Rise Up

Album

In the shadows, we find the light

Black background with a large white letter 'V' in the center, with a distressed or rough texture.

A CONCEPTUAL ALBUM FOCUSED ON LETTING GO, RISING UP AND SEEKING UNDERSTANDING

Written & performed by Jessica O’Donoghue 

A continuous musical journey, Rise Up features an eclectic line-up that reflects the breadth of Jessica’s musical vocabulary. Led by Jessica on vocals, it combines industrial electronics, soaring synths, tribal drums, four-part vocal harmonies, French horns and strings.

The songs on this album were created in the shadow of family tragedy. Jessica began writing the music of Rise Up following the death of her father, the popular Australian musician Rory O’Donoghue, resulting in a deeply personal album that explores the process of finding light in darkness. The album, designed to be heard from beginning to end, is focused on letting go and rising up, seeking the depths of knowledge that comes from experience. And it honours and celebrates the feminine in nature: softness, beauty, fierce power and the ability to hold and nurture the world and everyone in it.

From the inspiring title track, which combines Sephardic dance influences with rousing percussion and anthemic harmonies, to the soothing and transformative lullaby Lullay My Liking, to the soaring pop banger Good Grief, Rise Up is a moving musical statement that reveals Jessica O’Donoghue at the top of her game.

COMPOSITION & LYRICS: Jessica O’Donoghue

PRODUCER: Alyn Dennison

ENGINEEER: David Trumpanis

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT:

AN ORIGINAL ALBUM FUSING OPERATIC GRANDEUR WITH A DEEP SENSE OF INTIMACY. BY JESSICA O’DONOGHUE.

 
 

The vIDEO Singles

Rise Up (Official Video Clip)

La Rosa (Official Video Clip)

Good Grief (Official Video Clip)

PHOENIX CENTRAL PARK HALO

Group of six women and one man standing in a music studio, holding musical instruments including a guitar, violin, and cello, with blue lighting and microphones in the background.

REFLECTING ONE OF THE MOST VIBRANT AND DIVERSE ARTISTIC COMMUNITIES IN THE WORLD

Jessica O’Donoghue performed original works Rise Up, Lullay My Liking & Good Grief

20 acts and 67 performers from 500 applications. Filmed live over six days. Each act reflected a distinct sub-culture, re-emerging after Sydney’s lockdowns, creating an impressive survey of the musical community.

LEAD VOCALS: Jessica O’Donoghue

DRUMS: Bonnie Ann Stewart

CELLO: Freya Schack-Arnott

VOCALS & SYNTH: Elana Stone

VOCALS & VIOLIN: Susie Bishop

VOCALS & KEYBOARD: Laura Bishop

BASS & FLOOR DRUM: Ben O’Donoghue

PHOTO CREDIT: Jordan Munns

Jessica O'Donoghue recorded live at Phoenix Central Park as part of Phoenix HALO