Celtic Woman releases "Destiny"

June 15, 2016 at 12:05a.m.

For half a decade, Celtic Woman has kept audiences waiting for the follow-up to its 2011 album “Believe,” which went to No. 1 on Billboard’s World Music chart. One person who wasn’t necessarily in a rush was Celtic Woman vocalist Mair ad Carlin, who joined the act in 2013.

“I’m kind of glad in a way that we waited to record,” said Carlin, calling from Denver. “As a singer, we all go through phases. It took me a long time to find my voice in the group because it’s quite daunting coming in. You do hold back a little bit because you’re trying to be respectful to the other artists that have been there longer than you.

“That’s part of staying humble. After these three years, I feel like I’ve grown into myself and found my voice within the group. I’m not afraid of that anymore. When we stand on stage there’s an aura, a connection between us. That has a lot to do with the people who are here at the moment.”

The current Celtic Woman lineup – vocalists Carlin, Susan McFadden and newest member âabha McMahon along with violinist and founding member M °ir ad Nesbitt – recently released its new effort “Destiny.”

Carlin, a Derry, Ireland, native who performed at the BBC TV Gala concert “Sons and Daughters” as well as toured with Don McLean, believes the outfit’s 10th studio album finds the group moving away from its more popular repertoire with the idea of rediscovering songs that she said people and time had forgotten.

“Take the song ‘Or ≥ S Do Bheatha ’Bhaile,’” Carlin said. “This is a very important year for Ireland because of the 1916 rising. It’s 100 years of Irish independence. That song is a very strong, and it’s very powerful. It’s also very groovy with a lot of drums.”

Another track that Carlin said speaks to Celtic Woman’s focus on the past is “Like an Angel Passing Through My Room.” The sparse tune, which includes her memorable solo, is slow and melancholy.

There are surprises galore on “Destiny,” which combines traditional Irish music with a contemporary sensibility. The latter includes The Waterboys’ classic “The Whole of the Moon,” Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire,” Mutt Lange’s “Walk Beside Me” and even videogame theme “Skyrim.”

“We wanted to gesture to the past and also acknowledge the future,” Carlin said. “I guess by adding the Mutt Lange and Ed Sheeran songs, that was our way of doing that, but still keeping it classic. I think arrangements had a lot to do with keeping something as you imagine it to be.”

Keeping in Celtic Woman tradition, the act’s albums are recorded as PBS television concert specials. Over the last decade, the ubiquitous live- performance recordings have helped make the outfit a household name in America. Fans will get a chance to see the female singers in action when they return to Northeast Ohio for a June 16 show at the Packard Music Hall.

Considering the good feelings regarding “Destiny,” does this mean fans won’t have to wait another five years for a new studio album?

“Well, you never know,” Carlin laughed. “There are a few things in the pipeline. but I can’t tell you more than that.”