Roisin Murphy to heat up Riga and Tallinn

  • 2008-01-23
  • By Abdul Turay

HOT DATES: Irish-British songsmith Roisin Murphy will be bringing her sultry voice to Riga and Tallinn Jan. 28 - 29.

TALLINN - You'd get the impression from watching reality TV shows that all pop singers desperately wanted to be famous from the time they were babes in arms, but in reality some people have pop stardom thrust upon them.

Irish/British songstress Roisin Murphy was 18 and living alone in Sheffield when she met a guy called Mark Brydon at a party. She chatted him up using a line, the first half of which would later become the title of their debut album: "Do you like my tight sweater? See how it fits my body."

Brydon just happened to have a recording studio and the two soon became lovers and musical collaborators. Murphy had never sung in public before and she'd be the first to admit that, before meeting Brydon, she did not see her career in the music business.
Her most successful work to date was with Brydon as part of the dance duo Moloko.  They had two smash hits in Britain and the rest of Europe at any rate, "Swing it Back" and "The time is now"  in the 90's.

She broke with Brydon romantically and professionally in 2003 and since then her career has been  patchy, despite putting out excellent work. "Overpow-ered 2007," her last album, was nominated for an MTV Europe award and songs from it featured in the TV series "Grey's Anatomy." But dance music is just not as popular as it was in the 90's, especially the more literate, arty end of it of which Murphy is a devotee.
Murphy has a really dramatic stage presence and husky delivery. Chances are that she will be playing a bunch of songs that you don't know, and won't be playing any of her old hits. That's always the risk when pop stars go solo, but don't let that put you off. Murphy is worth seeing not just for her music 's and she is a gifted songwriter 's  but because she is undeniably one of the most stylish, elegant and beautiful women on the planet. Don't believe me, go and see her.

Nowadays you don't have to wing it when you go to a concert. As well as having her own Web site she's on My Space and there's tons of her stuff on You Tube. Check it out before buying ticket.

Roisin Murphy
Jan. 28, Sapnu Fabrika, Riga
Jan. 29, Rock Cafe, Tallinn