Seanchaí, New York City's underground 'Irish rebel hip-hop' group, returns after a twelve-year hiatus. Fronted by Chris Byrne, cofounder of Black 47, the group includes Ursula Garry and Andrew Harkin. They recently performed sold-out shows in Manhattan and will perform in The Bronx. The term seanchaí refers to a storyteller, preserving communal histories and folklore. Seanchaí embodies this tradition, merging Irish music with hip-hop and punk, expressing politically-charged narratives while bridging the past and present through their music.
Chris Byrne, cofounder of Black 47, noted, 'the songs that I listen to, whether that's Joe Heaney singing or 'It's a Good Day' by Shungudzo or Grandmaster Flash's 'The Message' when it came out hit me straight away.' The essence of storytelling in music transcends the genres, as a good story told well remains timeless and impactful.
Seanchaí’s ethos marries traditional Irish music with hip-hop lyricism, creating a politically-inflected sound that resonates with historical narratives and contemporary realities. The band embodies the seanchaí tradition, mediating between cultural ceilings and political margins.
Collection
[
|
...
]