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CartKeith Harkin to Release Self-Titled, Solo Debut on Sept. 18
Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:29:23
Verve recording artist Keith Harkin is readying his self-titled solo debut for release on September 18.
Anticipation for the album has already driven pre-sale orders to No. 2 on Amazon. Jochem van der Saag—who has worked with such artists as Josh Groban, Michael Bublé and Seal, produced the CD.
If his name is not instantly familiar to you, let us make an introduction as best we can. Harkin is best-known as a principle singer with Irish global powerhouse Celtic Thunder, which Billboard named Top World Music Artist.
Keith Harkin, a twelve-track collection split between classic covers and original compositions, illustrates the artist's skills as both an interpreter and a writer. The album's first single is the bittersweet traveler's plea, "Don't Forget About Me," which will be accompanied by a video.
"I love all music, and a lot of my influences are on this record," says Harkin. "Neil Young, pop, dance, country—I love Glen Campbell. I see it like an old-school Elton John record, where he would play rock next to country next to folk. It's quite a broad horizon."
Cover versions of rock and pop classics include Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You," featuring a duet with two-time Grammy® Award winner Colbie Caillat, Tom Waits' "The Heart Of Saturday Night," "Everybody's Talkin'," which Harkin mastered at age 13, and a powerful version of Don Henley's "The End of the Innocence."
In addition to "Don't Forget About Me," other self-penned tracks include the gently rolling, heartfelt love song "Nothing But You & I," and the yearning ballad, "Rosa," which Harkin considers "one of the best tracks on the album," adding, the first time I heard the strings added at Abbey Road Studios, I was in tears."
A native of County Derry in Northern Ireland, Keith Harkin started performing at the age of four. Already an accomplished songwriter and guitarist, he has composed and recorded songs for "Dha Theanga," an Irish program on BBC in which he plays a lead role. As a principle singer and songwriter for Celtic Thunder, Harkin has already sold millions of albums and DVDs and performed at the White House.
Are you going to check out Keith Harkin? You won't be disappointed! Promise.
—Amy Sciarretto
08.24.12
