Collette 'Living' her best life in music
Síofra Grant
‘Living’, the latest release from local artist Collette Brady McEntee, tells the story of breaking free from the paths we are expected to follow and finding the courage to pursue what actually matters.
Colette began releasing music in 2024 and has rapidly risen through the ranks of the music scene. At one point she hoped to make a bid for Eurovision through producing a track with the producer who worked with Rick Astley and Kylie Minogue. The Eurovision bid was not to be, but that hasn’t stopped her pursuing her dreams.
The latest track is a collaboration between her and Kilbeggan lyricist Larissa Tormey. The track was produced by Richie McCourt.
Colette told us about the inspiration behind ‘Living’ and her music career.
“I wasn’t even thinking of me, I’m thinking of somebody that with the way everything is and the cost of living, people are taking on jobs just to make ends meet, but they might have a talent, or a dream.
“It doesn’t matter if they have that dream or not, they’re just getting by, paying the bills. It’s about not settling for something and following your dreams.
“And the chorus goes, we traded fire for peace of mind, I figure out how to move on, how to embrace it, to be me. So I am doing it, but the chorus is about that person who has a dream.”
While she began releasing her music in 2024, Colette has been writing for longer, and since she started seriously pursuing her dream, she has worked with some of the biggest names in Irish and UK music.
“I’ve been writing all my life, my first single was Nobody Knows with Ben Cully, who I’m doing a concert with this Christmas. Then my next one, Valentine, was with Charlie McGettigan, and that released me into it.
“Then Larissa and I co-wrote this and she’s taken me on a journey the last few years with recording. I’ve been recording with people in the UK like Richard McCord, one of the biggest producers in Europe.” McCord also produced another song for Collette. “So I’m working with some of the best songwriters in Ireland and England and I’m only putting out something that I really feel is worth hearing. I’ve gone down an emotive pop ballad route now, which I love because that’s where I seem to be my happiest.
“Now my voice is getting out there and I’m getting noticed which is great, and to have Larissa’s backing and DWB Publishing, who she works for, is great.”
Colette considered a bid for the Eurovision, and while that did not come to fruition, the experience of recording a song for it was “amazing”.
“My last single, So Long So Low, was a Eurovision draft, but we decided not to submit that one and went with another, but it was amazing. I got to go over to London to record with the songwriter and producer of the song Ian Curnow, who produced Stay Another Day and worked with the likes of Kylie Minogue and Rick Astley.”
Collette credits Larissa and Charlie for facilitating that access. “Larissa has brought me in to all of these circles that are fantastic, and so has Charlie – he was great to start my recording career, he really believed in me and I think it does take people to believe in you.”
Her songs have been picked up by Irish radio networks and her social media accounts have a lot of interactions from European producers and management companies.
A music teacher by trade, Colette has been involved in the scene since she was 10. “I’ve always been singing, my whole childhood was geared toward music, I would have only been average in school but music was something I shone in.
“My mam got me into piano and voice in Lucan when I used to live there. She used to go to the College of Music in Ballyfermot, so I did that from age 10.
“And then it was like my strength all through primary school and secondary school. I geared my whole secondary education to become a music teacher.”
CONCERT AT CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION DELVIN
Collette has a busy few months coming up. She is performing alongside Ben Cully at the Church of the Assumption in Delvin at a Christmas Concert on Sunday December 6.
They will be accompanied by a live band featuring Jonathan Casey on piano, Trish Mulraney on violin, Jack Rabbitte on double bass, and Ciaran Rabbitte on percussion (tickets on eventbrite ‘Carols in Delvin’). Collette will also join the cast of ‘Voyage to Uisneach’ to perform her new single.