ATOM Artist Profile - Donal Hinely

By: Scott Kinnison

Donal Hinely’s fourth CD, Giants, received as much praise as you could possibly expect for a recording. Americana UK gave Giants a 10 out 10 rating. Peter Ashton at Playing Out Loud UK said this concerning Giants, "One of the best albums I’ve heard this year… I can’t recommend it highly enough to lovers of pure, organic music."

Giants was released in 2005 and three years later Hinely is back with his fifth singer/songwriter CD… Blue State Boy. As you would expect from its title, Blue State Boy, does not shy away from Hinely’s political views. He’s hoping for positive change, as stressed with the CD opener Song For Bob and the CD closer, Winds of Change. On the album’s title track, Hinely proudly states, "My neighbor’s call me a liberal, but I just want to live free." But Hinely doesn’t beat his listeners over the head with political messages.

Topics such as country kitchens, tractor pulls, broken dreams, lost souls and an occasional love song are scattered among Hinely’s political concerns. Helping Hinely on Blue State Boy are top notch Nashville musicians such as guitarist Will Kimbrough and drummer Steve Bowman, who was the original drummer for Counting Crows. Hinely has called Nashville home for several years, having moved there from an extended time in Australia and being born and raised in Denton, Texas.

Blue State Boy marks the third time David Henry has produced a Hinely CD (We Built a Fire in 2002 & Giants). Henry, who has worked with artists such as REM, Widespread Panic, Cowboy Junkies, Josh Rouse & Guster, also lends his instrumental talents to Blue State Boy. His cello work is some of the best you’ll ever hear. Hinely said this about his producer, "I feel extremely fortunate to call David a friend and to work with him. He’s someone I trust and who has the ability to bring out the best in folks."

Hinely’s musical journey does not stop with releasing great singer/songwriter writer albums. He is also a practitioner of the glass harmonica and has recorded several instrumental CDs featuring the rare instrument. He learned how to play glass harmonica from his late brother Terry, while playing together in a popular duo called Glasnots. Hinely plays glass harmonica at Renaissance Festivals and street fairs throughout the United States... allowing Hinely to play music full time, a rarity in today’s economic climate.

To learn more about Hinely, to see his touring schedule, and to check out all of his musical projects; go to www.donalhinely.com. Blue State Boy is Donal’s first effort with Dayton, OH independent label ATOM Records. The new CD is a co-release with Donal’s Scuffletown Records. A music video, produced by J. Todd Anderson, for the new Hinely song Mona, Mona will hit television sets and YouTube in the summer of 2008.