Rising star Patricia (13) makes a huge impression on Hozier
Singer-songwriter Patricia Lalor from Gorey is just 13 years of age, but her musical talents have recently gotten her noticed, when Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, last month shared a video to his followers on Twitter of her performing his song ‘Cherry Wine’, which she uploaded to her YouTube channel two months ago. Hozier tweeted ‘Hands down one of the best covers I’ve ever seen. Maith thú!’. Patricia Lalor, who took a liking to playing the ukulele at age ten, said that she was so delighted to think that such a big start like Hozier had taken time out of his busy schedule to listen to her play music.
Patricia Lalor plays the guitar, ukulele and the piano and often plays music for her schoolmates at Meanscoil Gharman in Enniscorthy. Although she is more used to busking, often seen singing on the Main Street in Gorey, Patricia appeared on the Six O’Clock Show on Virgin Media One last week, playing her guitar and singing Hozier’s ‘Cherry Wine’ live in the studio. Patricia said that she loved the experience of playing her music on television, and that she was very nervous as she had never done something like that before.
Thanks to all of this, the young musician has seen a huge increase in listeners and followers from all over on her social media accounts. She is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Dublin singer, Orla Gartland, who gained popularity through posting her cover songs on YouTube. At the moment she has one single available to listen to on Spotify, called ‘Regret’ which she released in January. Patricia explained that at the moment she is ‘taking it day by day,’ but has her sights set on playing at some festivals or gigs locally over the summer. Having lived in Gorey all her life, she was delighted to have people interested in sitting down and talking and listening to her music when she used to busk on Gorey Main Street, and can’t wait to get back into it again during the summer. She is also writing more music at the moment, but says she loves to put her cover songs on her YouTube also. Patricia has received a lot of support from her mother, Mary Lalor, who the youngster says inspires her musically and has had a big influence.
Staff at Making Music in Gorey, who recorded Patricia for their acoustic sessions series on YouTube last year, said ‘We were blown away by her vocal and instrumental ability, she has her own unique style and managed to perform the song on our series in one take, completely unphased by the cameras’. Patricia Lalor is due to release a new single called ‘Anymore’ in the coming weeks, search ‘Patricia Lalor Sings’ on Facebook for more information.