Sylvie Lewis added for McCann album launch

MUSIC Gig in Cavan Townhall, April 29

Celebrated folk-jazz composer and Paul McCann collaborator Sylvie Lewis will fill the support slot at the Cavanman’s upcoming launch for his new album ‘Alter Ego’ at Cavan Townhall, Saturday, April 29.

London based Lewis shares lead vocals on the album’s first released single ‘Love is all that Matters’, and on two other tracks.

It was only an 11th hour decision to send the songs to Lewis, who Paul has been a fan of for more than a decade.

Daughter of BBC journalist and broadcaster Martyn Lewis and ex-model and presenter, Liz Carse, Lewis’ grandfather was polar explorer and actor Duncan Carse. With her music she has toured the US and has shared the stage also with the likes of Ed Harcourt, Jesse Winchester, Anaïs Mitchell, The Weepies and many others.

“For anyone not familiar with her, she’s absolutely been one of my favourite singers, at least for the last 15 years. I went to see her play in Dublin and talked her into doing some things on the album, which was massive really,” explains Paul.

Along with the duet ‘Love is all that Matters’, Lewis contributes her haunting vocals to the Alter Ego’s opening track ‘The World keeps turning Around’, and also on ‘Red River Run’.

“She is going to be opening the show. It was incredible to have her work on the album with me, and now to share the stage with her as well, is a dream come true. She’ll also perform some songs with us on the night as well.”

The reaction to the album release is something Paul is still coming to terms with. An impromptu message from The Divine Comedy frontman Neil Hannon “left me speechless for a bit if I’m honest”, he tells the Celt.

‘Really good record. Well Done Sir. I only wish I had a voice as pure and serene as yours! All the very best with it’, wrote the Enniskillen native to Paul.

“It’s a very bizarre thing,” he says, explaining that the landscape of music promotion has changed dramatically even in the last four to five years with social media playing and streaming services playing an even bigger role in promoting new music. Where Paul worked hard to promote his critically-acclaimed debut ‘Here Comes the Rapture’ in 2018, he’s found that the buzz about ‘Alter Ego’ has come more “organically” - the result being that the album has ended up in “places I never thought it would”.

“It’s the same plugging it with DJs and different radio stations, but something very different has happened with ‘Alter Ego’ in that it has started growing legs organically.”

A feature review of ‘Love is all that Matters’ in Rolling Stone in France and an agreement to have ‘Alter Ego’ released in the US by power pop/alt country label, Kool Kat Music of Sewell, New Jersey.

“Little things like that. The Neil Hannon thing, when I was age 15 until this day he’s been one of my favourite song writers. A national treasure of a man. He’s just incredible, and to get that message was just… just… you know!”

It bodes well for the upcoming launch, April 29, where Paul will share the stage with a full backing band - Liam McCabe, Siobhan Denton, Brendan Scott, Maria Battigelli, Alan D’Arcy, Evan O’Meara and Jim Kelly.

They’ll also travel with Paul to play other planning upcoming gigs at Dublin’s Wild Duck in June, two shows International Pop Overthrow Festival at Liverpool’s hallowed Cavern Club, and others in the pipeline.

“I’ll quietly say [the album] seems to be getting into all the right hands. It’s exciting. It’s different. But it’s fabulous, it’s been really nice to see and hear the reaction. It’s all been positive.”