About

Sometimes things are just meant to happen no matter how much you fight them. I know that may sound strange, but for my part, I had turned my face on professional music preferring the  simple joy and hassle free times of the odd little session. I hadn’t reckoned though on the force that is Wayne Sheehy.

Fergus McGovern describes the birth of The Stillwater Sessions

“As anyone who knows Wayne, he never does anything by halves! As a world class veteran drummer, producer and teacher he’s only ever really satisfied when pulling out the very best performance possible. As a measure of the man and to his eternal credit, I had suggested inviting in another drummer friend of mine Clune to play drums when his suggestion of recording finally arose.

“While it might have seemed obvious that Wayne play drums and would indeed have been brilliant, he was taking on the almost impossible task of producing 5 songs over 5 days (as it happened we got 6 down!) and it made sense to devote himself fully to the directing, arranging and producing when faced with such time constraints. Also it must be said it’s not as if Clune was an unknown! Being a world renowned drummer who co wrote and played with David Gray for over 13 years including having worked with Michael Stipe, Malcolm McClaren and The Flaming Mussolinies.

“This session was really old school. Wayne’s vision was to create an organic sound that would not be constrained to a particular era, while including lots of subtle intricate layering that would appeal to repeated listening. His idea for recording the session in his friend  Carl Carlton’s house in the Wicklow Mountains was inspired. The ambience in Carl’s was warm and homely and the collection of accumulated instruments at hand from Carl’s many years with Robert Palmer made for a freeing, intense experience.

“The team we pulled together included Garvan Gallagher (one of Ireland’s finest bass players, who has recorded with many of Irelands greatest artists) the lovely Chiara Browne from New Zealand on backing vocals and Andy Knightly of KR Recording on sound duties.

“As for finding my true voice? The songs revolve around a period of great change in my life. As people will always interpret lyrics in their own individual way, all I will say is, I sang from the heart about people and circumstances from a conviction of hope, no matter how bleak the roads. I truly hope you enjoy the fruits of our labour.”