New Music: Kate Nash – Famine

When Kate Nash states “There was no Famine’ it’s a statement that is as incendiary now as when Sinéad O’Connor released this track in 1994.

Nash reminds us that even though the bicentennial of An Gorta Mór (The Big/Great Hunger) isn’t so far away, the truth of what occurred is still obscured, and accountability remains avoided, for a man-made disaster. In a matter of a few years, one million people died, and two million left Ireland – and even to this day, the Irish are often blamed for what happened, though the decisions and power lay elsewhere.

Ireland remained a massive exporter of food throughout that period, and in one event alone, 400 people marched to their death. Following in O’Connor’s footsteps, Nash does not spare the listener the details of how language, music, and culture were decimated and even now, still haven’t recovered.

Says Nash about the song and the impact it had on her as a person, “Covering this song is an opportunity for me to take a deep look at my dual English and Irish nationality. In a time shaped by immigration, war, and rising nationalism, these conversations feel more relevant than ever.”

“I’m really interested in this history and how it shaped the countries my families are from and how that in turn has shaped my outlook on life. You just have to look at the comments section to get a sense of the lack of knowledge, patience and empathy we are being encouraged to not have. Personally, it makes me all the more dedicated to staying curious, to learning and to listening.”

You can find a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl version of the song on Bandcamp in the US via Kill Rock Stars, and in the UK via Nash’s webstore.

Header photo by Ellius Grace