‘The Half Room’ comprises a group of friends bonded by their mutual passion for folk songs
and singing. What initially started as a weekly gathering to share songs has evolved into a
new band, ready to release their debut album in autumn 2024.
Although the band is relatively new, its members are esteemed artists and seasoned singers
in their own right. The ensemble features the evocative vocals of renowned Dingle singer
Pauline Scanlon, and the velvety richness of singer-songwriter Nicola Joyce from celebrated
Galway trio ‘The Whileaways’. The harmonic blend of The Half Room finds equilibrium in the
earthy authenticity of vocalists Eoin Wynne and Fabian Joyce. With minimalist guitar
arrangements and subtle ambient accompaniment, The Half Room encapsulates folk music
in its rawest form, ensuring the spotlight remains firmly on the song and the singer. As they
transition from the battlefields of Flanders to the stormy seas off Lisbon, The Half Room
singers fill their arrangements with harmonic colour and texture, as their songs swell with
story and feeling.
A testament to the deep understanding the quartet has of the Irish traditional canon, and
the broader traditions of America and Europe, The Half Room is a group of singers and
musicians who grew up with the songs they sing. The record, a year in the making and a
lifetime in the living, reflects their profound connection to the music they make.
