Pauline Scanlon and the Half Room

‘The Half Room’ comprises a group of friends bonded by their mutual passion for folk songs and singing. What initially started as a weekly gathering to share songs has evolved into a new band, ready to release their debut self-titled album.

Although the band is relatively new, its members are esteemed artists and seasoned singers in their own right. The ensemble features the evocative vocals of renowned Dingle singer Pauline Scanlon, and the velvety richness of singer-songwriter Nicola Joyce from celebrated Galway trio ‘The Whileaways’. The harmonic blend of The Half Room finds equilibrium in the earthy authenticity of vocalists Eoin Wynne and Fabian Joyce. With minimalist guitar arrangements and subtle ambient accompaniment, ‘The Half Room’ encapsulates folk music in its rawest form, ensuring the spotlight remains firmly on the song and the singer. As they transition from the battlefields of Flanders to the stormy seas off Lisbon, The Half Room singers fill their arrangements with harmonic colour and texture, as their songs swell with story and feeling.

A testament to the deep understanding the quartet has of the Irish traditional canon, and the broader traditions of America and Europe, The Half Room is a group of singers and musicians who grew up with the songs they sing. The record, a year in the making and a lifetime in the living, reflects their profound connection to the music they make.