"Enchanting, mesmerising, the voice of an Angel"

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'Scared'

Written & Performed by

Neasa



Some may, in an attempt to categorise Neasa, place her music in the 'classical crossover' genre, but it may more properly be thought of as 'Neasa's genre', and each listener has the right to draw their own conclusion of what this music means to them

Hailing from a native Irish speaking family in Cork City on the south coast of Ireland, singer/songwriter/performer Neasa chose to file her Psychology degree in 1985 and dive full-time into her real passion, the world of music. Already an experienced singer/actress from her school days, Neasa's professional music career began as lead vocalist with the very innovative and successful '80's group Hidden Fears who drew the attention of Mother Records, RCA and CBS before breaking up in 1987.

"Hidden Fears have already released one single, 'Mirage' and are one the more highly thought of outfits. Their greatest strength lies with the distinctive vocal style of frontwoman Neasa de Baroid" - Hotpress Magazine, Ireland 1986

It wasn't long before her talents as a songwriter and performer were back in the headlines, this time with the duo 'Hello' winning the Cork Multi-Channel TV Search for a Star in 1989 and the 1990 Ballincollig International Song Contest.

"Neasa has developed a strong theatrical sense and a great part of 'Hello's' charm is the very expressive manner in which she performs their material" Southern Star June 1989

In 1990 Neasa embarked on a solo career, securing a recording contract with Danceline Records Ireland.

"Danceline Records doesn't have time or resources to waste on second-class acts. Neasa is a committed performer with a fine touch to her song writing," Pete McCluskey, Danceline Records.

She released her first solo single, 'Red Hat' and this, coupled with extensive national Radio, TV and newspaper coverage, including RTE's Kenny Live, Nighthawks, and Live at 3, placed Neasa firmly in the national spotlight. This success continued when she was crowned The Guinness Superstar of 1992, followed by winning The Rose of Tralee International Music Contest in 1993. She was a finalist in the RTE 2FM/Guinness Bandslam of 1994 and was named The Benson & Hedges Voice of Ireland 1995.

"Neasa is such a singer that one feels she can adapt her rich mature voice to any material she chooses" - Irish Examiner

In 1996 she took time out to explore the jungles of Borneo and its native tribes, and visit Australia where she embarked on three years of Australian concert and TV performance. Just after her arrival in Australia she secured an album contract, her second record deal, and released a Single from the album, again with extensive media profile.

"The find of the 1998 festival" - Bill O'Brien, Kapunda Festival, Australia

Having flirted with various music styles, including opera, rock, jazz and folk, Neasa became more focused on her dream style of music and show when she collaborated with renowned Australian guitarist Alain Valodze of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. It would prove to be a major turning point in Neasa's career. Here, for the first time, Neasa experienced the joy and freedom of working in a classical setting with musicians sensitive enough to allow her unique style of writing and singing blossom without compromise.

In 1999 Neasa chose to return home to base her career in Ireland, however was quickly invited back to Australia to sing Ireland's National Anthem at the Coca-Cola International Football Series between her homeland and Australia. To an audience of 48,000 she also delivered a pre-game concert in Adelaide's AAMI Stadium, resulting in rave radio reviews, and fulfilled a second invitation in 2001 to repeat the performance in Australia's largest stadium, Melbourne's MCG

Since her return to Ireland Neasa has continued to pursue her dream style of music. Given her vast early influences, spanning the musical worlds of Barbra Streisand and Shirley Bassey, the Sex Pistols, Eagles, Leonard Cohen and, later, Billie Holiday, Maria Callas, and Sarah Brightman, the Neasa of today is an eclectic mix of all of the above and so much more. She co-developed a themed Show, 'THE HITS OF THE MUSICALS & OPERAS' which managed to showcase all of her many unique facets, collaborating with the extraordinary musical talents of arranger/director and well-known Saxophonist, and sometimes guest artist, Ken Marshall. This provocative and fun performance of timeless songs gained a huge following during its six-month residency in 2006, and hence repeated for a further season in '07. To celebrate the success of this show Neasa recorded an album of the same name, arranged and produced by Ken Marshall, and launched by Beamish & Crawford Breweries, Cork.

2009 sees the release of an album that has been Neasa's dream and passion for many years. 'Fly Away' is a powerful, passionate collection of twelve original songs, penned both by Neasa, and other writers and arranged by Ken Marshall.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Neasa is a highly emotionally-charged performer! Her voice has a way of creeping inside your soul, and audiences report how the hairs stand on the back of their necks. Shivers trickle down ones spine like the touch of angels. Her emotional expression of songs, and her ability to communicate her message to her audience have moved self-confessed hard-men to gentle tears. She is very personable, and the spectator feels like they are special to Neasa, that she is talking to them alone. They 'like' her, feel they know her, and love what they know. She casts out a certain kind of magic and reels in the imagination of her listeners. Neasa delivers passion, and occasionally with a touch of ethnicity, she weaves in the haunting sound of her panpipes. Experiencing Neasa is a special experience; to many, a night like no night's entertainment they've ever in a lifetime experienced.

"More than music, this is theatre" - Hotpress Magazine Ireland