For Your GRAMMY® Consideration

Best Contemporary Folk Album

Album of the Year

SONGS IN THE KEY OF O

HELEN O'SHEA

Songs In The Key Of O A tribute to Sinéad O'Connor and Dolores O'Riordan with love from Helen O'Shea.

The album "Songs In The Key Of O" was recorded with two-time GRAMMY® winning producer Marc Swersky at Jack Daley's (Spin Doctors) Dug Deep Recording Studio in Asbury Park, NJ.

As an Irish-born singer-songwriter, Helen has been heavily influenced by her countrywoman Sinéad O'Connor and by Dolores O'Riordan who grew up in the same county and went to the same school as her. The first track of the album "Caged Birds" was written by Helen and Marc Swersky in honor of Sinéad O'Connor based on O'Connor's autobiography "Rememberings" while the second track is the O'Shea / Swersky penned "Rock And Roll Angel" in honor of Dolores O'Riordan.

The 12-song album includes three carefully chosen songs each by O'Connor and O'Riordan and these are deep cuts - not their big hits but songs that follow the theme of the album, which is the intersection of medicine, motherhood and music. The songs chosen by Helen deal with the good and bad of relationships and the journey of artists through mental health challenges to create forever-lasting meaningful music. The album is rounded out by six of Helen's original songs - including the two written for O'Connor and O'Riordan - dealing with the themes of mental health, the evolution of an artist, and looking to the future.

Helen O'Shea feat. Liam Ó'Maonlaí

Caged Birds

(Official Lyric Video)

Music Reviews

“⭐⭐⭐⭐ Songs In The Key Of O by Helen O’Shea is a tribute to the musical legacy of two undeniable talents – the distinctive and sadly missed Dolores O’Riordan and Sinéad O’Connor….The all-star cast assembled on ‘Songs In The Key Of O’ doesn’t overpower the emotive atmosphere but rather, balances it beautifully.”

- Kevin Burke, RNR Magazine, Issue #115

“‘Caged Birds’ and the full album promise to offer a heartfelt exploration of musical influences and personal courage, combining Irish roots sensibilities with a contemporary collaborative spirit."

- Saoirse Murphy, Pure M Zine

“‘Caged Birds’ is a deep, chaotic track with grounding drumbeats and staccato,

fast-paced vocals.”

- Hot Press

“an ode to O’Connor’s fearless spirit and courage in speaking out, a message of healing and a call for truth.”

- Eric Alper on ‘Caged Birds’

“beautiful originals”

- That Jersey Sound

About Helen O'Shea

Helen O'Shea is an Irish-born, New Jersey, based singer, songwriter, show producer & recording artist who is well known for her moving original songs and stories covering the four pillars of life, love, loss and legacy, in the style of "AmeriCeltiCana" - Americana with a Celtic twist! The fact that she took the long way to her music dream, via a career in medicine as a mother and child doctor, informs every thing she does to share the healing power of music.

Helen is a multiple award winner for her songwriting with writing partner and producer, two-time GRAMMY® winner Marc Swersky. For all of Helen's records to date: "Mama Told You..."; "Turning Tides..."; "A Little Christmas Kindness"; "Know You're Enough"; "Sturdy Souls"; and "Songs In The Key Of O" - May 2026, she has always worked with producer Marc Swersky and most recently in the studio at Dug Deep Productions, Asbury Park, NJ.

One of her greatest achievements is being invited to join the Recording Academy™ as a Voting Member and volunteering as a GRAMMY® U Mentor for young career musicians.

Helen O'Shea's live shows are filled with the songs and stories that shape our lives, and she has the innate ability to take her audience from laughter to tears in moments, as they join her and her dedicated band on their travels through the merging of the best of Americana and Celtic music - old and new!

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