Aoife O'Donovan

Most country loving and bluegrass fans will know Aoife O'Donovan from her previous incarnation as the lead singer of the Crooked Still and contributions to the Grammy Award winning Goat Rodeo Sessions. After ten years of putting together her own work, her label Yep Roc released her first solo debut "Fossils" in August. And what a stunning debut.

With all her success, she is one down to earth lady who likes nothing more than sitting round the piano with her musical family - I'm sure she wouldn't mind if we all invite ourselves round for Christmas at the O'Donavan household. The new album has been a labour of love generating incredible reviews from the New York Times to Rolling Stone Magazine - even the meanest of critics have found beauty in the album. Aoife has the subtlest of voices and makes everything she sings sound effortless. Listening to her harmonies with Chris Thile on the Goat Rodeo Sessions is enough to give anyone goosebumps.

"Beekeeper" is the latest single from the album with a darker sound and it's no surprise that vampire drenched True Blood has jumped on her moody, emotional vocals. Contemporary, catchy and encapsulating that southern bluegrass sound, this single is one of many beautiful tracks on "Fossils" which Aoife describes as "all connected by a thread of one common emotion." Well known in America, the album will surely be a massive hit stateside and on this side of the pond, Aoife can ride the crest created by Laura Marling and take the UK by storm.

I caught up with Aoife in the trendy Monocle café in Marylebone the day after a sold-out debut London show at the Slaughtered Lamb. We chatted about the new album, Goat Rodeo Sessions and her day to day inspirations. To hear the interview in full click below.