Mandy Bingham

Hailing from Holywood on the North Coast of Ireland, Mandy is the eldest daughter of singer songwriter David McWilliams (Days of Pearly Spencer). Her mother, Gil McWilliams, was also involved in the folk music scene in the 60’s and 70’s. This cultural and family heritage is inherent in her songwriting.

Mandy writes her songs from the heart. With her acoustic guitar and her wealth of life experience, she creates beautifully formed Folk/Americana lyrics and melodies. It’s the depth of her music that captures the light. It’s the time capsules that mold us into who we are. Her voice is pure and strong which makes for an emotional connection to the listener.

She first took to the stage with her self-penned songs in 2013, and since then things have been moving fast. She had supported Bap Kennedy at the closing concert of the 2014 Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival, and at his album launch earlier that year. In 2015 she was nestling in her own ‘In the Round’ concert at Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival.

She has taken part in two live BBC radio concerts with Ralph McLean, supported Diana Jones at The Real Music Club Belfast, played at the Portstewart Songwriters Festival, The Atlantic Sessions, and made a guest appearance at the Colum Sands BBC Folk Club.

Mandy's debut EP, Mandy Bingham Vol. 1, was released on the 1st June, 2015. It is an eclectic and intimate six-song offering. It shines with happiness, wrestles with negativity, looks into the eyes of oblivion and unmasks parenting with absolute honesty.

The EP was recorded and produced at Millbank Studio by Michael Mormecha (Mojo Fury). Maestro slide guitarist, Colin Henry, adds Weissenborn guitar on “The Chicken song” and Ryan Vail brings some dark, melodic electronica in his remix of “If This Is Love”.

In everything, Mandy is accompanied by her husband, Graham, who sings harmonies, plays acoustic guitar and lap steel guitar. Graham also has an integral role in the arrangement and development of her new songs.

Turn Out The Light – Minor notes from the guitar bring out the melancholy mood from the song. Indie folk. When one stops seeing you and stops believing in you, the love can still be remembered. The lament is heard in her voice. The suffering makes you more than you were before. She calls out. Can the outside also hear my silent thoughts?

Calm Before The Storm – The guitar trips up and down. A hauntingly faint sound can be heard in the background. Metaphors describing how good things can be but can quickly turn into disasters. What is the truth? Mandy’s voice sounds like it comes from a Victrola with an echoing effect as she brings up a moan like the wind.

Oblivion – The guitar strums with an added slapping sound effect. When the sky is blue and then things turn black, do you think you’ll ever come out of it? Flying so high, not a care in the world, you are now, temporarily, in oblivion. A piano accompanies. Desolation is heard in her voice. Electric guitar then gentleness.

If This Is Love – Americana. The guitar strums easily with accents. If your experiences in love usually end in heartbreak, would you still want a part of it or would you move on? You can hear the gentle, soft pain in her voice. A steel guitar voices what the heart must feel.

The Chicken Song – A happier tune but there is holding back in this song. She wants to give love from her heart but if she did, would it scare you? So she tells you everything she wants to have with you. Are you still scared because of it? Time will tell.

If This Is Love (Ryan Vail remix) – A strange slow rush static sound begins this song. A synth accompanies as if a heartbeat. Mandy sings. A piano accompanies and a man’s voice echoes the lament. Is this how it feels? Each aspect of the emotions feeling the hurt. Electronics move as it is in play. Single cries. Can’t finish what the heart feels. If it was known, you could move on.

Mandy catches the depth of what may be felt in the face of rejection as she sings about life’s experiences and love. There is beauty even in the sadness. To find out more about this artist go to:

http://www.mandybingham.co.uk/

Denise L. @DL7855