Matthew Noone (who started his musical career playing guitar and drums in indie rock bands in Brisbane in the mid 90’s) is now recognised as Ireland's foremost exponent of the North Indian lute called sarode. He has studied Indian classical music with maestros Sougata Roy Chowdhury and K. Sridhar for over 15 years. He is renowned for his interpretations of Irish music on the instrument, and has toured India with Martin Hayes, released two albums with percussionist Tommy Hayes (An Tara), collaborates with Liam O Maonlai, guitarist Steve Cooney and has played at the prestigious Masters of Tradition Festival in Bantry. In recent years, he has been developing a reputation as a solo performer, composer and improviser using a custom built electroacoustic instrument dubbed ‘sarode na suíll’. He released his debut solo album ‘LET LUV B UR GURU’ in 2017 (featuring 23 original compositions) and has mesmerized audiences across Europe, India and Australia at events such as Womad, Maleny Folk Festival, Dublin Fringe Festival, Chennai Global Music festival, Electric Picnic and Body n Soul.

“nothing short of pure magic”
–Hot Press magazine

This new album was developed during an artistic residency in 2018 in the Burren College of Art, Co. Clare (supported by the Irish Arts Council) and sees Noone exploring new material which combines sarode, voice and electronics. The artwork for the album (and its title) are taken from Noone’s own prints and etches completed during the residency.

Noone describes the new album: “This body of work explores the interplay between my mixed internal musical world, the external landscape of the Burren and the vulnerability of being human. In this recording, my music draws upon North Indian Classical music and the concept of raga without being in anyway traditional. For this project, I am perhaps more inspired by sound art, ambient electronic music, minimalism, alt-folk and instrumental post-rock than anything Indian. In particular, the material for this album arose out of an artistic residency where I was working on my own prints and etches. The resulting minimal and abstract aesthetic of these prints very much influenced my approach to recording and concept for the album”.

Maghera Pony was mixed and mastered with producer and Gradam Ceol winner, Jack Talty, in Lissycasey, Co Clare, and will be officially released on 4th March 2019.