By Tamsin Davies
Published September 1, 2023
Harpist Catrin Finch and fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain, two exceptional musicians whose serendipitous meeting has blossomed into a groundbreaking musical partnership, are set to release a new world music album globally on October 27, 2023.
Dublin native Aoife Ní Bhriain is one of Ireland’s foremost traditional fiddle players and a classical violinist of international stature who commands both the classical world and her Irish traditional heritage. From across the Irish Sea and the west coast of Wales, harpist Catrin Finch has also built an impressive classical career and ventured into uncharted musical territory, most notably through her award-winning international collaborations.
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The fiddle and the harp are iconic instruments in their respective cultures. Both Wales and Ireland claim the harp as their national instrument and the fiddle is synonymous with Irish traditional music. Aoife hails from a family steeped in traditional music and Catrin was taught by harpist Elinor Bennett, a scion of the centuries-old Welsh harping tradition.
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Both are incredible virtuosos of their respective instruments, who started young and trained hard with great dedication to achieve the highest world-class standards of their art. Both went through rigorous classical training and grounded their careers in the classical world. Given her family heritage, it was inevitable that Aoife would also become a master of the Irish tradition; and given her fearless and inquisitive nature, it was equally inevitable that Catrin would seek artistic satisfaction beyond the confines of the classical world. “Audiences just want to come away from a performance having been moved,” says Catrin. That becomes the key creative force, transcending the boundaries of genre.
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Double You, Catrin and Aoife’s debut album as a duo, features an exquisite collection of new compositions that draw inspiration from across the genres, taking listeners on a captivating journey on the wings of the bees across the Irish Sea and inspired by the cultures of their home countries. Running through their stories – as individual creatives, remarkable women, and now as an inspirational duo – are universal themes of identity, self-belief and the courage to find yourself and follow your own path.
The album’s title, Double You, that is released on the bendigedig label alongside a UK tour, alludes to the many similarities that connect Catrin and Aoife, making one the double of the other and creating a deep musical bond between the two.
