Lisa Hannigan made her first impression as the vocal partner of fellow countryman Damien Rice before launching her solo career in 2008. She started with a strong record; her debut See Sew earned a nomination for the Mercury Prize.
Hannigan was born in Dublin but was raised in Kicloon, County Keath. She returned to Dublin for college, where she met Damien Rice. She performed on his O and 9 records. Touring with his band, she added vocals and occasionally bass, guitar or drums.
After seven years, Hannigan struck out on her own. She immediately recognized the different pressures she encountered as the lead versus a supporting role. Previously she gauged her success on her own efforts, but as the leader she recognizes that her success in a performance is measured on the results of the collective whole.
Lisa Hannigan released a second album in 2011 and toured for two years in support of the record. She acknowledges that her songwriting simply dried up during that time period. She always expected new songs to come but they never did.
After the tour, she dismissed her band and set off in search of new inspiration and direction traveling to Paris and London. Songs came, but slowly. Out of the blue, Hannigan received an email from The National’s Aaron Dessner. It was a request to connect and collaborate.
The two became musical pen pals, sending song snippets back and forth. Occasionally, they would meet somewhere and work face to face before finally laying down tracks for her newest record in New York. Dessner completed production in his home studio and her most recent album At Swim was released in 2016.
