WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE MULTI-FACETED AND MULTI-TALENTED ELLI MOORE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ONE OF POP’S MOST EXCITING YOUNG ARTISTS
Irish duo Sonaírí are a rising force who are beginning to make a name for themselves for their novel approach to their sound and the timeless way that they bring it to life. Melding atmospheric, classically-inclined soundscapes with a more modern edge makes for sounds that feel both nostalgic yet fresh, with a Celtic flavour to it to inject it with even more personality and uniqueness.
We have recently heaped praise on the duo and the immersive way that they meld vintage operatic sounds with more modern and forward thinking ideas, and figured that following the release of their excellent new cover of Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’, it gave us the perfect time to find out a bit more about the duo, their background, and what plans they have for their compelling sound in the future.
Who TF are Sonaírí?
We are two singers, one shared obsession with beautiful music.
We’re Amie Dyer and David Corr. Two classically trained singers with a love of opera, Irish music, storytelling and finding unexpected connections between genres.
Sonaírí is where classical elegance meets Celtic soul. We take inspiration from opera, musical theatre, traditional Irish music and contemporary sounds, blending them together in a way that feels authentic to us. At the heart of it all, we’re just passionate about great music, great stories and tying it all together by a healthy curiosity about what the human voice can do.
How long have you been making music?
We actually met while studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland around four years ago and first sang together for a few exams and performances there. After graduating, we both went off and pursued our own projects, but somehow always found our way back to singing together.
It became clear there was something special in that collaboration, so we decided to make it official and form Sonaírí. We’ve been performing and recording together as Sonaírí for almost a year now, with our launch concert taking place last October.
What are your biggest influences?
We’re influenced by a wide range of music, which is probably why Sonaírí has developed the sound it has. Our classical and operatic backgrounds are a huge part of who we are as artists, but we’re equally inspired by Irish music, musical theatre and contemporary artists who tell stories in a meaningful way.
More than any one genre, we’re drawn to music that creates an emotional connection. We love exploring the possibilities of the voice and finding ways to blend different musical worlds together while staying true to the story at the heart of the music.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
Our launch concert last October will always be a special one for us. The reaction from the audience, the support people have shown us, and the way they connected with what we were trying to create was incredibly moving and really gave us confidence in Sonaírí as a duo.
It’s also been quite surreal watching our catalogue of songs grow and seeing people listening to our music on Spotify. Seeing the Sonaírí name alongside a growing collection of tracks is something we’re really proud of and probably something we’ll never take for granted.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
Classical elegance with a Celtic soul. We blend opera, Irish music and contemporary influences, using rich harmonies and storytelling to create a sound that feels uniquely Sonaírí.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
Honestly, I don’t think it’s one particular venue or milestone. For us, it’s about building a career doing what we love and connecting with people through music. If we can continue creating, performing to audiences who genuinely connect with what we do, and see Sonaírí grow year by year, we’d feel very lucky.
That said, hearing our music reach people far beyond our own circles and performing abroad would be pretty cool.
We love your new cover of ‘Fix You’. What more can you tell us about it and how it came about?
Thank you! Fix You is a song we’ve both sat with at different times in our lives, and it’s always been one that resonated deeply with both of us. As we started discussing songs we might like to record, it kept coming up because it means something slightly different to each of us, while carrying a message that feels universal.
The more we performed it, the more we saw how strongly audiences connected with it too. That made us want to explore it further and create a version that felt true to Sonaírí, while still respecting everything people already love about the original.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
Lots of music! We’re continuing to build Sonaírí through new performances and recordings, and we’re excited to keep exploring the blend of classical, Irish and contemporary music that has become such a big part of who we are. We’re also looking forward to marking our one-year anniversary since our launch concert with a special anniversary performance, which feels like a really meaningful milestone for us.
We’re still at the beginning of the journey, which is probably the most exciting part, and we can’t wait to share what’s coming next.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
Probably each other — and whoever is managing the Spotify playlist refreshes!
But honestly, we’ve been blown away by the support since starting Sonaírí. The people coming to our concerts , streaming the music, and sharing it with friends have been incredible. It still feels a bit surreal seeing it all grow.
