MANCHESTER based producer Shunya has released his debut album ‘I Have Aspirations For Dragonflies’, a playful and ethereal record that draws on his Irish heritage to create a wonder filled nine track journey.
Shunya is, of course, Limerickman Alan Keary from a family of very talented musicians here in the treaty city.
Described by critics as an ‘enigmatic new discovery’, Alan has worked with some of the most exciting talents in world music – including South African cellist Abel Selaocoe.
He is also son of legendary Irish guitarist and producer Dave Keary (Van Morrison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Emma Bunton) In 2021, he was commissioned to arrange music for orchestra for Abel’s debut BBC Prom Africa meets Europe, which he also performed in, at the Royal Albert Hall, a show that was met with universal praise.
His remix for jazz trio Go Go Penguin on the GGP/RMX album was critically acclaimed, which also featured Squarepusher and 808 State.
The new album is a collection of Shunya’s most personal songs to date – touches on themes including the discovery of mortality as an infant, daydreaming and the apocalypse, all packaged with a heavy dose of mysticism.
The 31 year old musician said: “I’ve always written lyrics from hypothetical perspectives. “These songs however are more personal, like a singer songwriter embedded in electronic soundworlds.”
I Have Aspiration For Dragonflies opens with the song TattDah – a futuristic take on traditional Irish slip jig rhythms provided by plucked stringed instruments intertwined with plinky synths.
Highlights on the record also include Out In The Cold, which is underpinned by drum machine grooves coupled with warm chordal bass riffs inspired by Chicago post-rock band Tortoise.
‘I Have Aspirations For Dragonflies’ by Shunya is out now to stream and download.
