Debra Lyn
The Wexford Carol | One Voice | Blue Sun RisesA “sampler video” to give you a quick listen to all of the songs on the “Blue Sun Rises” CD!
** Please contact Matthew for a password to access the EPK which includes 320 MP3s, lyrics, credits and artwork.
You can read more about Debra, view videos and lyrics by visiting her official website.
Debra Lyn is an Americana/Folk singer/songwriter and musician based in Nashville, Tennessee. Her music roots run deep through traditional country music to bluegrass and folk.
“THE WEXFORD CAROL (Tom Billy’s Jig)” is the 2nd single from her upcoming Christmas CD to be released in 2021. “The Wexford Carol” is a traditional Irish Christmas Carol which has been meticulously intertwined with “Tom Billy’s Jig,” a traditional Irish fiddle tune. Featuring Baritone Acoustic Guitar, Uilleann Pipes, Irish Whistle, Irish Fiddle, Cello and Percussion, this is the perfect complement to Debra’s previous album, “Blue Sun Rises” and an inspirational way to top off 2020.
“ONE VOICE” is the first single from the upcoming holiday EP. “One Voice” was inspired by not only current events, but also by the realization that together we all can make a difference.
Debra’s new EP will feature traditional and original songs keeping the Folk/Celtic inspiration from “Blue Sun Rises.” Please stay tuned!
“Blue Sun Rises,” Debra Lyn’s third album for Nashville-based Palette Records, brings together traditional music that clearly speaks to Debra’s Irish/Scottish/English heritage and intricately weaves these influences with original material.
Inspired versions of songs such as the Scottish favorites “The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond” and “The Parting Glass,” a popular American Folk/Gospel song “Wayfaring Stranger,” and a lesser known British folk song, “Billy Taylor” with an upbeat feel, are also included. “Blue Sun Rises” was produced by Debra’s long-time collaborator, Jeff Silverman, an award-winning producer and songwriter. In addition to co-writing and performing on many of the album’s songs, Jeff produced, arranged, mixed and mastered the album.
“Blue Sun Rises” is a recording of carefully crafted innovation and surprises guaranteed to grab and hold the listener’s attention. The blending of the traditional Irish/Scottish/British music with fresh original material, creates a musical work which stands apart in the genres of Celtic and Americana/Folk music and provides a unique introduction to new audiences while offering a work that satisfies those more familiar with these styles of music.
AmericanaHighways.org Review
Debra Lyn’s “Blue Sun Rises” is Celtic Music with Exquisite Tone by John Apice
Debra Lyn – Blue Sun Rises – Palette Records
At first, I thought this was just another Celtic type traditional excursion of a singer-songwriter attempting to add her bluegrass-folk tuneful songs to a canon of traditional ones that have lasted for hundreds of years. I was wrong.
This has a thread of originality, creativeness, and the attractive Debra Lyn’s exquisite vocal tone.
Blue Sun Rises, her 3rd LP released May 31st is not just another Celtic wannabe album. Her tunes have weight & Debra, who possesses that English/Scottish/Irish air also has – American blues & jazz in her voice. She’s in command of a rich tone that she’s created & it’s something magical out of the ancient.
Debra, at times, sings with an edginess. Similar to early Shane McGowan (The Pogues). By track 3 Debra has me rocking in my chair during the British folk song “Billy Taylor.”
In a more classic traditional fashion “The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond,” — but once the band kicks in & Debra’s durable vocal paints broad strokes all over this ancient melodic ballad it’s renewed, fresh. I hope one day she will cover “The Keeper,” & “Valerie,” both which are wonderfully melodic old-world songs.
Aside from vocals, Debra plays mountain dulcimer, claw hammer banjo & electric bass. Award-winning producer Jeff Silverman plays a custom-made Martin acoustic baritone guitar tuned lower than standard guitars & bass guitar. Additional musicians – there are many, cited on Debra’s website under lyrics – each song has multiple musicians listed individually.
Falling away from the Celtic & injecting her vocals with a grittier Americanistic tone, Debra certainly asserts herself with “Workin’ for the Money.” This is dynamic — bright percussion, crisp acoustics, excellent arrangement & reminiscent of the energy often displayed by the likes of Reba McIntyre & Dolly Parton. Irish step dancer Lily Rose Fisher performs percussive dance steps on 2 tracks including this. This is definitely a keeper.
“Love Will Never Die,” has just enough vocal-emote to be sincere & without showboating. The track rallies wonderful fiddles — not a fast song but is an exciting one.
Debra Lyn obviously wields perfectionism & creativity when she covers a song. She isn’t going to just go the traditional easy route of expectation. She infuses it, adds personality, & modernizes the song with her own trimmings. “Wayfaring Stranger,” features all the standard instruments you’d expect plus Deb’s banjo. It’s as if, you’re hearing the old song for the first time. And then wait…wait for the finale when the band & pennywhistle take off like a jam band stirring up the energy akin to The Pogues & Dropkick Murphy’s. Irish step dancer Lily Rose Fisher returns to add her percussive treatment.
