TEENAGERS COME TOGETHER TO RELEASE SONG
YOUNGSTERS from all across County Wexford have come together to perform the song ‘You Will be Found’, reminding people of the importance of reaching out and talking during the time of the pandemic.
Caoimhe Boyle (18) from New Ross and Robert Hogan (16) from Gorey met through rehearsals with Gorey Musical Society for its production of Hairspray, which was called off due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Missing singing together, Caoimhe reached out to Robert and suggested that they create a virtual performance with a group of about 20 of their musical friends.
The group practised their harmonies for about four weeks and Robert edited the pieces together to form the song and music video – something which has created quite the crescendo.
The song ‘You Will Be Found’, which has been listened to by thousands, comes with a special message about positive mental health which Caoimhe said was just as important to the group.
‘Our friends were really interested in taking part and there was a big mix of people, but it took about two weeks to get the harmonies right. A lot of us are in Gorey Musical Society, but a few of us didn’t know each other before we started this project.
‘We started a group chat with everyone and we just clicked instantly. We couldn’t have hoped for better’.
She explained that the message in the song embodied what teenagers in isolation are going through.
‘We all know someone right now who is struggling, especially teenagers who feel so isolated and alone, like they can’t talk to anyone. We just wanted to make sure that people knew that no matter what was going on that you could talk to someone even if we can’t see our friends in person or as we would have in school.
‘A lot of us in the group are in fifth and sixth year and we’re used to seeing each other every day, but we wanted to get the message out that even if you can’t see your friends in person, there is a way to talk to people and talking is so important’.
Helplines and charities such as Pieta House and the Samaritans were highlighted in the video, and Caoimhe explained that the message has really resonated with people.
‘The feedback has been so unexpected. We were doing this to spread a message but also we were doing it for ourselves because we were bored in isolation, we missed singing all together. We hoped to get even a thousand views, but we got so many comments back from people and were just so touched by it,’ said Caoimhe.
‘The way we saw it, it was fine for people to like our vocals but it was so important for us that people were thinking about the message.
‘But thank God for Robbie, I couldn’t have done it without him because he did all of the editing himself, all the video and vocals together with no prior experience. We were so grateful to all our friends for getting involved, sitting down and recording themselves on what we know is a difficult track,’ she said.
Caoimhe attends Our Lady of Lourdes
Secondary School in New Ross while Robert is a student at Gorey Community School and it’s clear to see that music is a big passion for them.
Those who took part in the project alongside them were Jenny Murphy, Eimear Wolohan, Leah Gammell, Aine Kinch, Lauren Hever, Emma Steacy, Caitlin, Éabha and Muirinn Carty, Anya Furlong, Ben Wright, Tommy Cox, Alex Heffernan, Jack Gladney, Tara Boukhima, Grace Kehoe, Cora Tyrell, Alice Kennedy, Olivia Matthews, Sean Timmons, Ciara Doherty, Ciara Ashton and April Kelly.