carpe carmina celebrates X (feat. Aaron Shanley)

'Honey, don't be sad, it's just the way it goes ...' and even it's been a blast to share musical dedications and stunning exclusives with you throughout june, all good things must come to an end. So this is it. However, the end of celebrating 4 years of musical musings doesn't mean the end of celebrating and praising magnificent tunes. Not in the slightest! carpe carmina will never fall out of love with music; and neither out of love with the artist behind the composition the initially cited lyrics arise from. So, let's rejoice in 'carpe carmina celebrates' one last time this year with ...

Back when carpe carmina turned 3 years old ...

... its little radio sister, carmina suavia, had taken Aaron Shanley's music to its heart, wholeheartedly, irrevocably, verily. 'Our Shiny Baby', at that time the singer/songwriter's only other single on soundcloud next to melodiously melancholic 'Sometimes People Just Fall Out Of Love', celebrated its premiere on Radio Kaos Caribou just a day before carpe carmina itself had very good reason to pop bottles (the blog's 3rd anniversary took place then, musically enriched by Humble Williams' darling live session). Hauntingly hazy and dreamfully drifting, it embraced certain characteristics that already charmed us when listening to Shanley's beautiful (anti-)ballad back in the day, a sensitive song full of heartache and honesty that stands still in stark but refreshing sonic contrast to both above mentioned misty radio pick and the belfast-based artist's thrillingly edgy, ethereal homemade album 'Metal Alligator'. Partly debuted at Oh Yeah Music Center in Belfast (it was none other than brand new friend's very own Taylor Johnson who interviewed the award-winning songsmith in-between set), fully premiered on The Thin Air and favored by BBC Radio Ulster's Across The Line as well as by Sounds Of Northern Ireland, the moody lo-fi vibe of the irish neo-troubadour's first record – brought alive on stage with a band (The Horrortongues) – finally filled up the holy halls of Voodoo in may 2017, found its stripped-back counterpart when the punk-prone quartet played at Bennigan Bar three weeks ago. This, the recently 'unleashed' acoustic version of 'Beautifully Blue' and Aaron Shanley's intimate version of 'A Decent Apology' down below all bear testimony to a charmingly low-key and captivatingly minimalist musical style. Yet don't be mistaken, there's fuzz and frenzy engraved in it too, and you'll hear that at the latest during the group's full-geared gig at Belfast Empire Music Hall this time next month (grab tickets here) or while checking out their youtube channel and Shanley's self-recorded songs on bandcamp. Now go, but not before clicking that play button! 

Music well worth listening to ...   

... as this gentle and genuine rendition of 'A Decent Apology' hits the mark with regard to the music carpe carmina loves to showcase: it's dolce and cozy, sensitive and stirring, stars sweet sentiment and mellow acoustic warmth. It's the type of song that makes you feel at ease (emotionally), the type of performance that cordially invites you in. So would you please have the decency to let yourself into indulging in its tender tones, and while at it to also check on the rest of Aaron Shanley's manifold musical repertoire? Thank you. You're welcome. 

Let's hear it from Aaron Shanley ... 

'Happy 4th Birthday, carpe carmina! Thanks for your support and for introducing my ears to great music all the time. Stay fabulous. I love you xoxo'

Reach out & listen to Aaron Shanley on ...

.. twitter ...

.. facebook ...

.. soundcloud ...
.. bandcamp ...


Purchase 'Metal Alligator' here. 

writer's note: a huge and heartfelt thank-you goes out to Aaron Shanley, who is an absolute legend for stepping in last minute, contributing a performance to carpe carmina celebrates that gets to the very core of why this blog exists, it's music like (t)his, honest, low-key but stunningly beautiful. Bonus points for choosing that one song from 'Metal Alligator' that carpe carmina would have picked as contribution for celebrating its 4 anniversary as well!