Inside search for Sinead O’Connor’s ‘lost’ songs

Sinead O’Connor’s management are said to be trawling through a Dublin recording studio searching for songs recorded by the late star as interest in her music skyrockets in the wake of her death.

Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor died last month. Picture: Paul Bergen/Redferns

Sinead O’Connor’s management are said to be trawling recording studios in Dublin hoping to uncover lost songs recorded by the late star.

This, despite O’Connor, in 2021, bagging “gross” record companies who she said profit off of artists after their deaths, even instructing her kids what to do to protect her music and money if she “dropped dead tomorrow”.

But interest in O’Connor’s music has skyrocketed since her shock death last month.

In the US, Billboard reported that streaming of O’Connor’s music went up a staggering 2,885 per cent in the days after she died.

Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor died last month. Picture: Paul Bergen/Redferns

And despite her death, there could be more new music to come, according to The Sun.

O’Connor was a prolific writer and was in and out of recording sessions.

The songs could finally be heard in a series of posthumous releases by O’Connor, who was found dead in her London home last month. There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

“Sinead released 10 studio albums, but she was also a prolific writer and recording artist, who would drop into the studio whenever inspiration took her,” an insider told The Sun.

“Often these recordings went unfinished, on the understanding that Sinead would be back in at some point to complete them.

“Sadly, now that’s not going to happen. But, as Sinead worked in every studio in Dublin, there could be some amazing music we have yet to hear.”

The 56-year-old, was also known for her big name collaborations with superstars including U2’s The Edge, Peter Gabriel, Massive Attack, Ian Brown, Asian Dub Foundation and The Chieftains.

At the time of her death, Sinead O'Connor was still deeply grieving the loss of her teenage son Shane who died last year. Picture: Instagram

O’Connor so enjoyed working with other artists, that in 2005 her record company released the album Collaborations, a compilation of 17 songs she recorded throughout her career with artists from Jah Wobble to Damien Dempsey.

“That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Sinead was a very generous, giving person who’d often offer to sing backing vocals on the songs of an unknown singer or band just because she loved their material. That’s a whole other avenue of unreleased material which could be tapped on,” the source said.

Sinead O'Connor, on stage in Sydney in 2015, was recording music right up until her death. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage

Musician Don Baker has plans to release two songs he penned which the Irish star, Woe To The Holy Vow, and Cinderella.

Producer David Holmes is also mixing her final album, No Veteran Dies Alone, which she was recording with him shortly before she died. In 2018, O’Connor told The Irish Sun: “David is lovely and the kindest person I think I’ve ever met.

“Literally would give you the skin off his back, never mind the shirt.”

Sinead O’Connor was laid to rest in Ireland last week. The star’s shock death was felt worldwide. Picture: AFP

O’Connor compared her unreleased album to Bruce Springsteen’s low-fi masterpiece, Nebraska.

“I’m trying to write an album which would be described as a series of letters to young people,” O’Connor said.

“It seems to be a very Nebraska type record. Very intimate and personal. It will be very tender and beautiful.”

Sinead O’Connor was a unique artist who was not interested in fame or money. Picture: Getty Images

She revealed how renowned producer Holmes were making the record by “sending each other emails”.

“It’s being made by two very tender and beautiful people. He brings tenderness.”

O’Connor’s management revealed at the time of her death she was “considering [film and TV] opportunities in relation to Rememberings, the memoir she released in 2021.

O’CONNOR BAGS ‘GROSS’ RECORD COMPANIES

But O’Connor could still hold control over her songs, even after her death.

The Irish star left behind specific instructions for her children in case she were to die suddenly.

The late Nothing Compares 2 U singer told People magazine in 2021 that she wanted to protect her art and finances at all costs if she dropped “dead tomorrow.”

Sinead O’Connor was farewelled in the Irish seaside town of Bray. Picture: AFP

“See, when the artists are dead, they’re much more valuable than when they’re alive,” she told the magazine at the time.

“Tupac [Shakur] has released way more albums since he died than he ever did alive, so it’s kind of gross what record companies do.”

In light of that, the controversial Irish singer informed her children from when “they were very small” that if their “‘mother drops dead tomorrow, before you called 911, call my accountant and make sure the record companies don’t start releasing my records and not telling you where the money is.’”

O’Connor was laid to rest in the Irish town of Bray where she lived for 15 years until she relocated back to London shortly before her death.

Thousands of people thronged to the Bray seafront last week to mourn the singer as O’Connor’s coffin was driven through the town following a private funeral ceremony.

– with The Sun

Originally published as Inside search for Sinead O’Connor’s ‘lost’ songs