Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Saoirsegrainne

Saoirsegrainne - WOOL & WOE

WOOL & WOE is not just another album; it's a deeply personal journey into the dark themes that Saoirsegrainne fearlessly explores. Influenced by artists such as Ethel Cain, Melanie Martinez, and Nightwish, this album delves into controversial topics like suicide, pedophilia, and domestic violence within a marriage, as well as Christian controversy. With tracks like "Psalm 51" offering a poignant plea for mercy and "Lay Beneath The Spanish Moss" showcasing a fusion of Celtic and indigenous styles, Saoirsegrainne's raw vocals and storytelling prowess shine through, making this release a significant addition to the music industry.

Saoirsegrainne, hailing from Fayetteville, United States, is a multitalented artist who has taken the music scene by storm with her original album, WOOL & WOE. As the producer, mixing, and mastering engineer, Saoirsegrainne brings a unique perspective to her music, drawing from her classical singing background as a coloratura soprano and her bachelor's degree in music. With a release date set for October 31st, 2025, music enthusiasts can expect a captivating blend of genres and emotions that will leave a lasting impression.

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Interview with Saoirsegrainne

(•)> What inspired the themes and title of WOOL & WOE?

The title, WOOL & WOE, is meant to reflect the album's core themes: deception, comfort, and tragedy. 'Wool' represents the comforting, often deceptive facade or the willful ignorance we employ. The metaphorical 'wool pulled over the eyes.' It also hints at the raw, unprocessed fiber of folk tradition. 'Woe' is the inevitable grief, historical trauma, and systemic sadness that lies beneath that facade. The themes explore cycles of inter-generational trauma and the struggle between societal expectation and visceral reality.

(•)> How do you approach exploring such dark and controversial topics in your music?

My approach is rooted in empathy. I never aim for shock value. Instead, I explore universal human condition like loss, powerlessness, and resilience through controversial lenses. This often involves metaphor and historical allegory to create a safe distance for the listener while respecting the subject matter's weight. The goal is to illuminate, not exploit, the complexity of these experiences, giving voice to narratives often silenced.

(•)> Which track do you feel is the most emotionally revealing for you?

The most emotionally revealing track off of my album is LAY BENEATH THE SPANISH MOSS. It truly captures who I am and captivates the audience with its ancient and primal sound.

(•)> How has your classical coloratura soprano training influenced your vocal style on this album?

My classical vocal training is the foundation for the album’s vocal dynamics. It provides the technical control necessary to navigate the album's extreme emotional shifts, from the whispered intimacy of a ballad to the full, dramatic belt needed for the heavier tracks. Specifically, it allows for precision in dynamic contrast and the ability to maintain a clear, controlled tone even when exploring vocal fragility or intensity, using the higher register for moments of piercing clarity or agony.

(•)> How do you balance storytelling with musical composition across such heavy subject matter?

The story actually is created at the same time while composing the music! I usually will have an idea of the instrumentation first and once I get the first 8 measures (or more depending), I usually write lyrics based on the structure of the instrumentation. For instance, Psycho was only piano at first. I knew I wanted it to be at least about my personal experience with a toxic marriage growing up. The melody is longing and you can hear hurt with the dissonance created with some passing notes and chords utilized. My stories often times invoke strong emotion in me while performing, but hard topics are what make us human and that being vulnerable is ok and that we have the strength to power through.

(•)> What role does production, mixing, and mastering play in shaping the album’s atmosphere?

I experimented A LOT with the production of these songs and tapes. I learned a lot about automation and how I can make my songs sound bigger without having to add a lot of voices (instruments) to thicken the music. I had to research drum styles and how a drummer would actually play in order for me to transcribe it within the DAW. Being a pianist, I was able to make the organ featured in a few of my songs sound authentic and exactly how I wanted it. It takes a lot of patience, trial and error and listening breaks to make a project come to life!

(•)> How did you integrate Celtic and indigenous elements into tracks like “Lay Beneath The Spanish Moss”?

I incorporate guttural throat breathing, screams and complex polyphonic singing. It tells a vague story of a woman who awakes from a familiar tune a young couple are singing as they hike through the swamp. Spanish Moss is common in the southern and eastern states of the USA and I chose that as a general location for the song. The style of the song is Irish celtic leaning, as I wanted to incorporate the sound of cultural mixing as many Irish traveled to America during the 1700s to mid 1800s.

(•)> Which artists inspired your approach to mood and narrative, and how did they influence WOOL & WOE?

Eivør, Ekaterina Shelehova, Nicole Dollanganger, Ethel Cain, Saint Avangeline, and Melanie Martinez. All these artist I've listed play a significant role to each and every track of my album. From the style of folk singing, to the dark lyrical content and arrangement of music. Eivør and Shelehova both inspired me to explore my voice and incorporate ancient sounds to my music. Ethel Cain, Dollanganger, Saint Avangeline and Martinez all contribute to the southern gothic lyrical content as well as the style of music.

(•)> How do you hope listeners respond emotionally and intellectually to the album?

Emotionally, I hope the album leaves listeners with a sense of profound disquiet and empathy. It’s meant to be an experience that forces you to sit with difficult, uncomfortable truths. Intellectually, I hope it encourages a deeper dive into the historical footnotes and marginalized narratives that inspired the songs. I want them to question and recognize the complexity of trauma and resilience that persists through generations.

(•)> What message or feeling do you want to leave with your audience through this release?

The ultimate message I want to leave is one of unblinking recognition. While the album is steeped in woe, it also testifies to the enduring strength required to simply survive and remember. I want the audience to walk away feeling the weight of the past, but also the crucial, radical act of acknowledging that pain because recognition is the essential first step toward healing and breaking the cycle.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Saoirsegrainne on the Pigeon Spins Playlist