How I Became A Wave returns with the powerful ‘Fading Out’
By New Single ‘Fading Out’ Marks How I Became A Wave’s Return After Sharing Stages with Ireland’s Finest
Listen to it Here
Fresh from a string of prestigious live support slots with Lisa Hannigan, Villagers, Gemma Hayes, and Ailbhe Reddy Cork’s How I Became A Wave returns today, Tuesday 30th September, with a new single – ‘Fading Out’. Listen Here
Led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Pat Carey, and comprising a collective of Ireland’s finest session musicians, How I Became A Wave is one of the most compelling musical projects emerging from Ireland right now.
Recent live shows at Cork’s Sounds From A Safe Harbour and Dublin’s National Concert Hall have seen ‘Fading Out’ quickly become a fan favourite – with Carey’s distinctive voice mimicking a reed instrument as it rises to the song’s powerful summit.
Arranged for strings by RTÉ Concert Orchestra conductor Cormac McCarthy and produced by Carey and Brian Casey at Wavefield Studios in West Cork, ‘Fading Out’ drifts in softly, then blooms into a sweeping, cinematic crescendo. The track is accompanied by an official music video starring rising Irish actor Éanna Grogan, whose spellbinding performance mirrors the song’s themes of fragility, memory and release, bringing an added layer of depth and emotion to Carey’s work
Pat Carey says: “I wrote the song a little while ago, but I find it amazing how songs and work can grow, can change meaning and relevancy, even for the songwriter, over time. While originally inspired by Max Porter’s Grief Is A Thing With Feathers, I think the song is an exploration of the boundaries between owning uncomfortable feelings, and being owned by them, and that sense of fluidity in the in-between stage.“In particular, collaborating with Éanna and Bearfoot Productions on the video, and seeing how they interact with and interpret the song has brought a whole new level of meaning to the work for me.”
Drawing inspiration from literature, poetry and the natural world, How I Became A Wave crafts songs of striking beauty – meditations on grief, resilience and the quiet grace required to meet life’s challenges. There is an honesty and compassion at the heart of this project that runs through every note, with a collective approach to live shows that mirrors its ethos of connection and care. ‘Fading Out’ is the follow-up single to May’s ‘Cycles’ – a single that saw How I Became A Wave draw strong attention from radio, press and music tastemakers across the country and beyond.
HOW I BECAME A WAVE – UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS
October 18th – Cork, Ireland | Cyprus Avenue (supporting Gemma Hayes) – Tickets
November 7th – Limerick, Ireland | (supporting Gemma Hayes) – Tickets
Connect with How I Became A Wave
You Tube | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky | Spotify
HOW I BECAME A WAVE – BIO
How I Became A Wave is the solo project of Pat Carey, formerly of the acclaimed Irish indie band, The Hard Ground. Blending literary and natural world influences with lush strings and steel pedal guitars, the music of How I Became A Wave speaks to the soul through considered lyrics and quietly rousing melodies.
2025 has seen How I Became A Wave opening for renowned fellow Irish artists such as Villagers, Lisa Hannigan, Gemma Hayes, John Spillane and Ailbhe Reddy. The band has performed at the iconic Sounds From A Safe Harbour festival in their native Cork, and in the magical surrounds of the National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Drawing inspiration from writers like Mary Oliver, Eavan Boland, Max Porter, Sylvia Plath, Seamus Heaney, Doireann Ní Ghríofa and Sara Baume, and musical influences such as Paul Buchanan, Bon Iver, Big Thief, Nils Frahm and Anaïs Mitchell, How I Became A Wave reflects on love, loss and the quiet significance of everyday moments.
How I Became A Wave’s forthcoming debut album features contributions from some of Ireland’s most respected musicians, including Carey’s former Hard Ground bandmates Davie Ryan and Hugh Dillon, pianist Rory McCarthy, cellists Laura McFadden and Aoife Burke, and multi-instrumentalist Brian Casey, among others. RTÉ Concert Orchestra composer Cormac McCarthy has arranged a number of pieces on the album. Each musician brings a quiet depth to the record, enriching its layered, reflective sound.
With the release of a debut album set for early 2026, How I Became A Wave is set to emerge as a powerful voice in Irish music – one that reminds us to pause, reflect and find meaning in the smallest of moments.