“Devil with the Blue Eyes,” has stimulating guitar sounds & finger snaps with brushes on the snare. This is more stimulating & jazzier. Debra’s perfect with her annunciation. Then, back to the Celtic – “Preacher Man,” — bagpipes, acoustic guitar & deeper vocal treatment. All the necessary shouted “Hey’s,” that dramatizes the song like Slade’s (“Walking on Water, Running on Alcohol”) & the Anti-Nowhere League’s (“Queen & Country”).
It’s amazing how Debra changes lanes on this musical highway so easily & maintains speed without veering into a wild note gully. Hard melodic lines, martial drums, sewn together by bagpipes. Hot stuff. “The Parting Glass,” is probably the most beautiful on the LP – as traditional sounding as the performance is it’s not old, it’s today. Debra Lyn makes it modern & impressive.
Check it out, here: https://debralyn.com/blue-sun-rises/
NewClassics.co.uk Review
Debra Lyn’s “Blue Sun Rises” Review – NewClassics.co.uk
Debra Lyn – Blue Sun Rises – Palette Records
Debra Lyn is an award-winning Americana/Folk artist and singer/songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Her music roots run deep through traditional country music to bluegrass and folk and her earliest musical memories are of her Grandmother, Betty Lewis. Also singer in the Albany/Troy, New York area in the 50s, Betty gave Debra her first guitar and encouraged her musical dreams.
Blue Sun Rises is Debra Lyn’s third CD for Nashville-based Palette Records and brings together traditional music that reflects her Irish/Scottish/English heritage and intricately weaves these influences with original material. Inspired versions of songs such as the Scottish favourites The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond and The Parting Glass, a popular American Folk/Gospel song Wayfaring Stranger, and a lesser known British folk song, Billy Taylor, are included along with songs such as the title track, co-written with producer Jeff Silverman, which employs evocative storytelling to explore the universal human emotions of separation and loss.
The seven original songs written by Debra and Jeff include the irresistible opening track I Pull Me Down, featuring the Irish song ‘The Maids of Mitchelstown’, blending the new with the traditional. This musical alchemy continues throughout the CD with beautiful Love Will Never Die coupled with Irish Reel ‘The Star of Munster’, the moody Preacher Man and the traditional American song Wayfaring Stranger, complete with Irish step dancing.
The CD’s final song, Ode to Billy Taylor, was written by Debra as an ending to the original story to vindicate Billy Taylor and features a haunting melody entwined meticulously with Irish flute, cello and Uilleann pipe drones. As well as her lovely vocals, Debra Lyn plays mountain dulcimer, claw hammer banjo and electric bass, while Jeff Silverman contributes his custom-made Martin acoustic baritone guitar to the mix.
Blue Sun Rises blends traditional Irish/Scottish/British music with fresh original material to create a musical work which stands apart in the genres of Celtic and Americana/Folk music, providing a unique introduction to new audiences that also satisfies those more familiar with these styles of music. Watch the video for I Pull Me Down Video.
Click to go to the NewClassics.co.uk review page
Stacy's Music Row Report Review
Debra Lyn’s “Blue Sun Rises” Review – Stacy’s Music Row Report
This, the Americana/folk singer/songwriter’s third (Nashville-based) Palette Records album, is a departure from the first two.
Debra Lyn’s inspiration this time around is found in the culture and music of her Irish/Scotch/English heritage.
The opener, Pull Me Down (The Maids of Mitchelstown) fuses original, navigational love lyrics by Debra and producer/arranger Jeff Silverman with a traditional Irish tune.
The title song finds our protagonist, no longer navigating the waters, lamenting lost love by clinging to the memories that remain.
Traditional British folk (Billy Taylor) and Scottish (The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond) songs follow, then, lest the listener stay ensconced in a European musical travelogue, Debra sings the praises of personal time (though, admittedly to the beat of Jeff’s Irish step dancing) with a universal theme titled Workin’ for the Money.
Love Will Never Die (featuring the traditional Irish reel The Star of Munster) is a tale of a heart denied choice, followed by Debra’s putting her personal stamp on the classic, Wayfaring Stranger.
Devil With the Blue Eyes is yet another diversion, conjuring familiar Christian imagery while Preacher Man challenges the judgmental who preach funerals with an agenda that overrides that of memorializing the deceased.
And you don’t have to be Scottish, nor even a drinker, to enjoy Debra’s rendering of The Parting Glass.
The finale, Ode to Billy Taylor (The Sun Rises Blue) builds on Billy Taylor, the aforementioned story-song, taking the sailor’s saga to a new level.
Debra Lyn’s stated mission is to honor her heritage with musical influences “intricately woven into original and traditional songs throughout.”
Mission accomplished!