Wikipedia

Dea Matrona (band)

For the meaning in Celtic Mythology, see Dea Matrona (mythology).

Dea Matrona are an Irish rock band based in Belfast and led by Orláith Forsythe and Mollie McGinn.

Dea Matrona
OriginBelfast, Northern Ireland
GenresRock
Years active2017–present
Members
  • Orláith Forsythe
  • Mollie McGinn
Past members
  • Mamie McGinn
Websitehttps://deamatrona.co.uk/

Formally formed in 2018, the band have written and self-produced all of their catalogue to the present day. Both Orláith and Mollie sing and play multiple instruments, exchanging lead singing duties but also swapping their roles on bass and lead guitar.[1]

History

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The core band members Orláith Forsythe and Mollie McGinn first met in somewhat competitive circumstances, competing against each other in Scór na nÓg singing competitions. “We also went to the same school but didn’t really know each other. In fifth year there was a talent show at school and both of us wanted to enter it individually,” Forsythe recalls. “But there was only one more space, so the teacher was like, look, you'll do it together or you don't do it, so we very awkwardly did it together without really knowing each other.”[2]

They performed The Chicks song Travelin’ Soldier and then sometime after they clicked with their shared passion for Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. The then-teenagers quickly moved on to busking. “We just went out and played our guitars all day,” says McGinn. “We would meet on a weekend, leave the house in the morning and just not come back all day. I think there was one summer, we just busked pretty much every day.”

Early Career

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In early 2017, still in their teenage years, Orláith & Mollie started playing gigs in smaller pubs, wedding and functions as a cover band. After finishing their studies at Assumption Grammar School, they decided to take a year out to pursue a full-time job making music[3] In the summer of 2018, Mollie managed to draft her younger sister Mamie McGinn, 14 at the time, to play drums with the duo and they began performing regularly as a trio.

Dea Matrona

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They decided to change their name to Dea Matrona [1], which translates to "divine mother goddess" in Celtic mythology and admitted that the reason they stuck with Dea Matrona is mostly to due its vibe.[4] In 2019, Dea Matrona released a collection of four original songs with the Away from the Tide EP.[5] They started producing their music themselves initially due to financial constraints, and they have continued to do so, embracing a DIY approach to their music. Aside from the EP release, the band kept up their cover band work and busking efforts.[6]

In December 2020, a video of the band performing Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” went viral online, gaining over 4 million views.[7] This increase in online attention led to the band performing their single Make You My Star on The Late Late Show in March 2021, which subsequently reached Number 1 on both the UK and Ireland iTunes rock charts.[8] Following this success, they performed at multiple festivals in 2021, including Reading & Leeds,[9] and Belsonic.[10]

Line-up change

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In February 2022, Dea Matrona released a statement on their social media announcing the departure of Mamie McGinn from the band to "focus on college and pursue other interests".[11] Orláith and Mollie continued on as a duo and kept performing live with added session musicians. Notable performances include SXSW,[12] Eurosonic Noorderslag,[13] Rock Werchter, Electric Picnic and supported KALEO as well as Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett on his tour. In 2023 Dea Matrona announced their first UK and Ireland headline tour.[14]

2024 - 2025: For Your Sins

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The band chose to turn down a record deal for the release of their debut album For Your Sins, prioritising artistic control. The album explores themes of love, lust, and religion. Weeks before the album release, the band appeared in a cameo role in the final episode of Blue Lights series 2 The Loyaland can be seen playing in a bar during the last scene of the series covering Dolly Parton's Light of a Clear Blue Morning.[15] The album was followed by a promotional tour [16] and For Your Sins hit Number One on the UK Independent Album Breakers and reached the Top 20 in The Scottish Album Chart Chart.[17] Following this Dea Matrona opened for Sheryl Crow in Halifax, England and supported Shania Twain at BST Hyde Park.

