Fiona O'Shea

The singer-songwriter known as Fiona O’Shea has released her newest EP record, titled, “Rose,” to emphatic, widespread critical and fan acclaim. The record is comprised of five original tracks for a total of approximately 20 minutes of listening time. As a late 2012 release from O’Shea, the EP “Rose” serves as an excellent primer for her growing repertoire, which has since increased by February’s single, “On Top of the World,” also.

O’Shea’s genuine and heartfelt tone results in a simple, unadorned beauty that is accessible and appreciable the moment her record begins to play. Her voice is gorgeous and direct at the same time, somewhat like Alanis Morissette with more delicacy, or Sheryl Crow without all the prepackaged overproduction. “Rose” is an album the listener can believe sounds much like Fiona O’Shea playing acoustic, natural and unaccompanied before fans at a cafe. The EP is a straightforward musical address to her global audience, and it has all the warmth and charm in the world.

O’Shea names as important musical influences many lesser-known geniuses in the folk and country music genre, such as Australian musicians Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, and Nashville artists Buddy and Julie Miller. Patty Griffin and Alison Krauss also make her top five acts, as does the arguably most famous name, Lucinda Williams. Of these, O’Shea’s writing and performing sounds most like the work of Alison Krauss, perhaps, whose music in the “O’ Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack helped bring bluegrass back into the musical spotlight.

Of the lyrical themes contained in “Rose,” O’Shea writes, “From the raw emotion in ‘Buried Alive,’ the story in ‘Rose,’ or the everyday frustration of wanting to be able to see into the future [such as in] ‘Restless A Little Reckless,’ listeners will get the message that every feeling we have, whether it be good or bad, has been felt before and will be felt again.”

“Rose” by Fiona O’Shea is available online worldwide.

-S. McCauley, Mondo Tunes - Sonic Smash Music