Amanda has been singing bilingually since primary school, snatching some prestigious awards at Slógadh as part of her school choir, as well as an impressive run winning Labhairt na Gaeilge as part of Féile na hInse throughout primary and secondary school. Growing up in a musical home her father a drummer her love for music knows no bounds, with her taste in music being very eclectic, influenced equally by Clannad, Led Zeppelin, Sinead O’ Connor and Electric Light Orchestra.
Now songwriting as part of the duo Phoenix and Wolfe Amanda is cultivating a new sound.
Phoenix and Wolfe-
Irish and Brazilian duo Amanda Shannon and Cairo Rocha perform and write songs in the healing frequency of 432hz which is precursor to what this duo are all about. Composing songs that speak to loss, vulnerability, power, destiny and desire they provoke emotion and thought. They also believe in writing in different languages to invoke the variety of feeling as well as experimenting with certain aspects. ‘I grew up listening to groove music with my dad being a drummer and I really wanted to discover how it felt to place Irish lyrics over a soulful groove harmony’- Amanda, as seen in their song ‘Éistigí’.
Background
Amanda and Cairo spent a good deal of time privately experimenting and developing their sound before debuting some of their music with the Bualadh Busk series of 2021 supported by the Clare County Council and Clare Arts Office. This was a series of outdoor music events during the pandemic. Amanda took time to work with mentors SAL and Dora Gola and continues to work with Dora. They also went on to record the first single ‘We’ll get used to it’ which was released in April 2022. The single was produced by Enda Gallery and was a touching reverie, dealing with the grief and imposter syndrome that Amanda faced after the loss of her husband in 2017 to Oesophageal Cancer. The song features the vocals of Enda Gallery as well as Cairo and is a reminder that we can heal together in community.
2022 was a great year for Phoenix and Wolfe as they opened for acts such as Dora Gola and Sonny Casey in The Attic in Hotel Doolin aswell as upstairs in Dolans. They also took part in events in Dublin like The ShowOff Sessions in Donabate, and La Mansarda in The Cobblestone bar. They also took part in events run by Cuppa Tea TV during 2021, 2022, including ‘Shannon Live’, carving a strong bond and affinity for Damian O’ Rourke who has been a great support to the duo.
“Amanda and Cairo are two of the sweetest people and artists I’ve ever come across in all my time producing music. Vulnerable, kind-hearted and brave I’m glad they are making art and putting it into the world. We need more pure hearted music in this world and I am looking forward to all they have to give us” – Enda Gallery
”Phoenix and Wolfe are a mesmerising duo. With luscious and beautiful vocal tones, alongside gorgeous fingerstyle guitar. Melodies full of open hearted emotion. You can feel their connection from the very first note” SAL
“A sensual mixture of Irish soul and Brazilian heart. So beautiful and exotic. Amanda’s warm voice and Cairo’s distinctive guitar playing seduce the audience with every note. I was hooked from the minute I heard them.” – Dora Gola