Cork’s M’ADAM (Adam O’Donovan) returns with ‘Before We Die’, his sweeping and emotionally rich second album. Produced by Kealan Kenny, the record finds O’Donovan navigating the haunted terrain of grief, legacy, and love through a tender blend of indie-folk, chamber pop and acoustic intimacy.
Backed by a stunning ensemble, including SAL, Sarah Hickey, Dylan Howe, and string arrangements from Áine Delaney, the album weaves ghostly fragments of poetry (courtesy of the late Eoin Murray) with warm instrumentation and striking vocal performances. It’s music that lives in the in-between, where absence becomes presence, and memories breathe just beneath the surface.
Whether softly unraveling in orchestral swells or sharpening into raw folk-rock confessionals, ‘Before We Die’ feels like a conversation with those we’ve lost, and with ourselves. For fans of Sufjan Stevens, Conor Oberst, and truth told plainly.
