Award-winning Dublin-based vocalist, composer, and lyricist Emilie Conway is celebrated for her innovative approach to jazz and her ability to weave music, poetry, and visual art into unified performance.
Her upcoming single, In Walked Piet (release date: 26 September), draws inspiration from Thelonious Monk’s jazz classic In Walked Bud — Monk’s nod to pianist Bud Powell, a contrafact of Blue Skies with Ella Fitzgerald's unforgettable solo — and from the vibrant abstractions of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, whose fascination with jazz and boogie-woogie profoundly shaped his art. Conway’s piece reimagines this lineage, creating a dialogue between these two innovators: Monk’s harmonic daring, the influence of New York City on Mondrian’s visual rhythm, and her own distinctive improvisational voice.
The work was originally commissioned in part by the National Gallery of Ireland and will be premiered live at the Limerick Jazz Festival (25 September). Conway will be joined by long-time collaborators Johnny Taylor (piano) and Derek Whyte (double bass).
The recording of In Walked Piet features Barry Donohue on bass, while Derek Whyte will perform on the live dates.
“Star of the show is Conway’s voice.” – Hot Press
“Her own vocalese to Coltrane’s solo demonstrating her abilities to their fullest, flitting through the lyrics at a tempo most rappers would be envious of, while maintaining a bouncing melody and clarity of diction throughout.” – GoldenPlec
Conway’s artistry has long been rooted in a deep engagement with literature, visual art, and cross-disciplinary performance. She is also a pioneer in inclusive arts practice, with recent projects such as Solid, Space, Sound (Project Arts Centre / Arts Council of Ireland) expanding access for visually impaired audiences.
With In Walked Piet, the first single to be released from the Mondrian and Music Project, Emilie Conway invites listeners to step into a space where sound and vision converge — a bold reimagining that celebrates jazz history while opening it to new aesthetic possibilities.
Listen to "In Walked Piet" on Emilie Conway's Spotify page from September 28th
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