'Sew' there! Lisa Hannigan loses job, becomes star

Singer has hit solo album after getting fired from Damien Rice's band

He might not have realized it at the time, but when Damien Rice fired Lisa Hannigan from his band two years ago, he did Irish music a big favor.

Hannigan, who is 28 and from Co. Meath, met Rice when she was studying at Trinity College Dublin. She then left college to become his singer. While on tour in Munich in 2007 to support his hugely successful record “9”, Rice told Hannigan, ten minutes before they were due to go on stage, she was no longer needed. They had been together for six years.

It was tough, she says. But instead of wallowing in despair – something she had probably seen Damien Rice do enough of – Hannigan picked herself up.

She went straight into songwriting mode – and the result is her terrific new album “Sea Sew.” It was released in Ireland last year to an overwhelmingly positive critical reception. She was nominated for the Meteor Music Awards (the Irish equivalent of the Grammies) in both the “Best Irish Album” category and the “Best Irish Female” category.

The album was released in the U.S in February, also to glowing reviews, earning her an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Entertainment Weekly described it as “the perfect album for cozying up by the fire on a winter-chilled Sunday afternoon.” She is currently on tour in the U.S – later this month she plays in Austin’s South by Southwest festival.

Unlike Damien Rice’s material, which can be morose, “Sea Sew” is an uplifting, playful album. On “Ocean and a Rock,” one of the standout tracks – and there are a few – she sings, “I feel you in the pocket of my overcoat, my fingers wrap around your words, they take the shape of games we play.”

“I wanted the record to be cheerful, because I felt cheerful at the time,” she tells IrishCentral. “And I wanted the record to reflect that. It’s more my personality. I didn’t get any sleep for two weeks and it was just two weeks of straight recording. But it was brilliant.”

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Nster.com