* En anglais uniquement
The traditional vocal sounds of Ireland are fused with a modern urban sensitivity by Dublin-born and New York-based vocalist Susan McKeown (pronounced "mick-yone"). Accompanied by her band, the Chanting House, McKeown's alto vocals have inspired comparisons to June Tabor, Chrissie Hynde, Sarah McLachlan, Grace Slick and the late Sandy Denny. McKeown's musical approach was described by Time magazine as "the kind of music that will link Ireland's musical past with its future."
Since immigrating to the United States in 1990 with a scholarship to attend a New York performing arts school, McKeown has been attracting attention with her dynamic vocals and enthusiastic stage persona.
The Chanting House, which initially focused on an updated version of traditional Irish music when founded by McKeown, Eileen Ivers and Seamus Egan, has increasingly added elements of modern rock since the departure of Ivers and Egan in 1993.
Although they released a pair of self-produced cassettes, Chanting House Live and Snakes, in the early 1990s, McKeown and the Chanting House came into their own with the Prime CD-released Bones in 1996. Their second CD, Bushes and Briars, released in 1998, featured musical accompaniment by Celtic musicians Johnny Cunningham, Andy Irvine, Seamus Egan, and Jerry O'Sullivan. McKeown and Chanting House bass/bass clarinet/tin whistle player Lindsey Horner collaborated on an album of seasonal songs, Through the Bitter Frost and Snow, in 1996.
McKeown was a featured vocalist in the Obie award-winning musical Peter and Wendy, singing Johnny Cunningham's score at the Geffen Theater in Los Angeles in December 1997 and on the soundtrack album released by Alula. The following year, McKeown released Bushes & Briars and Mighty Rain Depth of Field. In 1999, Mother: Celebration of Mothers & Motherhood North Star was issued, and Lowlands appeared in fall 2000.