Recovery time following a serious car accident almost five years ago merged with the pandemic to delay – but certainly not curtail – the creative output of Mayo’s Katie Cassidy.
“I was on my way home from a gig in Galway in November 2018 when three horses came into the road and I hit one – scary stuff, but thankfully I survived it,” said the singer songwriter.
Katie’s debut single Leech eventually found its way into the public domain last month following a lengthy incubation period.
Leech is an edgy song whose feisty lyrics describe the impact from conflicts within the inner self that arise from anxiety, and their effect on confidence and energy.
It’s the first song to be heard from that prolific writing and recording period of five years ago, and paves the way for what promises to be a superb album next year.
Leech was recorded in 2018 just as Ballina-born Katie was beginning to make a name for herself in the music industry, including playing festivals and recording original material. However, injuries sustained in the car accident suddenly halted her ambitions. Nerve damage to her fingers, along with neck and shoulder injuries, affected Katie’s ability to perform.
“I moved to Austria in 2020 and luckily I received some excellent medical care, did a lot of physio and rehabilitation and slowly got back into playing live gigs again,” said Katie.
“My time in Austria was the breakaway I needed, with a change of scenery and a new creative space to explore. My confidence grew again in performing and writing.”
During her time in Austria Katie met local electro-pop duo And_I, leading to the release of the collaborative work On the Phone earlier this year. She puts the newly found confidence to release her first solo single down to her work on the project with the two Austrian musicians.
Ireland’s loss was certainly Austria’s gain, as Katie gradually returned to performing while living there.
She has come back to live in Ireland with her partner, initially on a temporary basis. But her domicile is now looking more permanent as Katie begins to gig here again and sets her sight on booking more live shows in 2024, health permitting. In the meantime the focus will be on releasing her music and enhancing her digital footprint.
Katie took a little bit of the Alpine nation home to Mayo with her in the shape of the video for Leech, which was shot in Austria.
She will be returning to Austria at some stage to do a couple of solo shows and festivals and to do a few gigs with And_I. Katie has built a loyal fanbase there.
The video for Leech reveals Katie’s talent for the histrionic. In her teens she was a member of the Mayo Youth Theatre under the direction of Niamh McGrath and Stephen Doyle, developing some fine theatrical experience.
Musicians on the track include Paul Kenny (James Vincent Mc Morrow, Jape) Sean Montgomery Dietz (Irial Jones), Katie’s brother Philip Cassidy (21 Outs) and Ballina’s Kevin Donnellan (Doppler, Bridin, The Third Rehearsal).
Leech was produced and recorded by Ballina’s John Henry and mastered by John Davis of Metropolis Studio.
Other tracks for the forthcoming 10-track album Comfort in Chaos were also laid down during the pre-accident period.
Katie has now wiped the dust off all of her recordings from that time. These drips of creativity will be tormentingly dropping online over the coming months in the approach to the release of her much-anticipated long-player in 2024.
