Jim Byrne is an artist with FoxStar Records. Out now is ‘4 Country & Folk Songs’ is a mix of roots-based influences (country, blues, Cajun fiddle and accordion, Scottish folk) and melodic singer-songwriter sounds from the 1960s. Out now on all streaming platforms.
On ‘The Yellow Clock’ and ‘This Heart of Mine is a Blind Blind Fool’ Jim is joined by fellow country music lover and singer/storyteller Lesley O’Brien (Carlton Jug Band) – to great effect – as Lesley’s voice complements his own.
Buy direct from the artist:
4 Country & Folk Songs – on Bandcamp
What they are saying about ‘4 Country & Folk Songs’:
“…it feels like his soul is communicating directly with your soul. Duglas T Stewart (BMX Bandits)
“…dives headlong into Americana territory. Magic.” Dave Acari – Touring musician & songwriter
“a great songwriter. reminds you of the greats like Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen.” Michaela Foster Marsh, Singer & musician, finalist of Scotswoman of the Year
“an undeniably ‘classic’ sound.. same time somehow sounding like a fresh take.” Jamie Flett, folk/folk rock musician, singer songwriter
About the songs
The Yellow Clock
A daughter arrives back home from the funeral of her mother; she contemplates the passing of time, mortality and previous generations. She can’t sleep, she looks at her mother’s possessions around her, the flowers sent by friends; the flowers act as a painful reminder of her loss.
This Heart of Mine is a Blind Blind Fool
A country song influenced by Cajun music (with a smidgen of 1940’s big band call and response). It’s about the tension between giving into the temptations of a wandering heart and staying with your true love.
Tell The Devil I’ve Stole His Crown of Pain
There is a sub-genre of songs called, Murder Ballads, which are traditional folk ballads (narrative songs) that describe a crime or a murder. This song is influenced by elements of that genre. It was written during the initial phase of the ‘Me To’ movement; which I suspect is where the manipulative charismatic male character comes from. There is also an element of the supernatural; that’s the Scottish influence.
The Holy Ghost
A country/Americana song – you will need to work this one out for yourself; there’s a man, a woman, the church; it seems like something’s gone wrong and perhaps someone is being protected from the consequences. Maybe?
Talk to Jim about his latest release
Jim is an entertaining guest and would love to chat about his new songs and the story of being signed to FoxStar Records. Send him an email to arrange an interview:
Other releases and projects by Jim Byrne
What they said about ‘Oh My Beautiful You’
- ‘Refreshingly full of honesty in lyric and delivery and cuts to some truth about being human…’ our job is just to listen well’. Like all good collaborations it weaves sensitively between artistic disciplines with imagination and re-invention, reminding us that it’s stories that bind us.’ Yvonne Lyon – Singer/songwriter
- ‘Strong songwriting. Hugely enjoyable!’ Duncan McCrone – Singer Songwriter, Former Member Of The Clydesiders
- ‘These are songs for settling down with, for listening to as they come, for listening to again… Something in the juxtaposition of mediums here made us think of the late, great David Bowie’s song ‘Sound and Vision’, in which melancholic lyrics sit side by side with exuberant musical lines.’ Zoe Strachan and Louise Welsh
Buy from my Bandcamp page or from any streaming platform.
What they said about ‘The Innocent’
- “a heady and exotic mix. ” Q Magazine.
- “..full of cinematic turns of phrase, dressed up in alluring melodies delivered by some of the most respected players on the modern-day Celtic Folk scene.” UNCUT
- Album of the week on Celtic Music Radio
- Added to ‘God’s Jukebox’ on Radio Two Mark Lamarr show
- “A beautifully produced collection of Americana” The Daily Record. Four Stars
- “Great record… a complete, compelling listen. “, Adam Levy (Songwriter/artist, guitarist with Nora Jones)
- “ten beautiful, atmospheric songs..”, Folk, Blues and beyond
- “a fresh, original album”, Eilidh Patterson (singer songwriter, vocalist with Beth Nielsen Chapman)
- Sounding like Johnny Cash never left Folsom prison…meditations on life that’ll soon sound like old friends. Spiral Earth
Buy from my Bandcamp page or from any streaming platform.
What People Have Said About Ten Writers Telling Lies
Ten Writers Telling Lies was a collaborative project between Jim Byrne and 10 writers. It produced a book and a CD of music.
- ‘Ten Writers is that rare delight – an anthology so consistently good that you read every piece in order.’ Zoë Strachan and Louise Welsh
- ‘Having been lucky enough to catch this show live I wasn’t sure if a book/CD would do it justice. It has… and here’s the proof.’ Dave Acari – Slide Guitarist & Songwriter
- ‘What better duet can you get than the perfect harmony of songs and stories, lyrics and poetry, memory and melody?’ Willy Maley – Scottish literary critic
- ‘Ten Writers is a creative treat for the mind and the soul. ’ Magi Gibson, First Makar of the City of Stirling.
- “Yet further proof, were it needed, of the ongoing vibrancy of Glasgow literature. The stories sing and soar, and these are definitely writers to watch. You read them here first, folks!” Alan Bissett.
- ‘Telling lies is an art form – morality clouded by beautiful adornment. Honestly.’ Stuart Cosgrove, Journalist, Author, Broadcaster