After his former band The Immediate had split, Dublin singer-songwriter Conor O'Brien set about penning songs that would make him one of Ireland's most critically acclaimed young stars. Originally a solo project, O'Brien recorded debut 'Becoming a Jackal' in 2010 in his friend Tommy McLaughlin's attic studio in Donegal amid snow storms and idyllic countryside. The album won praise for its humble honesty, beautiful melodies and old-time warmth, as well as topping the Irish charts and receiving a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize. As time progressed Villagers grew into a full scale band with McLaughlin taking a more prominent role alongside bassist Danny Snow, drummer James Byrne and pianist Cormac Curran and together they created a more uplifting, lush, fuller sounding second album '{Awayland}' (2013). Still full of acoustic lullabies and dreamy introspection, it earned comparisons with Bright Eyes, Elliot Smith and The Frames as it reached number 16 in the UK and again received a Mercury nomination. Their third album, 'Darling Arithmetic', was released in 2015 and was followed by 'Where Have You Been All My Life?' in 2016 and 'The Art of Pretending to Swim' in 2018.Artist biography compiled by BDS/West 10. All rights reserved
