Sinéad O’Connor’s final album was almost complete prior to her death, her collaborator David Holmes has revealed.
Due to be the Nothing Compares 2 U singer’s first release since 2014’s ‘I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss’, the album had been a work in progress over the past five years and they planned on completing work on the project in September.
In an extended post on Instagram he revealed how the pair met at The Pogues star Shane MacGowan’s 60th birthday party, at which Sinéad “stole the show” and the pair discussed making a record “about healing”.
“To my surprise her ears pricked up and after a quick chat she gave me her number not having a clue who I was,” he reveals, adding that they “stayed in touch and over the course of the next 5 years we somehow made that record”.
“We only had one track to record which we planned on creating in sept, but saying that, the 8 tracks we finished together, each one as powerful as the next. Every time i recorded her in my studio it was a pinch yourself moment.
“I really felt that I was in the presence of greatness like a Nina Simone , Billie Holiday or Karen Dalton. A giant in popular music but what made her so special, apart from that voice and vision was her fearlessness & honesty not only as an artist but as a human being. I always felt that Sinéad was light years ahead of her time.”
Praising the Mandinka star as “a disrupter, a dreamer, an outsider and outlier, radical, upsetter, the high priestess of Irish soul & punk, incredibly intelligent, ridiculously kind and so fucking funny”, he concluded: “I’m gonna miss her very much but feel totally privileged to have become her friend.
“At this minute my thoughts are with Sinead’s family and her inner circle. Thank you Sinéad O Connor. You taught me so much. [sic]”
Shortly prior to her passing, Sinéad appeared optimistic about the future of her career and shared plans for the next two years on social media, including details of the album release and subsequent tour.
She said in a Facebook post from 12 July: “Hi all, recently moved back to London after 23 years absence. Very happy to be home. Soon finishing my album. Release early next year. Hopefully touring Australia and New Zealand toward end 2024. Europe, USA and other territories beginning early 2025. [sic]”
The singer’s family announced her passing at the age of 56 last Wednesday evening, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fans worldwide.
On Thursday, representatives from the Metropolitan Police revealed O’Connor was found unresponsive at a property in London and pronounced dead at the scene.
“Police were called at 11:18hrs on Wednesday, 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area,” they said. “Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Next of kin have been notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the Coroner.”
Officials from London Inner South Coroner’s Court added that no medical cause was given in the death and an autopsy will be carried out.
Throughout her career, the singer-songwriter released 10 studio albums including the global No. 1, ‘I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got’ (1990), and also scored hits like The Emperor’s New Clothes, Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home and Mandinka.
In 1991, she won the BRIT Award for International Female Solo Artist and was nominated for four Grammys, of which she won Best Alternative Music Performance for her seminal second album.
The previous year, Billboard named the Prince-penned Nothing Compares 2 U the No.1 World Single.
At the time of her death, the musician was believed to be spending her time between Co Roscommon, Ireland, and London. She is survived by her three children. Her son, Shane, died last year aged 17.
