Lisa Hannigan is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician from Kilcloon, County Meath, Ireland, born in 1981. She is known for folk, indie folk, pop and singer-songwriter work, and is also associated with The Cake Sale.

Career

Hannigan first comes to public attention in 2001 as the female vocalist on Damien Rice’s breakthrough albums O and 9. She performs live with Rice from early 2001 until March 2007, when their professional relationship ends. In 2005, she and Rice co-write “Unplayed Piano”, which is released in support of the Free Aung San Suu Kyi 60th Birthday Campaign.

She also appears on backing vocals on Mic Christopher’s album Skylarkin and on the soundtrack to Goldfish Memory. In 2006, she is part of The Cake Sale, a collective formed by Brian Crosby of Bell X1. The group releases a self-titled album in Ireland to raise money for Oxfam and the Irish Make Trade Fair campaign, with later releases in the UK and US.

Solo releases

Hannigan begins her solo career in 2007. Her debut album Sea Sew is released in 2008 and debuts at number 4. The album’s singles include “Lille” and “I Don’t Know”. It receives a Choice Music Prize nomination, two Meteor Music Award nominations and a Mercury Prize shortlist placing, and is also nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in the UK. Sea Sew later receives US and UK releases in 2009.

Her second album, Passenger, is released in 2011. Her third album, At Swim, follows in 2016.

Awards and recognition

Hannigan’s music receives award nominations in both Ireland and the USA. Her live performance at Latitude Festival is described as a notable appearance in the run-up to the Mercury Prize nomination for Sea Sew.