Ulster musician celebrates W.B. Yeats with new single release
Ulster singer‑songwriter & harpist Bróna McVittie has carved out a unique space in contemporary folk music. A trained biologist and lifelong lover of mythology, she is known for blending traditional song with nature‑infused lyricism - an approach praised by The Guardian for its ability to “take you on its wing and give you fresh visions”.
Now, Bróna returns with new single 'The Stolen Child', the lead single from her forthcoming album 'Supernatural', due for release later this year. The music is a companion to McVittie’s recently published book 'A Way with the Fairies', a richly woven folklore anthology exploring Irish fairy lore alongside mythic tales from across Europe.
'The Stolen Child' is McVittie’s ethereal reimagining of W.B. Yeats’ beloved 1886 poem, a work long cherished in her own family. She says, “It has always been a favourite in our household,” McVittie says. “To me, it perfectly captures the essence of the fairy world and invites you to step into its mystery. Anyone who has visited Sligo will be familiar with the landscape’s deeply mystical atmosphere. I carried the first two verses of this poem close to my heart while composing the music for my version of The Stolen Child.”
The single acts as a gateway into the wider world of the forthcoming album 'Supernatural', inviting listeners to cross the threshold between the everyday and the otherworldly. Arriving this autumn to coincide with Samhain, 'Supernatural' will be McVittie’s fourth solo album, and her boldest artistic statement yet. The record explores the mythic imagination of Ireland and beyond, standing at the meeting point of folklore, contemporary sound art, ancestral memory and modern storytelling.
'Supernatural' is conceived as a companion to McVittie’s illustrated folklore anthology 'A Way with the Fairies' - with each track mirroring a tale from the book, reimagining myths, poems and folk narratives through McVittie’s distinctive blend of harp, guitar, ethnic instrumentation and experimental electronics.