Lisa Hannigan Live on KCRW

Irish singer Lisa Hannigan caught our ears as the female counterpoint to Damien Rice on his debut album “O” and has had success as a solo singer since then. She last joined us in 2009 and returned today with a set of songs seeped in nostalgia from her sophomore album “Passenger”.

All of the songs were written while she was on the road and were inspired by her considering the things and thoughts you take with you when you travel. Jason Bentley’s favorite is the solemnly beautiful “Little Bird”. (See it live above and watch the very cool video for the track, filmed underwater, here)

They also talked about her use of the ukulele – “the most relentlessly cheerful of all instruments” on the song “Knots”. Lisa says the chords are “verging on unpleasant”, because the song is about panic and discomfort that was brought on by a hangover, but it ended up sounded more joyful due to the instrument.

Hear her full set in the archives here!

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Lisa Hannigan Live on KCRW

Passenger

O Sleep

Paper House

Little Bird

Safe Travels (Don’t Die)

Knots

Lille

Blue Moon