Niamh Maclennan: Live at Sneaky Pete’s

By Emma Jenkins

Moody lyrics and chillingly atmospheric instrumentals, both paired with a unique, husky

voice - Niamh Maclennan debuts her new EP in Edinburgh’s Sneaky Pete’s.

Niamh Maclennan, from the Scottish Highlands, is one of the talented artists supported by

Queenz Sounds. Niamh’s music combines different genres and sounds, finding inspiration

within different eras and musical movements, which is apparent as soon as the refreshing sound

of her music meets your ears.

Niamh has created her own musical aesthetic - her lyrical composition falls nothing short of

artistic with an emotionally whimsical approach, paired with a combination of folk, rock and punk

inspired musical composition. Her music is authentic, expressive and emotionally hard hitting.

On the debut night of Niamh’s new EP ‘Burning for you’ at Edinburgh's Sneaky Pete’s, two

brilliant support acts warmed up the crowd, building the room's energy.

The first support act was Aurora Engine, an artist who brings a completely fresh sound to the

stage. Combining piano and harp compositions with electronica, alongside riveting lyrics and

melodic vocals, her performance was a perfect balance of heartfelt truths and humorous

anecdotes.

Singer songwriter Étáin was second on stage in support of Niamh Maclennan, a singer

songwriter from Ireland. Her airy and raspy vocals create a warm and inviting atmosphere,

flowing into a smooth melodic harmony when in combination with her gentle guitar

accompaniment. Her style is soft yet powerful, beautiful and raw.

To learn more about Niamh Maclennan’s support acts, find their socials at the bottom of this

post!

As mentioned previously, Niamh performed her new EP in Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh -

alongside some older songs and unreleased tracks. The venue choice was absolutely perfect

for an intimate gig.

Sneaky Petes is a small Grassroots Music Venue and it perfectly mirrored Niamh’s music. Its

flickering red LED lights and graffiti covered walls echo stories of previous lives, feelings and

experiences; creating the feeling of melancholic comfort. Similar to the way in which Niamh's

music can make you feel with its emotionally captivating nature.

Taking inspiration from Scottish ‘folk-rooted’ artists with their dancing melodies and poetic

stories, Niamh combines her heritage with own experiences and musical talent. The new EP

titled ‘Burning for You’ is composed of four tracks, telling stories of feelings of hope within

feelings of pain, the aim of self fulfillment and the journey of chasing your dreams.

The first track shares a title with the EP, as it grounds the initial atmosphere and lyrical motifs of

the collection. With groovy, folk style guitar riffs and emotionally vulnerable lyrics ‘Burning for

you’ expresses a yearning for a simpler time that's yet to come. Niamh is sharing her experience

of how it feels to be working towards a future which is uncertain but taking each day as it

comes. Hoping that one day it'll be a “life of peace and solitude”.

The instrumental is soft yet powerful, as it guides the lyrics with its own emotional input. The

beginning guitar riff is gently layered to create a dynamic sound, stripping back as vocals begin -

intertwining into a subtly full instrumental backing the chorus. The song gains body as layered

backing vocals build, matching the intertwined guitar riffs, coming together to create an

emotionally raw song of hope, patience and what's yet to come.

Second on the EP is a track titled ‘Escape’. The story of this song echoed through the crowd

when performed by Niamh and her band. Its energy was shared with everyone in the room as

its captivating sound danced between the walls.

The vibey intro instantly catches your attention with a rhythmic guitar solo which then strips

down into the enthralling first verse. The lyrics are a combination of emotional reflection upon

harder times of and the optimistic hope of wanting to escape.

The instrumental flows between upbeat interludes, moody verses and strong, drum-backed,

melancholic choruses. Niamh has created an emotional landscape for the relationship between

herself and her hopes, dreams, wants and needs.

Third up on the EP is ‘The Dreamer’, a bouncy, upbeat song, with rhythmic, jumping

instrumentals. It shares a message of chasing your dreams in the aim of self-fulfillment, its

catchy beat instantly got the crowd dancing.

The lyrics are a combination of the reality we live in and the dream world our brain often

wanders to, as Niamh shares the contrast between her ‘make believe’ world and the day to day

reality she finds herself in. It is honest yet optimistic as she refuses to step out of her positively

contagious mindset of allowing yourself to dream a little bit in the pursuit of happiness.

Rounding up the EP is ‘Your Sign’, an emotionally reflective song which discusses the feeling

you get when you reflect back upon past times. Here Niamh ponders upon easier

times, of simple pleasures and having all your loved ones nearby - and how different her life is

now. The feeling of being overwhelmed by the speed at which time travels along with the

thoughts and feelings that come with this. ‘Your Sign’ perfectly creates the feeling of fleeting

time, the nostalgia of growing up and the want to slow down and appreciate the smaller

moments as time passes by.

The instrumental aesthetic of this track is mellow and steady with an array of instruments

blending and intertwining to create an emotionally full sounds backing. The guitar instrumental is

supported by drums, fiddle, cello and bass, coming together with vocal melodies, grounding

Niamh Maclennan’s individual sound as one which is inspirational, empowering and rawly

emotional. ‘Your Sign’ rounds up the EP in a similar way to which it was started, creating a

beautifully rounded, on-theme collection of tracks.

Not only is the composition of Niamh Maclennan's EP ‘Burning for you’ exceptionally talent

filled - the live performance of it was equally as impressive. Performing with a live band, to an

intimate crowd, the messages of the EP will echo through the minds and hearts of those

listening for years to come.

To find more information about the venue and artists mentioned in the post, find their social

media handles below:

Niamh Maclennan - @niamhmaclennan

Aurora engine - @aurora_engine

Étáin - @thisisetain

Sneaky Petes - @sneakypetesclub