Eve Belle

My name is Eve Belle Murtagh and I’m a musician originally from Donegal, Ireland. I have been recording and releasing music since I was 15 years old, which will be 10 years ago this October. I began writing and performing in my home place of Donegal, releasing my first single ‘Too Young To Feel This Old’ in 2015. I write music in Irish and English and represented Ireland in the Pan-Celtic Songwriting Competition in 2018, with my original song ‘Craiceann agus Cnámha (Skin and Bones)’. I was also named Artist of the Year at the NÓS Awards for Irish Language Music in 2016.

My debut album ‘In Between Moments’ was released in October 2020 and received a 4 star review in the Irish Times, described as ‘fizzing with energy, enthusiasm and clever songwriting’. The Sunday Times wrote that the album marked me out as Ireland’s ‘freshest pop voice’. My early career has seen my style transition from acoustic folk to Indie pop, with the latter making up the majority of my album. In spite of this tonal shift, the focal point of my music has consistently been lyrical honesty. Music is my way of processing and expressing my emotions and my experience of life. Often described as ‘sad bops’, my songs frequently juxtapose lyrical sadness with upbeat and engaging melodies, which I feel captures the complicated nature of being young and hopeful.

The proudest moments in my career include the release of my album, playing the Irish Festival circuit and being part of Irish Women In Harmony. Collaborating with incredible artists and developing my live performance skills has shaped me as a musician and given me an in-depth appreciation for the industry. I’ve worked with artists such as RuthAnne and Tebi Rex, and written songs with esteemed writers such as Johnny Latimer and Amy Wadge. I’ve performed at venues all around Ireland such as the Olympia Theatre, the 3 Arena, Dolan’s and An Grianan Theatre, supporting acts such as Frightened Rabbit, Hozier, and Anne Marie. I have performed several headline shows at venues including the Boy’s School (Smock Alley Theatre) and Whelan’s Upstairs. These shows were instrumental moments in my career, serving as landmarks as to how far I’ve come.

This project will allow me to build on all I have achieved so far. Releasing a debut album in 2020 posed significant challenges, not least that I was unable to perform due to the closure of venues, and thus that I couldn’t promote the record as I feel it deserved. My new music is a representation of the ways in which I’ve changed since entering the pandemic, coming to terms with my sexuality and mental health struggles, and becoming a more independent and well-rounded songwriter. This project comes at a pivotal time in my career in that I am seeking to regain momentum and redirect it in the new trajectory I have chosen, one that honours the newest version of myself, and doesn’t seek to hide any of the difficult parts.