Davie Furey and Eleanor Shanley Find Common Ground on There’s an Ocean
Sometimes, when two artists come together, something just clicks. That’s certainly the case with There’s an Ocean, the first collaboration between Irish singer-songwriter Davie Furey and one of Ireland’s most respected folk voices, Eleanor Shanley.
Bringing together two distinctive voices from different corners of the Irish music scene, There’s an Ocean
is an atmospheric contemporary folk ballad that doesn’t try to do too much. Instead, it keeps things simple and lets the voices, the song and the emotion do the heavy lifting.
And it works.
Two Distinctive Irish Voices Come Together
At the heart of There’s an Ocean
is the interplay between Furey and Shanley.
Furey has built a reputation as a compelling Irish singer-songwriter, combining contemporary folk and rock with traditional Irish influences and a touch of Americana. His raspy, lived-in vocal style has plenty of character, and there are shades of artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle and Christy Moore in his approach to storytelling.
Shanley, meanwhile, needs little introduction to Irish folk fans. With a career spanning more than three decades, she has established herself as one of the country’s most recognisable traditional and folk vocalists. Her clear, soulful voice and natural ability to communicate the emotion of a song have made her a much-loved figure on the Irish music scene.
On There’s an Ocean
, those contrasting vocal qualities fit together beautifully.
Furey brings the grit; Shanley brings the clarity. Rather than one voice overpowering the other, they complement each other, giving the track much of its personality.
There’s an Ocean
Keeps Things Simple
Musically, There’s an Ocean
is understated, and that feels entirely deliberate.
A gently played guitar provides the rhythmic and harmonic foundation, guiding the song through its slow and relaxed progression. Underneath, a simple beat keeps things moving without ever intruding on the vocals.
There are no huge instrumental flourishes or unnecessary production tricks here. The arrangement leaves plenty of space around both singers, and that space is a big part of the track’s appeal.
The result is a song with a distinctly chilled, intimate atmosphere. It feels less like a track designed to grab you by the collar and more like one that quietly draws you in.
Storytelling Takes Centre Stage
What makes There’s an Ocean
particularly effective is that the production understands where the focus needs to be.
This is a song about voices and storytelling.
By stripping the instrumentation back, the track gives Furey and Shanley room to connect. Their vocals sit naturally alongside each other, and the contrast between them creates an emotional texture that a busier arrangement could easily have buried.
It also makes sense as a meeting point between two artists whose work has always placed considerable importance on storytelling and emotional connection.
For a first collaboration, there’s an impressive sense of ease about it. Nothing feels forced, and neither artist sounds as though they have had to compromise their own musical identity to make the partnership work.
Final Verdict
There’s an Ocean
is a beautifully understated Irish folk collaboration that knows its greatest strength is the combination of Davie Furey and Eleanor Shanley’s voices.
The sparse guitar, gentle rhythm and laid-back production create the space needed for the pair to shine, resulting in a track that feels intimate, warm and quietly affecting.
The single, Theres An Ocean, is available through all streaming platforms.
Photo Credit: Furey/Shanley
