Singer/songwriter Callaghan moved to the United States from London in 2010. She blends Americana, folk and pop in her cheerful songs. I call it alt-country. Her sophomore album A History of Now will definitely make you feel 10% happier after listening to it. “We are all, right now, writing a story which will one day fascinate someone,” Callaghan says. “The way we live, the decisions we make, and the moments of hope, grief and happiness which punctuate all our lives will one day make someone stop, think and wonder. All of us are writing our own ‘history of now.’”

The running theme throughout A History of Now is mindfulness and everything’s okay. There’s the toe-tapping opening track “Best Year” that just oozes optimism—“this could be the best year of our lives/ tear up the rule book leave it all behind/ work all day til you close your eyes/ let’s get out of this town/find some bluer skies.” Catchy beats and a cool arrangement usher in “We Don’t Have to Change the World.” Sometimes you get a Shania Twain vibe with Callaghan, like on the track “Crazy Beautiful Life.” It’s an up-tempo optimistic track that’s both catchy and thoughtful. Both strong women with the ability to cross genres and be expressive. A favorite song is “Free to Be” — an exuberant celebration of being yourself complete with an invigorating tempo and infectious lyrics. Sometimes Callaghan gets dreamy and pensive. There’s the wistful “I’ll Take You Away” and the romantic, makes-you-feel-like-slow-dancing, country twinged “When You Loved Me” and gorgeous arrangement and aching vocals of “Lost.” Thoughtful lyrics and lovely arrangements combined with diverse emotive vocals conveys empathy and sentiment. Callaghan scores again with her sophomore album.

Callaghan
A History of Now
Release date: April 7th 2015

RECOMMENDATION: BUY IT

purchase at Amazon: History of Now