rish harpist and dark folk composer Joy Shannon has unveiled “Grey Havens,” the haunting lead single from her latest record, ‘In The Forest Singing Sorrowless’. Released via Royal Tea and Fiadh Productions, the album is a unique tribute to the literary legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien, featuring original musical compositions set to the legendary author’s own poetry. The single “Grey Havens” explores Tolkien’s description of the Elvish journey into the West—a concept Shannon connects to the ancient Irish afterlife of Tír na n’Óg—and features a remarkable guest appearance by Tolkien’s granddaughter, Ruth Tolkien, who provides backing vocals and Elvish spoken word. The track is further elevated by the ethereal presence of Heilung vocalist Maria Franz and the somber cello work of Kakophonix (Osi And The Jupiter).
Drawing from her own experiences of resilience during a challenging year, Shannon created this album as a “mystical dream-walk” through Tolkien’s landscapes. The project is a sophisticated bridge between the worlds of Middle-earth and ancient Irish lore, featuring additional collaborations with artists such as Leila Abdul-Rauf and Travellers Rest. An accompanying music video, directed by horror filmmaker Matt Kollar, uses imagery of hawks and owls to represent the soul’s transition into the afterlife, grounding the High Fantasy themes in raw, Pagan folk aesthetics. Following the primary vocal release, Shannon also shared an instrumental version of the collection, allowing listeners to focus entirely on the intricate harp arrangements and cinematic atmosphere.
