Who is Maria McCormack?
Maria McCormack is a singer/songwriter from County Donegal who runs an online radio
station called ‘Over the West Online Radio’. She has been song writing since the age of 16.
Growing up in a musical background, influenced by her mother who taught children music,
she was “immersed in music from a really young age”.
“No matter what I did, it always felt like something was pulling me back, like a magnet.”.
She never looked back ever since she decided she wanted to turn it into a full-time career.
Her success led her to play gigs all over Donegal, securing live performance slots in pubs
where people would come just for her. It also led to her independent online radio.
What is her music like?
McCormack says her music type is “all over the place” as there is so much adventure in
music, whether it is jazz, pop or classical. In an interview, she declared “You couldn’t
possibly pigeonhole me into one genre”.
Her music is considered a ‘breath of fresh air’, and her Donegal accent makes her music
alluring, bringing you to the heart of each song she sings and writes.
“I think my biggest strength as a song writer is that I’m not afraid to write the truth”
McCormack says. “I’m not afraid to share my story and to use the truth in my songs”
What is Over the West Online Radio?
It is a radio station where new artists can send their newest songs and is guaranteed to be
played. It was created to give musicians an opportunity due to the difficulty of getting
music onto the radio. “That’s why our motto is ‘If you create it, we’ll play it’”
At the beginning of her career, she started off as a DJ on Strabane Radio. It helped her get a
taste of the music industry and what to expect. She realised how many mainstream songs
are played rather than hearing fresh new voices, leading to ‘Over the West’ being born. “I
want to be a steppingstone for them to become great.”
She creates playlists and certain award titles for musicians to aim for as a way of
motivation.
The impact of Maria McCormack
She organised an event called ‘Over the West Fest’ where musicians from all over Ireland
gathered. She gave the unheard a fleeting chance to display their talents. It also advertises
other events for musicians to go along to help them gain a reputation.
She did a song writing workshop for young musicians to help shape the next generation of
musicians. She spent time giving detailed feedback and featured some of their songs on
her radio.
She motivates musicians to keep making music so they can send it to her radio station, so
their hard work and money are not going to be wasted.
And lastly, her music touched the souls of many Irish people, spreading her truth, stories
and passion for what she does.
