Having performed at Ruby Sessions two weeks ago, Sorcha Richardson, a singer-songwriter who left Dublin for New York at age of 18, returned with a gig to launch the release of her upcoming single ‘Waking Life’. The event, which took place in The Grand Social on the 14th September, was packed with friends, family and fans eager to witness her only headline gig in Dublin this year.
The 26 year-old, originally from Dalkey, was supported by Participant (Joe Turner), whose soothing voice and emotionally fraught lyrics acted as a suitable precursor for what was to follow as Richardson treated the audience to old and new music. With ‘Lost’, a song dedicated to her friend following his breakup, Richardson shows her skill as a songwriter, avoiding the tendency to write specifically about romance, can often be the case. Richardson has commented on her songwriting style saying, ‘I write songs in my bedroom about the days and nights I spend with my friends, the places we go, the people we meet, the things we say and the things we don’t.’ She draws from specific personal memories to create engaging narratives which kept the audience entertained throughout. In ‘Can’t We Pretend’, she demonstrates her ability to evoke the universal from the personal by singing about her new life in New York City and the one she left behind in Dublin. Her themes are relatable, singing about the reality of growing apart; ‘It’s not that I’ve not missed you,but I’ve just had this distance for a while.’ This provided the most heartfelt moment for the crowd, as a wave of nostalgia and longing for the past spreads out across the crowd.
Having listened to her on Spotify, I expected more of an acoustic sound, however, her live performance, accompanied by a full band certainly did not lack energy and noise. Her sound is comparable to the electro pop style of Ladyhawke and fan favourites ‘Petrol Station’, and ‘4 a.m’, are indication of her ability to infuse her emotionally provocative lyrics with an electronic sound.
Richardson’s impressive range is on show as she moves from louder electronica to quiet, poignant moments. Whichever style it is, she is clearly at home on stage, an instantly likable character who is both confident yet humble. Performing ‘Petrol Station’, her final song, she sings that ‘everything is better now because I’m with all my friends’ and as the gig draws to a close she smiles to herself showing her enjoyment to be back playing new music to her home crowd. Her new single ‘Waking Life’ is out now and she is set to release more new music this coming Autumn. Make no doubt about it, Sorcha Richardson is quietly becoming one of Ireland’s best and understated talents.