Words Jo Barnes
Photo Tanya Murchie
When is it too late to learn or follow your passions? As the members of the Peninsula musical trio, Anam Danu, would emphatically say: never!
While the stereotype of a new band might be teenagers rehearsing in their parents’ garage, this local trio refutes that image by bringing a wealth of life experience and passion to their music. Andy Dawson Reid, Siobhan Monaghan and Adrienne Dyer might have day jobs, but inside the studio the three share a common passion for music which they are enthusiastically embracing at a time in their lives when they’re far from being teens. Andy, a talented bassist and songwriter; Siobhan, an accomplished pianist and consummate contralto; and Adrienne, a sparkling soprano, create original music that is emotional and reflective on themes about storytelling, finding your roots, learning in life, and the value of friendships.
“Our music is soulful, cinematic, adult oriented pop music,” shares Andy. “The intention is to appeal to people, to take from many cultures, to span a variety of genres, and to create emotional engagement”.
Anam Danu, Irish Gaelic for “Soul Goddess of Life,” is a trio of mature artists who all have a Celtic connection in some way. Siobhan’s parents were Irish immigrants, her father played the fiddle, and Celtic music was always playing in the home. Originally from Surrey, England, Andy’s father was a Scottish amateur composer and he was regularly exposed to Celtic tunes and rhythms. Adrienne has always enjoyed Celtic music and studied and performed with internationally acclaimed Irish ensemble, ANÚNA.
So how do the three music enthusiasts juggle music with their work commitments? In essence, they make the time! “I really do not juggle anything,” says Siobhan, who recently retired from work in the counselling field. “My priorities involve making time for my family, silversmithing, music, and hanging out with my dog and friends.”
Andy, now retired and teaching a couple of computer science courses each week, shares: “Being part time leaves room for creative endeavours, but in any case, I am something of a night owl and can spend a fair number of hours each day in the studio.” Adrienne adds: “I recently decided to commit to a four-day work week. Since I am a self-employed writer, I get to decide my own schedule. So, I’ve been able to work my musical pursuits into my work schedule and my kids’ school schedules.”
In addition to scheduling, Anam Danu takes advantage of the advancements in music technology, including the opportunity for musicians to “meet” in the digital world. This proved invaluable during the arrival of Covid in 2020 when face-to-face meetings were not possible. “During Covid we had to figure out how to create and record music online,” says Andy. “Everything was done entirely across the internet.”
Initially, the band was a duo of Andy and Siobhan, but in 2023, the music conversation opened up further when Adrienne joined. Now, with a wealth of music abilities, the trio enjoys exploring new elements and perspectives.
Each song begins with Andy, who crafts the basic track and lyrics. “I provide the basics of melody, lyrics and suggest harmonies,” he says. “Siobhan and Adrienne have musical ideas and thoughts about the song, how to split the harmonies, and what they need to do vocally.”
Each song is shaped and changed according to each band member’s skills, ear and inspiration. “Each of us brings something special to the project with our unique skills, knowledge and experiences. I truly appreciate how comfortable we are at sharing ideas and collaborating on everything,” comments Siobhan.
This process of creating songs is a rewarding one, especially for those who have not had the opportunity to do this. “It’s incredible to be able to work directly with a composer and bring each song to life right from the beginning stages. I’ve never been able to do that before,” says Adrienne. “It’s always a thrill to show up at Andy’s studio and hear a fresh piece that he just composed, and then to be able to see that song evolve as we collaborate until it’s in the polished form”.
The band’s music, which can be heard through various platforms including iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and BandCamp, has received positive feedback from both listeners and reviewers. “Our songs seem to resonate with people such as Perfect, a song about imperfection and perfection and the pressure in society to be perfect,” shares Andy. “People have said the music makes them feel nostalgic for older forms of music and comment about how things have changed.”
The members of Anam Danu are enjoying this opportunity to learn from each other, share their love of music, and craft unique meaningful songs. As Siobhan says: “music is a universal language that we all understand.” This band speaks this language beautifully and showcases that the creation of music is ageless.
www.anamdanu.com
