In this beautifully-shot video, directed by Nathan Hamer, rays of golden sunlight filter through the trees as Brendan Regan sings the captivating ‘Grasping at Leaves’. His brightly-strummed guitar is buoyed by tumbling, summery percussion, over which Regan’s echoing voice lifts through the leaves, shimmering and graceful. Regan is accompanied by Colin J. Nelson on bass, Shadrack Scott on organ, and percussionist Tyler Richart – together, they help create a lush sound to immerse yourself in.
On 12th September 2025, Regan’s new album, “Phenomenal Consolation”, will be released and the Seattle-based Celtic-folk singer has excelled with a collection of timeless songs. After the release of his debut full-length album, “Swivel”, Regan began writing the follow-up immediately. He describes his writing process: “My songs always start on guitar and the lyrics flow from there. Usually, a line comes to me in a flash in some random time and place, and that sets the course for me to capture the rest of the song.” Regan is a storyteller, who explores life’s universal narratives: navigating relationships, work and daily struggle. Although the themes can be sombre and melancholy, his music is uplifting and helps to find hope in these stories of challenge, hardship and sorrow. He says: “The title ‘Phenomenal Consolation’ comes from feelings I’ve had about my life, for a while, that it didn’t turn out the way I expected it to, or the way I wanted it to. But really, my life has been full of gifts and unexpected forms of happiness and peace. My story has been very fortunate and more faceted than I expected.” The resulting songs are bittersweet; those conflicting ideas – ‘bitter’ and ‘sweet’ – only have real meaning when they and their contrasts are explored and understood together.
Regan’s bittersweet music – infused with indie-folk and traditional Celtic influences – is a long way from his early career as a drummer in post-punk bands but some of that sensibility still influences his ‘Celticana’. Absorb that hymnal ‘Grasping at Leaves’ and then check out the album.
