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Shane Barry is a Waterford-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. His debut, solo album‘Songs from the Silver South’is the perfect summer soundtrack - representing a wide range of influences and interests. From ambient country to indie new-wave to folk-rock to the instrumental retro-dance/electronica of the album closer, Shane creates a number of tapestries to present the stories inspired by small-town living. His follow up live album,'A Thursday Night Live', released in Jan, 2025, is an intimate performance accompanied by a string section.Having had previous success with the soul/indie influencedShane Barry & the Distractions, Shane has emerged from over a decade in the academic wilderness earning a PhD in Applied Linguistics! The pause in performance opportunities in 2020 led to a rediscovery of enjoying music and writing songs. In discussions with regular collaborator, mixing engineer and former O Emperor drummer, Brendan Fennessy, enough basic equipment was purchased to self-engineer ‘Songs from the Silver South’. Away from the time and financial pressures of the studio, the album was recorded in bedrooms, hallways and practice rooms over 2021 and 2022, while toddlers slept and neighbours mowed lawns. Drums were the only instrument engineered beyond the bedroom, performed by Brendan Fennessy. All other instruments apart from brass and cello were performed by Shane. The album was also mixed by Brendan, with Slowdive’s Simon Scott drafted in to add his magic to the mastering.