Local area is back for Saffyre’s new YouTube video

24 May 2017

HIT local band Saffyre mix their trademark harmonies with some of Down’s most spectacular scenery for their latest music video.

‘Run For Your Life’ is an upbeat, catchy track, accompanied by sweeping footage over the Mournes, to iconic landmarks such as Inch Abbey in Downpatrick and Keel Point beach outside Dundrum.

Saffyre, comprised of Emma Tokic from Teconnaught, and Shauneen Doran and Maria Brennan from

Loughinisland, had always wanted to showcase their home turf and found the perfect opportunity with ‘Run for Your Life’.

Grammy award-winning producer Jim Jonsin, who wrote and produced music for artists such as Beyoncé,

Eminem, Pitbull, and Usher, got on board with this project and Saffyre spent two weeks in Florida with Jonsin and his team co-writing and working on the single.

The varied backgrounds of Jonsin, his team and Saffyre have created a unique, fresh sound, in which pop meets folk and country, and it’s what the band consider to be their most exciting project to date.

Saffyre is a family affair with Emma cousin to sisters Shauneen and Maria, all close friends from a young age, and with music and singing a huge part of their lives.

From bringing out to guitars at parties they became occasional wedding singers but local music producer, Finbar McGrady, challenged them to write their own material. Within months they had their own album inspired by musical heroes such as Shania Twain and The Corrs and they would go on to support Country star Nathan Carter and share a bill with Van Morrison.

Emma said their latest single, released on Friday, had a strong empowering message.

“No matter where you are in life, if you are struggling, you are not alone, is what it is saying,” she said.

“We are a very close family and we can always call on it each other if we are in difficulties. We are from the

Flanagan family of 12 in Dundrum and your cousins were your best friends growing up.

“Being in a band together is never what we really set out to do. We started off singing at someone’s wedding and then someone else would ask us.

“I did a degree in RE and was going to go into teaching, Shauneen began nursing and Maria was working as a classroom assistant. But I guess that was plan B. We knew music was a pretty great thing to be doing.”

With Emma and Shauneen also being busy mums it isn’t always easy to be a professional musician, but they are clearly grateful for the support of their families.

“I have five children and it can be really hectic but my husband is great with hands-on support,” said Emma. “Mum and dad are brilliant. I could not do it otherwise. In a way, music not being nine to five helps but our families are our priorities. Your kids are number one.”

Saffyre, originally came on to the Downpatrick music scene known as Wildflowers, but they needed an original name when it came to being touted as the next big thing in contemporary country music.

“There were several Wildflowers around the world,” Emma explained.

“Working with Jim Jonsin recently has definitely been one of the highlights so far. We were put in touch with him via a friend and he is an amazing producer. Travelling to him in Florida was a real experience. The whole time we were really thinking about the lyrics and scribbling them down at breakfast and on the hotel stationary.

“Wolfhound Media in Belfast, who we worked with on the video for Run For Your Life, were also fantastic. The use of the drone really worked. The part of the Mournes we filmed in was near Annalong and we were able to use horses from Tullymurry. They are filmed for Game of Thrones so they were pretty used to the camera. It took us six days shooting overall and around us was the most beautiful landscape.”

In terms of future plans, Saffyre hope to keep impressing and put on live shows again later in the year.

“Our sound is definitely ever growing and maturing,” said Emma. “As inspiration, we ourselves are into all good music — Sia, Mary Black, Sheryl Crow, Fleetwood Mac, The Corrs.

“We have raised the bar with this new single and it is great to get on to the RTE playlist, for example. We hope to keep on improving.”

‘Run For Your Life’ is released on Friday and the video can be viewed on YouTube.

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