Camille O’Sullivan is currently performing at the Irish Arts Center.
PHOTO: ERIN BAIANO
By Colleen Taylor
Camille O’Sullivan is the 21st century version of the Renaissance woman. She does it all: fine arts, architecture, stage acting, film, storytelling, and most importantly—singing. A true cultural magpie, O’Sullivan excels in many fields, but she is ultimately a theatrical musician through and through. Currently she is showcasing her astounding ability to transform onstage with New York’s Irish Arts Center.
O’Sullivan’s lineage represents the intersection of several rich cultures. Born in London of a French mother and Irish father, you might say she won the creative lottery. And she’s certainly made the most of that luck, trying her hand at many different forms of cultural expression. The Cork-raised singer began her artistic education by starting a degree in fine arts, then switched to architecture at University College Dublin. In 2000, she even won the Architectural Association of Ireland award. Nowadays, she’s traded in her tape measures for microphones, embracing a career of musical storytelling.
Camille O’Sullivan’s art form might be best understood as narrative music, a mixture of words, plot, emotion, and of course, vocals and instruments. She defines her own genre as a mix of rock and theatre, with some cabaret influences thrown in. For O’Sullivan songs are comparable to monologues. It makes sense she sees music in this writerly way because she has worked as an actress as often as a singer throughout her performing career, appearing in films such as “Mrs. Henderson Presents” with Judy Dench and productions like “Sweeney Todd” at Dublin’s Gate theatre. On top of all that, her solo shows have been described as “emotional rollercoasters” and true “theatrical experiences.” They are as gestural and narrativized as they are orchestrated. O’Sullivan’s creativity marks the perfect mesh of acting and music.
Her album “Changeling” is perfectly titled. It encompasses the album’s theme of reinterpreting covers by artists like Radiohead and Arcade Fire while also expressing O’Sullivan’s unique abilities as an artist. People refer to her as a kind of musical chameleon. “The Guardian,” for instance, said that when O’Sullivan is onstage, her singing voice transforms into an “instrument created to express desolate love.” Her album and performances have won her many awards, like Irish Tatler’s Woman of the Year and Irish Music Meteor Award for best female artist in 2009. She also won Edinburgh Fringe’s “Spirit of the Fringe award”—an accolade which describes her sound and flair better than anything else.
What strikes me about O’Sullivan is the ghostly, haunting quality of her voice and individualized arrangements. Although she wouldn’t necessarily group herself in the folk category, I am impressed by the folksy emotion in her simple, powerful vocals. This was especially audible in “Revelator” off her album “Changeling.” “U Give Me Everything” offers the other end of the scale: an upbeat, country-rock mix. My absolute favorite, however, is “Dark Roman Wine.” There is almost nothing and yet absolutely everything to this song. What I mean by this is that the track is as scaled down as it gets: very quiet, almost sleepy vocals and the mere hint of unaccompanied guitar strings in the background. But this subtle, quiet, almost untraceable blend of sound evokes the most powerful emotions: romance, heartbreak, nostalgia. In this track, I can recognize Camille O’Sullivan’s Irish artistry. She understands the power of a simple ballad and a soft lullaby.
Camille O’Sullivan’s show is at the Irish Arts Center until April 16. All music critics agree she is best live and a truly remarkable performer, so it will definitely be worth the trip over to 51st Street. After that she’s off to London, so catch her in the Big Apple while you can.
More information at irishartscenter.org
Colleen Taylor writes the Music Notes column in the Irish Echo each week.
