Blues Worth Keeping

WIDELY HAILED AS ONE OF IRELAND'S BRIGHTEST EMERGING STARS, 18-YEAR-OLD MUIREANN BRADLEY IS PROUD TO CHAMPION MUSIC THAT'S NEARLY A CENTURY OLD

- By Amit Sharma

THEY SAY WISDOM comes with age, but in the case of 18-year-old Irish singer and guitarist Muireann Bradley, there's an indisputable maturity at the very forefront of her recordings. She independently released first album, I Kept These Old Blues, when she was 15. Three years later, those very same takes have been remixed and remastered as part of a new major-label deal. It's not hard to see why; her ability to bring blues standards into the modern age without losing the feeling or meaning behind the music sets her apart from other singer-songwriters and has led to invitations to appear on British and Irish television as well as perform in front of large crowds at major festivals. Now poised for international success, she's ready to bring the sound of vintage acoustic blues to audiences across the world.

You've included an extra song on your major-label debut — a cover of “When the Levee Breaks.” Interestingly, it’s not the version most people would expect. To be honest, I think most people will only be aware of the Led Zeppelin version. A lot of people out there don’t seem to be aware that the original was written by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy. I just love Memphis Minnie; she was an amazing guitarist and incredible songwriter. There's another amazing version of the track by a Philadelphia musician called Ari Eisinger, which influenced me heavily.

There’s an unmistakable folky warmth to your guitar sound. What are we hearing on the album?