Local duo achieves archival recognition over new folk-pop EP
Ballycastle resident Natalie Haskins released the lead single earlier this month
AHEAD of their collaborative 5-track roots/folk-pop EP The Deep Divide, releasing November 1st, Ballycastle resident Natalie Haskins and local songwriter/producer Richard Murray released the lead single, 'The New Demesne,' earlier this month.
Recorded entirely in Co. Antrim, The Deep Divide weaves together Irish acoustic songwriting and traditional nuances with rich West Coast American vocal performances.
The project has already earned archival recognition, having been accepted for feature inclusion in the November newsletter of the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) in Dublin.
The lead single, 'The New Demesne' serves as a tribute to legendary folklorist Alan Lomax. The full 5-track EP also features narrative focus tracks such as 'Mono Jim' (an 1871 western story song exploring Native American history, connecting directly with Haskins’ heritage) and 'Inga Maria' (a commemorative track honoring the memory of Inga Maria Hauser).
Natalie Haskins, who is of Northern Paiute heritage said: “Moving to the North Coast of Ireland from California brought new inspiration to my songwriting.
“Writing and recording with Richard together allowed us to merge my style of what I call California Americana with the deep storytelling roots of Northern Ireland.
“'The Deep Divide' is about bridging those distances—both geographic and cultural, through music.”
Richard Murray said: “We wanted to keep the acoustic elements organic and grounded while letting the vocal harmonies drive the narrative.
“Tracking everything locally in Ballymena gave the whole project a clear, cohesive identity. Songs like 'Mono Jim' and 'Inga Maria' pull from real history and personal memory, making the record both intimate and expansive.”