(headline image: Sarah McQuaid – Photo by Mawgan Lewis)
Sarah McQuaid was born in Madrid, Spain, to a Spanish father and an American mother. She grew up in Chicago and toured the US and Canada with The Chicago Children’s Choir. In the mid-1990s, she moved to Ireland, where she authored The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book and began writing music columns and reviews for Hot Press magazine and Dublin’s Evening Herald.
In 2007, McQuaid moved to Cornwall with her Irish husband and their two children. She formed a friendship with Zoë Pollock, writer and performer of the 1991 UK Top 5 single “Sunshine On A Rainy Day.” The two co-wrote songs for an album released in 2008 under the band name Mama.
McQuaid credits Pollock with significantly influencing her songwriting, transitioning her from a folk singer to a serious songwriter. Through Pollock, McQuaid met Martin Stansbury, a producer and sound engineer who has managed and accompanied her on tours since 2009. Stansbury produced and engineered McQuaid’s sixth solo album, The St Buryan Sessions, recorded live in the medieval church of St Buryan during lockdown.
The St Buryan Sessions was released in October 2021 on CD and limited-edition double LP, earning spots on “Best of 2021” lists across three continents. The album features solo performances by McQuaid on acoustic and electric guitars, piano, and floor tom drum, with her distinctive vocals resonating in the church’s acoustics. The entire recording session was filmed, and videos of all 15 tracks are available on her website, along with tour details and additional information, including a 10-minute video introduction to McQuaid and her music.
Discography
When Two Lovers Meet 1997)
I Won’t Go Home ‘Til Morning (2008)
Crow Coyote Buffalo, as Mama with Zoë Pollock (2008)
The Plum Tree And The Rose (Waterbug, 2012)
Walking Into White (Waterbug, 2015)
If We Dig Any Deeper, It Could Get Dangerous (Shovel And A Spade Records, 2018)
The St Buryan Sessions (Shovel And A Spade Records, 2021)
For more information, visit Sarah McQuaid’s website.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.