Project Description
Similar Artists: Randy Newman, Bahamas, Father John Misty
Cuchulain — a low-voiced songsmith with a wry sense of humor – has a big name to fill. Cuchulain (pronounced “ka-hoo-lin”) was named (yes, by his parents) after the famous Irish mythological hero. As he explains, “Every Irish person knows this name, but no one is named it. It’s like naming your kid Hercules or Jesus.” The name is translated to “Hound of Chulainn” in Gaelic and inspired the name of his previous musical project Handsome Hound.
And like his mythological namesake, Cuchulain has journeyed far and wide, finding himself and his songs shaped by each place he stops. He has honed his genre-bending version of folk music by incorporating the sounds of his many hometowns.
News
RELEASES
Cuchulain releases the genre-bending single, “Don’t Come Easy.” feat. Handsome Hound on September 17. This is the second single off FEAT, his album of long-distance pandemic collaborations due out Nov 5. This one started as a dialogue with himself – “relax, don’t overthink it / well baby, it don’t come easy for me.” But as this song took shape in June 2020 amidst the BLM protests over George Floyd’s murder, the second verse took on a different meaning. All sounds were recorded in home studios (trumpet on an iPhone) in Oregon, Texas, DC, & California. Cuchulain’s wife on background vocals and the trumpeter were in Handsome Hound with him. The result is a joyful orchestra of sounds laying the bedrock for Cuchulain’s soothing, yet upbeat melody.
Cuchulain releases the genre-bending album, FEAT on November 5. For the Eugene-based singer-songwriter and born extrovert, his way of coping with confinement was to reach out and collaborate virtually with other musicians. Each song on this album is a collaboration – Cuchulain wrote all music and lyrics, and then sent the demos to talented friends. Each track features a guest artist, and over twenty musicians around the United States and world contributed parts to the arrangements. Recorded in home studios of all levels of professionalism – some horn parts were captured by smartphone – from LA to Austin, Seattle to Chicago, SF to DC, Philly to Hungary, this album is meant to be a source of light in the dark, a gathering of a community, a tiny example of the show going on. In short, a feat. Read more
Bio
Cuchulain -- a low-voiced songsmith with a wry sense of humor – has a big name to fill. Cuchulain (pronounced “ka-hoo-lin”) was named (yes, by his parents) after the famous Irish mythological hero. As he explains, “Every Irish person knows this name, but no one is named it. It’s like naming your kid Hercules or Jesus.” The name is translated to “Hound of Chulainn” in Gaelic and inspired the name of his previous musical project Handsome Hound.

"Today's #DeskOfTheDay gives ‘one-man-band’ a whole new meaning. Watch "I Prefer My Phone," a 2021 Tiny Desk Contest entry from @CuchulainK” - NPR Music, June 23, 2021

“Charming and poignant Americana.”

"There’s a Leonard Cohen cadence and observational wit at play, filtered through Cuchulain‘s voice that recalls Evan Dando of The Lemonheads. It's a clever and lyrically impressive track that rolls along perfectly like a Randy Newman lost gem."