Having stepped back into the limelight to launch his solo career with the release of the stunningly heartfelt debut album ‘Fire’, Markus Feehily’s new single ‘Sanctuary’ is to impact on March 11th on Harmoney Entertainment via Kobalt.
‘Sanctuary’ follows Markus’ two previous singles ‘Love Is A Drug’ and ‘Butterfly’ which have truly seen him come-of-age as an artist and songwriter. The track combines Markus’ roof-lifting vocals, with a reflective stripped back electro-soul backing and a subtle gospel choir and includes a sample from 1982 hit single ‘Theme From Harry’s Game’ by his fellow countrymen, Clannad. The result is a heartrending statement that expertly melds Markus’ soulful R&B roots and perfectly captures his new found creative freedom.
The video is based on Markus’ personal experiences:
“Basically I fell for a guy who wasn’t out. It made me very frustrated because in the end even though we both loved each other we couldn’t be together because of his fear of coming out and facing his true self and more importantly what his friends and family would think. The video is covering a situation that’s very very common in our world today and I think many people will relate to it.”
“The part where he’s in the bar pretending to date girls and being all ‘straight’ is sad because he’s messing the girl about as there’s no hope for that relationship and the fact that he’s messing the gay guy around is equally sad because that relationship is doomed too as long as he is afraid to come out…basically nobody wins in this situation…its sad, so sad, it’s a sad sad situation, and it’s getting more and more absurd”
After leaving Westlife and splitting from his partner of seven years, Markus was ready to pour his heart and creative soul into a new project, and ‘Fire’ is the fruits of that artistic and personal freedom. Relocating to LA for the recording of the album provided the fresh start and blank canvas a newly-free Feehily needed. He put together a little DIY studio set-up that he’d bring on the road to enable him to spend hours and days recording vocals, creating beats and writing melodies with the producers and writers he’d long admired, including Mojam (Emeli Sandé, Sam Smith), Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding ‘Anything Can Happen’, Sigma, Ella Henderson, Olly Murs), Jakwob (Kyla La Grange, Little Simz) & Nexus (Lana Del Rey, Hurts).
As part of his return to the music scene, Markus Feehily is also set to embark on a tour joining the legendary Wet Wet Wet on their headline tour in February and March. The tour includes shows at London’s 02 Arena and Manchester Arena.
Wet Wet Wet support tour dates:
21/02 – Rhyl – Rhyl Pavillion Theatre
23/03 – Dublin – 3Arena
24/02 – Belfast – The SSE Theatre
26/02 – Birmingham – Genting Arena
27/02 – Liverpool – Liverpool Echo Arena
28/02 – Nottingham – Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
01/03 – Brighton – The Brighton Centre
02/03 – Bournemouth – Bournemouth International Centre
04/03 – Leeds – First Direct Arena
05/03 – Manchester – Manchester Arena
06/03 – London – The 02
08/03 – Plymouth – Plymouth Pavilions
09/03 – Cardiff – Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
11/03 – Newcastle – Newcastle Upon Tyne
12/03 – Glasgow – The SSE Hydro
13/03 – Aberdeen – AECC GE Oil & Gas Arena
14/03 – Inverness – Inverness Leisure Centre
Full ‘Fire’ track listing:
01. Love Is A Drug
02. Wash the Pain Away
03. Butterfly
04. Cut You Out
05. Sanctuary
06. Back To Yours
07. Sirens
08. Simple Love
09. Only You
10. Love Me Or Leave Me Alone
11. Casablanca
