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Fran Garry-‘Right Now’

February 21, 2012
Fran Garry-‘Right Now’
The album ‘Right Now’ on release from February 24th, 2012, is a long time dream realised for singer/songwriter Fran Garry.  She has been working as a professional singer and musician for many years but has always wanted to write and record her own music.  The turning point came when she became a student again while her own children were in secondary school.  She graduated from U.L. in 2006 with a B.A. in History and English and then returned to her first love, music, to pursue post-graduate studies at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.  She graduated in 2007 with an M.A. in Community Music.  Fran had been writing poetry and lyrics for many years but while in U.L. the flood gates opened for her writing. 
 
Creating new music became a major new focus for Fran.  In addition to writing practically every day with her fellow students, she opted for two composition electives with renowned composer, Michael O’Súilleabháin and wrote five songs for assessment.  One of these songs “Home Sweet Home” can be heard on the forthcoming new album.  “I feel the M.A. in Community Music changed my life, mainly because it changed my whole approach to writing. it gave me a chance to get the best out of myself and others.” says Fran.  Alongside her work as a singer and musician, she  facilitates creative music and singing workshops in the education sector and in various community settings.  “It’s simple” says Fran “I love sharing my music with people and I especially love encouraging people to write their own music, sing and express themselves through music or any other creative medium.” 
 
Fran plays bass and acoustic guitar, and also dabbles in piano!  She wrote and arranged all the songs on this new album and co-produced it with James Blennerhassett at his studio, the ‘Doghaus at Robin Hill’, near Boyle, Co. Roscommon.  James played all the bass tracks and Fran feels privileged to have some of Ireland’s finest musicians featured on the album including Bill Shanley, Ewan Cowley, Dave Hingerty, Liam Bradley and her husband Pat Marnane on piano.  13 year old Louise Blennerhassett also added some beautiful cello to the track ‘Platform 2’.  ‘I Am Music,’ another song on the album, won second place for Fran at the 2009 Clonmel National Song Contest. 
 
Fran has lived for music for as long as she can remember.  Born in Navan, Co. Meath and now based in Tipperary, Fran and her three sisters grew up with an instinctive love of music.  Her mum, Mary, sang and her dad, Frank, has been a member of the Navan Silver Band for most of his life.  She says that Navan was a great town to grow up in because of its great musical traditions with many opportunities to participate in musical groups, bands and shows.  She was involved in choirs and folk groups from an early age and has facilitated and directed many such groups since leaving Navan.  She and her husband Pat are firmly committed to the arts, especially for young people.  In addition to gigging together, they also work as choral/musical directors and musicians for many school and community concerts and musicals. 
 
Fran has three children, all pursuing their own dreams in the creative arts.  Simon is Vice President Of Product Design at Deviant Art in Hollywood, California, Clare is a final year student at IADT, studying Model-making , Design and Digital Effects for TV, Theatre and Film, while Conall is a first year art student at NCAD and a gifted graphic designer.  Indeed, it was Conall who designed the artwork and website for Fran’s ‘Right Now’ album.  Fran is very proud that all three were involved in the design of the album.  Clare designed the ‘Frandemonium Records’ logo, while Simon acted as an advisor on the  entire project.
 
Fran feels that you really can make your dreams come true if you pursue them.  You just have to believe in yourself and find the right people to join you on your journey.  When not immersed in music, she finds some ‘me time’ when she’s running.  She has run six marathons since 2004, including four New York City Marathons and two Dublin City Marathons, the latest being 2011.  All have been run in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital.
 

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