Big Kildare Interview: Coolearagh woman makes music debut at 50 years of age

A woman from North Kildare has made her musical debut at the age of 50.

Cherley Kane hails from Cooleragh, near Clane, and has made it her mission to make a mark on the music scene.

She told the Leinster Leader that, as a child, she 'was always dancing around to music' and has a background in performing arts, and even went to London in the 1990s as part of her artistic career.

However, despite her love for singing and songwriting, Cherley always felt as if there was something holding her back.

Cherley explained that, in combination with turning 50, her decision to debut her musical talent came following a conversation with a fellow artist.

She admitted to another person, while writing a song for a male artist, that she never had the courage to release her own music.

Elaborating on this point, she said: "I had been running from it, but eventually, I got to thinking: 'OK, it’s now or never.'

"I don’t know if it was that one event, or me turning 50, or a mix of the two of them."

Cherley also explained that, growing up, she felt like she didn’t fit the stereotypical popstar look: "I felt like there was nobody like her in the media. I kept on thinking: 'I’m not pretty enough, I’m not skinny enough.'"

She also said that while she thinks things are getting better today in terms of diversity of music (Cherley pointed to rise of Lizzo as an example of being 'an unconventional pop singer', she added: "A lot more could be done (to diversify the music world), especially since we in Ireland, and in most English-speaking countries, tend to consume the same media over and over."

Commenting further on her decision to release her debut album: "I had this feeling... this feeling when you realise that there is something so compelling that you have to do it; I couldn’t not do it. It would be too painful to go against myself.

"If not now, then when?"

Taking these words to heart, Cherley mustered up the courage to release her first-ever single, 'Leading Lady', on February 9 last.

The song features contributions from 25 different women from across ten different countries.

'Leading Lady' is the first song from Cherley’s debut album, 'Goddess', and a song of the same name will officially be released on April 5.

She first came up with the idea for 'Goddess' back in 2004, and now, 20 years later, it’s finally going to see the light of day.
Cherley said that the song (as well as the overall theme of the album) is about feminism: "There is a (running) theme of female empowerment, but anyone who isn’t female can enjoy it too.

"There’s a beautiful, divine energy to the music; that’s what I hope it comes across as, especially since we live in a day and age where we are bombarded by so much information."

She also said that she is seeking to include even more contributions to 'Goddess' — "I’m looking for even more goddesses!" she added.

Photograph supplied by Cherley Kane.

When asked about her musical inspirations, Cherley pointed to Motown and soul music: "I just think that there’s something pure and incredibly honest about those genres of music."

She also gave examples of Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday as inspirations.

In addition, she said that she is a fan of the pop-rock band Queen.

As for the making of her upcoming album, Cherley said that she has worked with: Paul Statham, who has written with Kylie Minogue and Dido; Paddy Byrne has worked with Paloma Faith and Tom Grennan; and Zach Ware, who has played as a guitarist for The Proclaimers.

Commenting on the recording process, she said that while she has her own set-up at home for creating music, she stressed that 'there’s no comparison to actually being there in the studio, where the feedback is instant.'

While there is no exact date given for the release of Cherley Kane’s 'Goddess' album, she said that it is expected to be released by Winter of this year.

In the meantime, you can keep up with Cherley at her personal website, https://www.cherleykane.com/, which also contains links to her music.