Violet Hirst Shares Debut Album 'Donegal'

Named after the street where it was recorded, Donegal is the debut album of Tāmaki-based songwriter Violet Hirst, who is sparking her five date release tour this week. If music was a sunbeam rippling against strained groves of bark, Hirst’s craft would angle upward to warm your face then splinter outwards to touch the rural land. Hailing from Tāhuna, Hirst’s first long player is a heartfelt statement reflecting on her recent experiences living between Pōneke and Te Waipounamu — produced and recorded by De Stevens in Cromwell last summer and featuring Reuben Scott of Daffodils on several tracks. With songs of folklike ballads, the mantra of ‘Please Write Home’ pleads earnestly and lingers in the mind, as do the overlapping vocals of Scott. Another highight is ‘Dissolve Like Salt’, a restless slowburner whose braking percussion and descending keys capture bespoke uncertainty yet wistfulness. Hirst will be joined on tour by her top notch live band including Scott, Kane Strang (Office Dog), Mitchell Innes (Office Dog) and Madeleine Mirunok from this Friday onwards, with tapes of the album courtesy of trace/untrace available on the door…

Violet Hirst's Donegal Tour

Friday 11th August - Space Academy, Christchurch / Ōtautahi, with Sam Bambery
Saturday 12th August - Maggie's, Dunedin / Ōtepoti, with Kane Strang
Sunday 13th August - Sherwood, Queenstown / Tāhuna 
Saturday 19th August - Auckland Old Folks Ass., Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau, with Babe Martin
Saturday 26th August - Vogelmorn Bowling Club, Wellington / Pōneke, with Awning

Tickets available HERE via UTR 

 
Check out Violet Hirst's latest self-produced music video at a makeshift old folks home...

'Donegal' is out today on major streaming services.