Canadian ukulele songstress Shelley O'Brien has been joyfully sharing her artistry in far-off places for some time. In whatever changing landscapes she finds herself in, Shelley lands, sings, and leaves behind stories of child-like wonder, vast northern spaces, and the much more intimate spaces of the heart.
Since 2008, she has toured Europe, played at festivals in Paris, Venice and Helsinki, been hosted by venues in Barcelona, Rome, Tokyo, Rotterdam and Reykjavik, as well as returning to her Canadian homeland to play at major city hot spots.
Shelley released her debut album “You, Me and the Birds” in April 2009 to rave reviews. Recorded in Vancouver, the album is most singular for its subtly contrasting material. She writes about a melting glacier as if she were its unrequited lover in "With a will, Margerie". Her happiest jazz-influenced tune is about a fatherless, yet resilient 7 year old in "Emily, coming and going". And her infectiously catchy title track celebrates brunch with a lover, right before she says goodbye, and flies away with the birds.
Surely not without feathers of her own, Shelley recently returned from a summer of playing shows in Europe, making a new album in Vancouver, and playing across Canada on Via Rail’s musician program. Soon she will be off again, touring Iceland, Australia, the Pacific Northwest US, and Japan. With all this travel Shelley still finds Canada and especially the north to be most remarkable. Canada is beginning to feel the same way about her.
While in Toronto, her new landing place, she recently played the acclaimed Shelter Valley Folk Festival near Grafton, and premiered her music video for Generous Waters, the first release from her album.
Her much anticipated second album, Vivarium, was released in October 2011.
"From the wellspring of her hope and awe, Shelley O'Brien has not only curated this country's beauty, but also her own."
- Nereida Fernandes, EXCLAIM Magazine review of VIVARIUM
"Shelley was doing the ukulele thing before it was cool. Or maybe she's one of the reasons it got cool in the first place."
- The Globe and Mail
"A Beautiful Songbird. An absolute find!"
-Radio Rijnmond, The Netherlands
"Beautiful... a playful mix of dulcet ukulele and atmospheric vocals."
- CBC Radio 2 |
