Music around the Globe: Lisa Murray

Have you ever heard a piece of music that your brain couldn’t understand, but your heart could feel? Has a foreign melody enchanted you to the point where it’s not foreign anymore? 

While that is incredibly cheesy, it is also how we feel about music. After all, some researchers argue that humans have been making music since before we even began to speak. The connection we have to music is deep, ancestral and transcendental across language and cultural barriers. Here at Gen Admission, we have always valued our global community and are excited to launch a new blog series, “Music Around The Globe.” The series will promote emerging artists who don’t primarily make music in English.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to our first artist, Lisa Murray, a bilingual Irish pop artist, songwriter and music producer, born in Baile Ghib, a small Gaeltacht in County Meath, now based in London, England. She earned a degree in Music and Modern Irish at Trinity College Dublin before completing a Master’s in Music Production, Technology & Innovation at Berklee College of Music.  

Her breakthrough single “i unfollowed u” hit over 3 million radio impacts, landed in Ireland’s top 200 Shazam chart and top 10 Irish Radio Breakers Chart, and cemented her place as a rising force in pop. But it was “uaigneach”—her first Irish-language release—that truly set her apart. Fans on TikTok called her Gaeilgeoir Swift, and with over 560,000 views since embracing Irish-language content in late 2024 following her Gaelic covers of pop songs, Lisa realised she had found something special. Since then, she’s been featured on multiple radio stations, like RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltacht and TodayFM. During Irish Music Month 2024, she was selected as a finalist for the Local Hero Talent competition on LMFM.

We asked her what it means to be an artist from a Gaeltacht, how she got to where she is today, who inspires her the most and more! 

GA: Who is your biggest musical inspiration? 

LM: Over the years, I have had many different musical inspirations. But if I had to choose, I would say Taylor Swift. I think her work ethic, resilience and authenticity are so commendable. She has endured so much during her life in the public eye, and her commitment to her fans and staying true to herself through it all is truly so inspiring to me. Plus, her songwriting and storytelling have made her a once-in-a-lifetime artist.

GA: How would you describe your music if it were a recipe?

LM:

1. 200g of heartfelt storytelling
2. 1 cup of emotional vulnerability, stirred in gently
3. 150g of atmospheric synths, for that dreamy texture
4. 100g of delicate vocals, balanced with a pinch of raw power
5. A generous drizzle of vocal harmonies
6. A dash of pop sparkle for flavour
7. A generous swirl of bilingual lyricism — Irish and English in perfect harmony
8. Garnished with love, hope, and a little bit of magic 

GA: Are you currently working on a project? If yes, can you tell us about it? 

LM: I am and I can! I’m currently working on my debut album, “Plúiríní Sneachta” (English: Snowdrops). It is a poetic, bilingual concept record that I hope to release in early 2026, alongside a modern Irish poetry book of the same name. Inspired by the literary style of poets like Máire Mhac an tSaoi and the sonic landscapes of artists like Chappell Roan and Taylor Swift, I hope this project will be a cornerstone of my creative identity, bridging traditional Irish culture with contemporary pop production.

GA: What are your biggest challenges as an artist from Ireland, specifically from a Gaeltacht? 

LM: One of the biggest challenges for me as an artist from Ireland — especially from the Gaeltacht — is visibility. There’s so much incredible talent in rural areas and in Irish-language communities, but often the music industry is centred around major cities and it can feel like there’s a disconnect. As a Gaeltacht artist, there’s also the challenge of representing a language and a culture that’s often underrepresented or misunderstood, especially in mainstream pop music. On top of that, I think there’s a lack of infrastructure in Ireland to really support and develop a long-term career in music — especially for artists who are starting out. It can feel like you have to wear every hat: manager, producer, publicist, social media strategist — all while staying creative and trying not to burn out! But those challenges have also shaped who I am as an artist. They’ve made me resourceful and independent. And they’ve pushed me to build something from the ground up — not just for myself, but to show that Irish-language music and artists from rural communities deserve a place on the global stage.

GA: Pursuing a master's at Berklee is a significant step. What motivated you to specialize in Music Production, Technology, and Innovation?​

LM: Yes it was, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without that incredible master’s program! During my degree at Trinity College Dublin, I specialized in Music Technology and I became obsessed with the world of music tech and production. When I was finishing my degree, I started to research opportunities for women in the field, as it’s such an underrepresented part of the industry (and still is to this day). During my research, I came across Berklee Valencia’s Music Production, Technology and Innovation master’s program, and I saw that they offered an ‘Outstanding Woman Scholarship’ to one female-identifying student every year. This scholarship came with exclusive mentorship with Sylvia Massy (Johnny Cash, Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers). I knew it would be an absolutely incredible opportunity, so I applied. I got in, was awarded the Outstanding Woman Scholarship and the rest is history! 

GA: As a self-producing artist, how do you balance the roles of songwriter and producer during the creation of a track?

LM: To be honest, it can be really difficult. A lot of the time, the roles all merge into one cohesive creative process. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. Some songs have come to life because the production and songwriting process were fused together. Other times, it’s better to write the song away from a Digital Audio Workstation to connect more deeply with the meaning and the nitty gritty details of the storytelling. I like to challenge myself by setting restrictions. This helps a lot with getting things finished and avoiding choice paralysis when working in the box as a producer! 

‍GA: How does singing in Irish differ from singing in English in terms of expression and emotion?

LM: When I discovered my passion for writing and performing in Irish last year, it was like a whole new world opened up inside of me! For me, singing in Irish helps me connect with my inner artist more and connect to my true sense of self. Something I love about the Irish language is the richness in the way you approach saying certain things. For example, my first Irish language release was titled ‘uaigneach’. The literal translation of the word ‘uaigneach’ in English is ‘lonely’. But to a native Irish speaker, the word has a deeper meaning than just ‘lonely’. It encompasses a sense of loss, loneliness and solitude, and that makes it the perfect word to describe the homesickness I feel when I’m away from home in the song. When I sing in Irish, it’s a selfless and spiritual act. I am singing to spread the ancient language that I was so lucky to be raised speaking fluently. I feel like I’m a part of a bigger mission and global movement towards the Irish language revival. 

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