Helen O’Shea’s ‘Songs In The Key Of O’ Lands May 1
Singer-Songwriter Helen O’Shea’s tribute to Sinead O’Connor [1966-2023] and Dolores O’Riodan [1971-2018] of The Cranberries, Songs In The Key Of O, comes out May 1. Born in Ireland, now based in Asbury Park, she calls it “a love letter to two of my biggest influences in music and in life.” Encouraged by her dad to pursue a career in medicine, she became an obstetrician/gynecologist, ascending to Assistant Professor in Medical Research at McGill University in Montreal where she became a leader in perinatal research and medical education, creating a groundbreaking course called “Healing In Medicine” for students, residents and physicians about the complexities of caring for the vulnerable.
She returned to the U.S. in 2011, married, and settled down to raise her children. That’s when the music bug returned. She won “Best Americana Song” at the Global Music Awards for her “Sturdy Soul.” She formed a duo with Alexander Simone (Nina Simone’s grandson who appears in The Jersey Sound documentary) to record “Holy Mother.”
Songs In The Key Of O opens with “Caged Birds,” a duet with Liam O’Manolai, one of her six beautiful originals on the album (see video below). She covers Sinead’s “Dense Water Deeper Down,” “If You Ever” and “Last Day Of Our Acquaintance” as well as “Dreaming My Dreams,” “Lost” and “Saving Grace” by O’Riodan.