It’s songwriters like Seán R. McLaughlin & The Wind-Up Crows that continue to prove the reverent timelessness of folk music. Collaborating with Indian violinist Ragini Shankar, the Scottish outfit delivers the impressive new single ‘Hairband’. Built on intricately finger-picked strings and an airy production, McLaughlin‘s tender and unhurried voice depicts a world of in-betweens. Lying somewhere within the boundaries of waking and dreams, the lyrics depict the hazy middle ground: “The ghosts you choose to hide, fly around our room at night, / You close your eyes and they pull on every part of you, / Until the wave breaks in a wash of grey-blue light.”
In search of something tangible, the song’s protagonist grips into the firm reality of a loved one’s hairband around their wrist. This sentiment and the organic textures provide a grounding element to the otherwise dreamlike state that this single evokes. That being said, it’s also clear that listeners are being invited to let their mind wander. This is especially the case through the addition of Shankar‘s Hindustani classical fusion violin. It sounds ethereal and almost otherworldly.
Speaking about this special collaboration, McLaughlin (whose only family ties include Scotland, Shetland, Ireland, and India) shares, “Absolutely breath-taking. The first time I heard Ragini’s playing on this track, I was welling up. It’s so amazing to have songs that don’t feel completely mine, in that sense I can enjoy them as a listener… particularly the beautiful improvised outro…”
Produced by Seán R. McLaughlin and Jeremy Backofen, ‘Hairband’ is sure to shine on the artist’s upcoming album, Goodnight Lad, due for release on 3rd May.
You can also find ‘Hairband’ in our Folk This Way playlist.
Follow Seán R. McLaughlin & The Wind-Up Crows:
UNRECORDED 