Athlone musician Eva Coyle releases her second album

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Athlone musician Eva Coyle has unveiled her second album, A Gentle Turning, which was released on April 18 and marks a shift from her earlier work.

The new record, which follows 2022's Down To The Shore, centres on piano compositions, blending original material with traditional influences.

"It’s mainly composed new material, and there’s also one Irish folk tune in it, and another hymn piece as well. So it’s a mix of Irish melodies and composed material," Eva explained.

The album represents a more meditative direction for the artist, shaped by both time and personal transition. While the project may feel fresh, Coyle noted that its foundations stretch back several years.

"I had been playing the tunes for a while, so I’ve been drafting them over a few years," she said. "I got into a transition in my life where I was playing more instrumental music. It’s more meditative, especially for a slower pace of life."

Recorded at Wavefield Studios in West Cork last year, A Gentle Turning captures this quieter, more reflective phase. Eva made it clear that the album is just one branch of her broader musical tree.

"I have ambient piano as part of my work, and I’m still doing the folk music and vocal material," she said.

Eva continues to balance multiple creative avenues, including recent touring in Germany with a full band. However, she describes that experience as distinct from the new album’s sound.

"The tour in Germany was based on the folk material. It was very different from this. It feels like a different space in my life," she said.

Collaboration remains central to her creative process, including working with fellow Athlone native John Shanaher, with whom she has performed since her teenage years.

"John is often involved in my projects because we’ve grown up together and played together since we were teenagers," she said.

She is also working with international musicians, including a Belgian accordionist and a Scottish guitarist.

"Collaboration is key to keeping the music active. It breathes new life into it. If I was doing the same thing repeatedly, I wouldn’t enjoy it. It’s about connection, performing, exchanging ideas and staying engaged creatively."

Among her upcoming projects are performances in unique locations, including an eco-farm setting.

Closer to home, Eva is preparing to bring A Gentle Turning to live audiences, with concerts being planned in Athlone’s St Mary’s Church of Ireland as well as in West Cork over the summer.

“We’re playing in non-traditional performance spaces. The music lends itself to that kind of atmosphere,” she said.

Eva is already working on some new material, including a follow-up vocal album expected next year.

"I have a few tracks coming out over the summer. One is a vocal song and another is instrumental, and I have an indie folk record coming out at the end of the summer. We’re keeping it going."

While A Gentle Turning highlights a softer, piano-led sound, Eva emphasised that her artistic journey is continuing to evolve across multiple styles.

* The new album can be ordered on bandcamp or on Eva’s website: www.evacoyle.com