After a decade-long hiatus, Irish singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes is set to release her sixth studio album, Blind Faith, on October 27. The Tipperary-born artist, known for her introspective lyrics and ethereal soundscapes, last released an album in 2014 with Bones + Longing.
Blind Faith features production by Hayes herself, along with contributions from long-time collaborators Karl Odlum, David Odlum, and Brian Casey. The album also includes notable guest appearances. Lisa Hannigan lends her voice to several tracks and co-writes two songs, while Paul Noonan of Bell X1 joins Hayes for a duet on the track “Another Love.” The album’s lead single, “Hardwired,” was released earlier this year in May.
In a statement, Hayes opened up about her struggle to reconnect with music over the past decade. “I lost my confidence, and I found myself not having a connection to music in any way. I went from talking about music every day, living and breathing music, to… I could go a month without music,” she revealed. It was only during the Covid lockdown, after relocating to a house in West Cork, that Hayes began to rediscover her creative spark. “Songs began to murmur, distil, and rise up in my mind. I would lock myself in the room, usually late at night when the world was asleep. I knew I needed to capture them before they left me.”
Hayes first made her mark with her 2002 debut, Night on My Side, which garnered critical acclaim and a Mercury Prize nomination. Over the years, she has maintained a loyal fanbase while consistently evolving her sound.
To coincide with the release of Blind Faith, Hayes has announced a tour beginning in September, with dates in Kerry, Liverpool, Bristol, London, and Leeds. No North American dates have been announced yet.
Check out the tracklist for Blind Faith below:
1. Eye For An Eye
2. Central Hotel
3. Another Love (feat. Paul Noonan)
4. Hardwired
5. Feed The Flames
6. High and Low
7. The Break Didn’t Heal Right
8. Can’t Kill A Hunger (feat. Ann Scott)
9. Return Of The Daughters
