Niamh Regan has released her second album ‘Come As You Are’.
Out now via Faction Records, the new album comes ahead of her June UK shows supporting Memorial.
Speaking of the album, Niamh said: “A lot of it is about being in your late twenties and kind of realising we’re all running out of time. I’d have bouts of massive self-belief in the studio, and then in the next breath I would be like, ‘This is the worst piece of music I could have even imagined.’ It was a rollercoaster. But through that I found self-acceptance; this is where I’m at and making peace with that. That’s what the album essentially is, just making peace with where I’m at and being realistic with myself.”
To celebrate her new album, Niamh shared with us 5 tracks that influenced ‘Come As You Are’.
Soak – Swear Jar
This song is such a journey. In fact their entire album ‘if I never know you like this again’ is an epic musical journey. When it came out it knocked me off my feet, and I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to get to work with Tommy McLaughlin and Bridie on my second record after supporting them on their IR/UK tour back in 2022. The lyrics and production in this song are so strong. I love a song where I don’t know where it’s going to go production wise and especially with lyrics. I never know how I’m going to feel after this song and that’s an amazing thing for a song to achieve when it keeps bringing you back for more.
Clinic – Distortions
Tommy (producer) and James Byrne (drummer) on ‘Come as You Are’ put me on to this song and it was on repeat for weeks after. The drones and drum machine sound is so good. I love the steady build of this tune. It’s weird, I have no clue what it’s about and yet the lyrics and production pulled me totally into another world. The chorus is just beautiful, the lo-fi tension really does it for me. I also got into Ivor Cutler during this time and gained inspiration around synth and drone songs from him and not being afraid to be a little strange over a drone be it organic or electronic.
Judee Sill – Lopin’ Along Thru the Cosmos
Such a sad song full of hope with the most lush string arrangement. I love the guitar and chord choices in this song too. Judee’s voice is so smooth and strong. I adore how every word is so clear. I don’t know that much of Judee’s discography shamefully, but this song and ‘Jesus was a Cross Maker’ are two tracks that were in my ears a lot while making ‘Come as You Are’.
Rachel Chinouriri – All I Ever Asked
I really love the production of this track feels polished but yet like pop synth masterpiece from a bedroom. The lyrics, structure and yeah everything in this I adore. Any song you can cry and dance too has my vote! What a special songwriter, can’t wait to see her live!
Wilco – Impossible Germany
I was listening to a lot of Wilco when making this record. They are effortlessly good to me. I don’t know I just really connect with Jeff Tweedy’s voice and writing. When I listen to Wilco I don’t feel like they’re trying to impress, there’s something really appealing about that. I also started performing live with an electric guitar around this time so I was pretty obsessed with discovering new sounds and having fun with that so listening to Nels Cline really just opened my brain to so many ideas.
I had ‘Sky Blue Sky’, ‘Schmilco’ and ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’ and Julia Jacklin’s ‘Pre Pleasure’ on an awful lot whenever I wasn’t in the studio or writing for ‘Come as You Are’ so I think there’s touches of their influence in the record, that I’m really happy with.
Listen to the 5 tracks that influenced ‘Come As You Are’ via Spotify below:
Stream Niamh Regan ‘Come As You Are’: