TPOE 286: Rachael Lavelle

Rachael Lavelle released her long-awaited debut album Big Dreams on November 10. A brilliant collection of 10 tracks, the press release says: Big Dreams is an existential coming-of-age album that chronicles the journey of a young woman searching for direction and meaning in a very strange world. Inspired by sounds of everyday life and an intriguing obsession with YouTube self-help videos, the album explores romance, directionlessness, ambition and the expectations of the unsatisfied digital native. Recorded in various locations including an artists studio in Lisbon, the album is the result of years of experimentation and destruction. Written and produced by Lavelle, it was created alongside long-time collaborator, multi-instrumentalist and co-producer Ryan Hargadon and engineer and co-producer Alex Borwick. Throughout, the album features the voice of the Luas, Doireann Ní Bhriain, who narrates the inner monologue of the millennial mind; the ever-wondering, ever-doubting, the contradicting and the aspiring. On this episode of the TPOE podcast, Rachael talks us through Big Dreams track by track, as well as her features with Villagers, Crash Ensemble and others, influences, sleep, CMAT, and dreaming. Buy Rachael Lavelle - Big Dreams: https://rachaellavelle.bandcamp.com/album/big-dreams-2 Rachael Lavelle tour dates: November 23: The Black Box, Belfast November 24: Project Arts Centre, Dublin November 30: Mick Lally Theatre, Galway December 1: The Record Room, Limerick December 6: Prims Bookshop, Kinsale December 7: Coughlan’s, Cork December 8: Connollys of Leap, Cork December 9: St Michael’s Church, Waterville, Kerry