Originally from Ireland, singer-songwriter Eimhin brings a taste of his country’s diverse folk sound to Australia’s distant Gold Coast/Yugambeh Country in new release ‘7 Months In Space’. It follows his last internationally appraised song ‘The Lough’ and an eleven-date EU tour, all before returning the his adopted home.
Drenched in atmospheric reverb, ‘7 Months In Space’ is a lesson in how to make a minimalist composition sound rich and spacious. Beginning in a stripped-back fashion, the track creates a stark contrast between the silent backdrop and the warm combination of deftly plucked acoustic guitar and Eimhin‘s compassionate voice. As the song progresses, the simple-but-effective soundscape evolves into something more expansive. The acoustic elements continue to unwind the song’s thoughtful narrative, but they come to rest on a cosmic array of hovering synths and pensive strings.
It’s a slow-burning number that pulls the listener deeper and deeper into a space of comforting melancholy. ‘7 Months In Space’ is a song for leaning into your sadness, for reflecting on the past, and for nurturing a sense of longing for what truly never could have been. As Eimhin quizzically sings with an air of a bittersweet half-smile, “It’s funny how things change.”
Although the song’s lyrics are brimming with meaning, the songwriter has also provided some further context to give listeners even more insight into this intimate song:
“‘7 Months In Space’ is about some time that I spent at a backpackers in Melbourne called Space Hotel. I had fallen on some hard times and a room was offered to me at short notice. It was supposed to be temporary, something until I got back on my feet. I ended up spending 7 months there. There’s a funny thing about backpackers, they say, you go traveling to find yourself, and I guess there’s a lot of truth in that because I met a lot of lost people, myself included. So, I became one of them, and made some incredible friendships. Looking back I wonder if some of those transient people would recognise each other in the street today, if I’d even recognise some of them myself. For the ones that I do remember though, the ones I shared a 6-bed dorm with for 7 months, I’ll never forget them. I’ll never forget the impact they had on my life, how they saved me.”
If ‘7 Months In Space’ has also connected with you, then be sure to keep an eye out for Eimhin‘s forthcoming debut album Modern Mending (of the heart), which is currently set for release by mid-2024.
You can also find ‘7 Months In Space’ in our Folk This Way playlist.
Follow Eimhin:
UNRECORDED 