New Pagans on the absence of gigs and the empowerment of pregancy

Being recognised as the best live act in Northern Ireland is no mean feat for a band who haven’t been able to perform in the same location as their audience for 12 months.

New Pagans, who picked up the award at last year’s NI Music Prize ceremony, released their debut album on Friday, an album which includes the magnificent track ‘Harbour’, addressing the highs and lows of singer Lyndsey McDougall’s first pregnancy.

The 36-year-old singer talked about the desire to get back to gigging: “We’re really optimistic that the live scene will open up soon. People are booking shows for the end of the year.

“There are live streams, but no live audiences. [Not playing live] changes how you write songs and how people interact with albums, no one is getting to hear the stuff live in the room with you.”

The band did a live stream on Friday from the Nerve Centre to launch the album.

Lyndsey said: “Looking out to nothing is the most bizarre experience. It’s just another skill you have to learn.

“We’re dying to get back to gigs. Even if people are just staring at you blankly at least there’s a reaction.”

The songs on the band’s debut album The Seed, The Vessel, The Roots and All were all written before lockdown, but the pause gave them the chance to hone their music, re-recording many of their tracks.

Throughout their debut album, New Pagans challenge past and present issues surrounding relationships, equality, history, and gender.

The latest single from the album is Harbour, capturing the experience of childbirth from all angles – the sickness, the joy, the frustration and the resilience and strength of women.

Lyndsey said: “It was what I was going through at the time when I wrote the song. I was pregnant with my first child.

“I started writing the lyrics, it just came out, I didn’t over think it.

“When I’m singing it I always transport back to being pregnant.

“Most women aren’t pregnant very often in their lives.

“It’s a very unique, interesting period. There’s things that are positive and negative about it.

“I think the song captures that. It’s about Maisie and I, growing a wee life inside you.

“There’s a lot of negativity around pregnancy and labour and childbirth. I found it a really empowering time in my life. Instead of feeling vulnerable I felt strong. I wanted to reflect that as well.”

Lyndsey’s daughter Maisie is now three and she has a two-year-old son called Odhran.

Their father, and Lyndsey’s husband is Cahir O’Doherty, formerly of Jetplane Landing and Fighting With Wire, and also a member of New Pagans.

As a collective they offer a wealth of artistic scope from Lyndsey’s skills in Irish embroidery and her deep historical knowledge, to bassist Claire Miskimmin’s visual artistry and talents as a director, and the musical experience of guitarists Cahir, Alan McGreevy and drummer Conor McAuley.

Despite the global crisis, 2020 proved to be a breakout year for New Pagans.

They first started turning heads in the spring with the release of their Glacial Erratic EP.

In addition to Steve Lamacq’s continued support, the band have also received regular plays from BBC 6 Music, Radio 1 Kerrang Radio and Radio X.

New Pagans then closed the year by winning the award ‘Best Live Act’ at the NI Music Prize 2020 cementing them as one of the most exciting and interesting rising acts, both sonically and visually.

New Pagans is Lyndsey’s first band: “I went to art college where I got interested in the local music scene.

“I’m proud to be a part of it now and not a spectator as I had been.”

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