Maybe you've seen the recent Irish viral video about the loss of a loved one "Please Don't Go" by singer Stephanie Rainey (it now has over 3.5 million views). Rainey has written a special piece for IrishCentral and PlayIrish USA this week about her recent experience of coming to the US. Scroll down for more.
Stephanie Rainey - Please Don't GoPlease Don't GoFor the past few months I’ve been working on a video for my track ‘Please Don’t Go’ that I am so honoured to share with you all. It’s hard to put into words what this video means to me and how grateful I am to the people who took part - it wasn’t easy. A few years ago, I lost my nephew very suddenly and it was something that changed my life forever. I can still remember how it felt and I know there are so many other people who have gone through the same thing in one form or another.I feel like this song has resonated the most with me since writing it. I remember the exact place it came from and it never loses its meaning no matter how many times I play it. Since then, I’ve wanted to create a music video that reflects this and which could potentially help people who are struggling with loss while also giving people a chance to tell their story.To John, Dylan, Donna, Cian, Moira, Gary, Teresa, Kate and Tony, I will never be able to thank you enough for your honesty and willingness to share what you did, it takes tremendous courage and I have so much respect for you all. To Kate O Hara, Miki Barlok, Gary Keane and Kevin Herlihy - all the time and effort you've put into this has brought it to life. Also a very special thank you to Sarah Power for her incredible piano and production work and Gary Keane for his vocal and production work. This track would be nothing without ye and making the EP was best experience of my life. You guys are magic.I hope that whoever watches this gets something from it. All my love, Steph x
Posted by Stephanie Rainey on Monday, 17 August 2015
A few weeks ago I put out a music video that ended up getting a lot of attention and ultimately went viral. Following it’s success I was going to California for some meetings.
When I got to one of the airport checkpoints in Los Angeles, the officer asked me why I was coming through and I told him I was there to meet some record companies because of a song I had released. He took my passport, started smiling and asked if I was Stephanie Rainey. He’d seen my video and loved it which just blew me away. He asked if he could get an autograph and a selfie with me - which again was something I wasn’t expecting all the way over in LA.
It was an amazing moment for me, the idea that my music had reached so far in such a short space of time was beyond amazing. As we bunched in to take the photo (on the sly so his boss couldn’t see) as he gave a big but slightly secret thumbs up to the camera in his phone.
He said he wished me ‘nothing but positive vibes’ and hoped that the trip would be successful. I was really nervous up to that point and his warmth took it all away. America is an amazing place and I hope I get to see loads more of it very soon. The fact that it will more than likely happen whilst promoting my music makes it so much more exciting. I can’t wait.
Stephanie Rainey
More on Stephanie Rainey:
If you are interested in supporting Irish music here are couple of small but significant things you can do:
1. Like and share this playlist
2. Follow us on Spotify: PLAYIRISH USA playlist combines all the weekly playlists into one big fabulous playlist - follow here: #PLAYIRISHUSA
IASCA is the Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. Based in Ireland, their members are the Irish music writers of all genres - artists, songwriters, composers and lyricists. Their goal is to represent their members, support them, protect their interests and create an environment where new talent can thrive.PLAY IRISH is an IASCA initiative to promote Irish music both at home and overseas. This playlist is brought to you by the IASCA, visit their website here: www.iasca.ie.
Comments