David Murphy is a multi-instrumentalist based in Cork, Ireland known best for his work with the pedal steel guitar.
Murphy's unique application of the evocative and ever-mysterious pedal steel guitar has resulted in his invitation to participate in many collaborations and projects over his years as a session musician and band-member.
Taking the instrument outside the confines of its traditional roots, Murphy has accumulated a growing list of recording and live credits. He can regularly be seen and heard on stage and in the studio with diverse Irish artists such as The Lost Brothers, John Blek & The Rats, Arborist, Cian Nugent, Ordnance Survey, Greenshine and The Remedy Club amongst others as well as touring or performing alongside acclaimed international artists such as Willy Vlautin, The Delines, Richmond Fontaine, M. Ward and Jolie Holland.
Blurring the boundaries of music into which Murphy has taken the instrument, he has contributed to records across a range of genres, spanning pop, Americana and folk to ambient, experimental music and film soundtracks. David has also participated in tours of Ireland, UK, Europe and U.S.A. as well as performing on live national radio and television.
Photography: Celeste Burdon
2024 sees Murphy take his first steps out of the shadows as a solo artist with the release of his own full-length studio album 'Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar' on the Rollercoaster Records label. This continues his quest to expand the vocabulary of the instrument and take it in new and exciting directions.
Murphy’s all-instrumental debut album recasts ancient Irish harp tunes and historic airs by O’Carolan, O’Riada et al into the 21st century, voiced by the mysterious, emotive and swelling sound of the pedal steel guitar. Supported by an all-star cast of musicians from across contemporary, modern-classical and folk worlds, the pedal steel ably takes its place within an ensemble featuring cello, violin, piano, harp, uilleann pipes and lush electronic textures and synths. Across 40 minutes, the album conjures a palette of sparse, dreamlike, atmospheric soundscapes and stirring, cinematic takes of these culturally significant compositions and melodies from Ireland’s great harpers, composers and song collectors.
This record promises to be a must-listen for fans of pedal steel guitar, atmospheric soundtracks, traditional Irish music, contemporary experimental, ambient and modern-classical music. It features a masterful cast of supporting musicians including Peter Broderick (Efterklang, Erased Tapes), Steve Wickham (The Waterboys, Sinead O'Connor, U2), Laura McFadden (Arborist), Aisling Urwin (Woven Kin), Alannah Thornburgh, Rory McCarthy (Notify), Mark McCausland (The Lost Brothers), Anthony Ruby, Cory Gray (The Delines, The Decemberists) and Graham Heaney (Saint Sister) amongst others.
On his vision for the album, Murphy says:
"The pedal steel guitar has unique timbre, tuning and tonal capabilities. It offers rich sustain, swelling glissando and the ability to bend expressive and mournful notes that merge seamlessly and elastically into changing chords. Its unmistakable, crying sound is identified on hundreds of acclaimed records in folk and country genres. In the 21st century, it has continued its evolution into electronica, ambient and experimental music realms. With this record, my objective was to take the instrument away from its excursions across well-worn roads through the dusty American south and southwest and deeper into a world much closer to home and, for the very first time, present it in a modern Irish framework."
Set for release on 19th April 2024 on the Rollercoaster Records label and presented visually with stunning artwork by Craig Carry, it will be available on 180-gram Vinyl, CD and Digital from all major platforms and retailers.
Pre-order now via Bandcamp.
“Murphy adds tear-stained tones of pedal steel guitar.”
“... mournful pedal steel”
“David Murphy adds a note of melancholy on steel guitar”
“Pedal steel that keens with love and longing and speaks of wide-screen vistas.”
“... an exemplary pedal steel player”
“Murphy’s dreamy and quite stunning pedal steel again takes pride of place.”
“David Murphy’s guitar playing seems to arch off into the heavens and waft with each note he teases stretching and curling out more and more around Nic Amhlaoibh’s ancient voice and O’Connor’s rumbling synth”
“The unmistakable sounds of David Murphy’s pedal steel guitar gently weep throughout much of the album and elevates the music above the ordinary.”