up with his brother and Hazey Haze to record. The fact that it opens with Moya Brennan and features his brother Seán and Hazey is beautiful as well.
“Moya is a Grammy winner and Seán is on a song for the first time in his life. It’s about the right thing. We had the universe at our back for it and even with the heavy complications of doing a production during COVID which meant cancelling session after session and doing hardly any recordings in studios but in untreated cottage rooms, the thing that happened always felt right.
“It’s made with care and love and pure honesty. Whatever happens with it, this is a masterpiece in my eyes and it’s a highlight of my life so far to have been a part of it.” -Enda Gallery added.
Social Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strange.boy.theweirdo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StrangeBoyWha / @strangeboywha
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4LXxi3hXUQ0TEeQtmuWLY4?si=OEwMBarbTn-d4p1P7WPAoQ
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/de/artist/strange-boy/1215627698?l=en
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCmRNfYRfsyAbxkMRXErwlpg?feature=share