Band members

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  • Orláith Forsythe - Vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar, mandolin (2017–present)
  • Mollie McGinn - Vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar, keys, drums (2017–present)
  • Mamie McGinn - Drums (2018 - 2022)

Discography

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Album

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  • For Your Sins (self-released, 3 May 2024) [18]

EPs

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  • Away from the Tide (self-released, 2019) [5]
  • Dea Matrona EP (self-released, 2022) [19]
  • For Your Sins:Acoustic Sessions (self released 13 December 2024)

Singles

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  • "Hard On Yourself" (2019)
  • "Make You My Star" (2020)
  • "Stamp On It" (2021)
  • "Glory Glory (I Am Free)" (2022)
  • "So Damn Dangerous" (2022)
  • "Red Button" (2022)
  • "Get My Mind Off" (2023)
  • "Stuck On You" (2024)
  • "Black Rain" (2024)
  • "Every Night I Want You" (2024)
  • "KISS" (Prince cover) (2024)
  • "Stuck on You" (acoustic) (2024)
  • "Red Button" (acoustic) (2024)

Appearances and features

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Trivia

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  • Jim Fitzpatrick, the Irish artist who did most of the artwork for Thin Lizzy, has also designed one of Dea Matrona's logos.[23]
  • The instrument swapping between Orláith and Mollie started in the early busking days due to the heaviness of the bass guitar.[24] The instrument swaps have been remarked by several other musicians, including Sheryl Crow.[25]

References

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  1. ^ Robinson, Ian (January 11, 2020). "Dea Matrona band— so good!". Medium. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "The schoolfriends taking their sound from the streets to the big stage". The Standard. 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  3. ^ "Schoolgirl buskers graduate to the Waterfront Hall". Belfast Live. November 2, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  4. ^ "Concert Review & Interview: Dea Matrona". The Diversity of Classic Rock. March 7, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Dea Matrona – Away From The Tide". Discogs. April 28, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  6. ^ "Dea Matrona - My Sharona (The Knack) - Christmas 2019". YouTube. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "Dea Matrona: meet the young Belfast band keeping the fire of Rory Gallagher and Fleetwood Mac burning bright". Music Radar. 13 December 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  8. ^ "Rising Irish Rockers Dea Matrona Hit No.1 on UK and Irish iTunes Rock Charts after Late Late Show". Hot Press. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  9. ^ "Dea Matrona to play Reading and Leeds Festivals 2021". Hot Press. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  10. ^ "Belfast band 'delighted' to be opening for Gerry Cinnamon at Belsonic next week". Belfast Live. 2 September 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  11. ^ "From Busking To Becoming Ones To Watch: An Interview With Dea Matrona". Rock News. February 15, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  12. ^ https://schedule.sxsw.com/2023/artists/2064763
  13. ^ https://esns.nl/en/festival/artists/dea-matrona-2/
  14. ^ https://www.totalntertainment.com/music/dea-matrona-announce-uk-tour-dates/
  15. ^ a b "Blue Lights" The Loyal (TV Episode 2024) - IMDb. Retrieved 2024-04-23 – via www.imdb.com.
  16. ^ https://metalplanetmusic.com/2024/02/dea-matrona-announce-debut-album-for-your-sins-out-3rd-may-and-release-new-single-stuck-on-you/
  17. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/C7zQOB7s5d9/?img_index=1
  18. ^ "deamatrona.tmstor.es/product/128812". Townsend Music.
  19. ^ "Dea Matrona – Dea Matrona EP". Discogs. December 2, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  20. ^ "Nolan Live". BBC One. 6 February 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  21. ^ "Dea Matrona to perform on The Late Late Show on Friday". Hot Press. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Dea Matrona - Make You My Star | The Late Late Show | RTÉ One". YouTube. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  23. ^ "Meet the Legend: Jim Fitzpatrick". YEO Magazine. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  24. ^ "Keeping 'er lit". The Irish World. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  25. ^ Chapman, Neil (June 14, 2024). "Gig review: Sheryl Crow and Dea Matrona at the Piece Hall, Halifax". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
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