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That's good. I like that. Well, come here. How's things with you? Oh, so good. Paul, so good. I'm so busy. So busy, so happy, so everything. So just delighted with life. From the last time we met, you know, we follow your career through your social media because you're very active on all your social media. You've got your group of mad hatters following you around and everything. And you're currently, you're currently a term of Dan McCabe. But what I want to talk about first is take us on the journey for people that just maybe don't know. You just didn't land here all of a sudden. You've been working very, very hard to get where you are at the moment. And there's loads opening up for you. So give us a brief introduction to Sinetil. Well, so I was born in Germany. So I'm German. Most people actually think I'm American, but I'm actually I'm German. I lived in America and in Canada for a while, but I'm German and I can put on the German accent, but it's not very nice. Usually I don't. Yeah. And I was always playing music. I love music since I was a little child. I begged my parents to buy me a piano when I was seven. And I just played the same song on repeat. It's a miracle that they still love me. But yeah, I always had a really strong connection to to music. And I I always felt very drawn to it. But you know what, as life went on, I did all the things that you do. So I went to school and then my teachers told me, no, don't pursue the arts. Don't drop out of school, finish this. And then you can later on life, whatever. So I actually studied a six year psychology degree and that I finished. And then I went on to work in an office. And yeah, life just went on like that. But you know what? I always had that that burning wish in the back of my mind. It never really left my heart. And 2015, I said, do you know what? If I don't get off my arse and do it, it is never going to happen. And that is what I did. So I just took the brave, I supposed decision because I didn't know anybody in Ireland. I just knew crack is mighty. You know, they have a harp somewhere on their flag and people just love it and love their music. And I said, that's that's a place for me. So OK, and I packed my guitar and I packed my bags. I said, Mom, Dad, I love you. Thanks for paying for that psychology degree. But I'm actually not going to use it at all. I know it's not a probably nice thing to say, but hopefully you don't need it. This journey you're on now is amazing. And as I say, we watched you come in here and we watched you explode on the music scene. But as I said to you, it's because of damn hard work. You've worked hard and you're still working hard. It's an ongoing thing. You know, say from a telephone call yesterday, you're following things up all the time. You're on the ball. You know, your social meter, you're there with everything. And that's good. You know, it's pain that it's now for the hard work. You're currently on tour with Dan McCabe. Tell us about that. Yeah, well, that is just a milestone in my career, really. And in my life, because it is an amazing tour to be on. It is so professional. It's so I feel that Dan and I, we have a lot in common as well, because he sings with such a passion that really resonates with audiences and really resonates with me as well. When people ask me, Sina, are you Irish? I say at heart and soul. Because I feel that as well, my story in a sense, I think relates a lot to the story of the Irish people, because how many people have left their homes to go off to America, to go off to Australia, to go off anywhere. Actually, a song, the first song that I'm going to play tonight, I'd say tells that story of the Irish spreading out through the world and in search for a better life. And really, that is what I did, too. Only I came to Ireland to pursue my dream of music. So I feel that all those stories when people say, Sina, how can you sing Irish folk songs like with passion or with? And it's because it really deeply resonates with me. It does that because we have heard your music and we have heard you cover nearly every genre and everyone that you do. You know, if you're doing an Irish ballad, as you say, you're covering it as if you nearly wrote it yourself, you know? And the rock we hear you do in the rock, we've seen you. And was it Graffin Street where the guitar and the drum? My God, I'll tell you, you were playing that day. Oh, yes. Well, that's actually something that is very close to my heart as well, busking, because that's how I really started off. So when I came to Ireland first, I didn't know anybody. I didn't have any money. I didn't have any social media. And I'd never played really a proper paid gig. So it was, to be honest, it was quite a shot in the dark. Well, yeah, and to be honest, the night before my flight, I was actually breaking it. Like I was there was a moment where I was like, what am I doing? This is crazy. But, you know, when you have a dream, there is always a moment where it seems really crazy and you have to just get past that moment. And I know there'll be people listening in tonight that have a dream and that say, you know, I want to do it, but I'm scared, but I fear it's not going to work out. And I think hard work puts you where the good luck can find you. Well, you certainly have done that in spades and we're going to talk more because the whole seen a tail roadshow came on here with us tonight and all the the merch and the CDs and the DVDs and everything. You're you're you're on the ball right away. And that's there's a lot to be said for that, you know. But we're going to do for us. We're going to get a piece of music if you don't mind. So the first track you're going to do for us. Well, I'm going to do one of your own, I'd say, in terms of I'm here in Donegal and there is a song that I especially learned for the gig last night and in a show. And I figured that maybe hopefully the people of Donegal will like it if I sing. Well, one of their one of their songs. Oh, brilliant. And your own time. There you go. In the city of Chicago. As the evening shadows fall dreaming of the hills of Donegal. In 1947 was the year it all began. Deadly pains of hunger drove a million from the land. They journeyed not for glory. Their motive wasn't greed. A voyage of survival across the stormy sea. The city of Chicago. As the evening shadows fall of Donegal. Fortune. Some of them know their songs and music to ease their own shadows. You've made that your own. You know, that is you coming through and to do that and take a song, you know, which is so just strong with Christy Muir and give it a slap. That's brilliant. Absolutely amazing. Don't love that. Thank you so much. That would have been doing well last night. Well, it did. It did. How many dates are you doing on this tour? Oh, it is a massive tour. It's a big national tour. It's 38, 40 dates in total. Wow. Between the 4th of January and the 1st of April. So we still have about 30 dates or so left. Which to be honest, every night that I sit in my car driving home, my heart is so full, it could explode. I get that. It is just down to be honest. Funny thing is, we live in the same area. So we're both in County Kildare, close to Nays. But we had never met in person. So when I got the call to be special guest on this tour, I of course really checked out his music and watched all the videos. And I was like, wow, this is great. But you really have to see the show live. Because it will blow you away. I mean, the rawness of his voice, the emotion, the band as well. I mean, Alan is there on flutes and whistles. And it just brings a whole new element. I know younger people. I'm talking about my daughters and things like that. They would bring Kristi Murfand as well. But everybody's talking about this damn cape. Everyone's talking and you're going, right, who is he? And then you see and you hear. He's releasing new music, isn't he? He is. Yeah, he is. So on the 10th of February, he has his first radio single coming out. Which is wild if you think of it. Because we're in the Millennium Forum in Derry on the 24th of March. And I believe that's sold out. Hopefully, well, fingers crossed, if you're in the Derry area and you're looking for tickets, so, you know, ring the venue, ring your friends, try to get your hands on a few tickets. But to think that, you know, every night is sold out, it's huge venues, it's huge crowds. And he's releasing his first radio single on the 10th of February. But it's a self-penned song. It's very personal because it's about his little daughter. She's foreign now. And she's a sweetheart actually. I met her at the Kildare gig, which was his hometown gig. So, yeah, he's releasing his first radio single on the 10th of February. And I'm sure your listeners are going to love it. C'mere, when you get that call from, you know, Defancy going on tour with Dan McCabe, you have to jail with this person, don't you? It's all very well said. You know, he's a big name, he's got a big future. But if you don't have the chemistry with the band and him, do you sing with him? And not at the moment. So I open the show as the special guest and then straight away he jumps on stage, takes the mic. But you know what? We still have to do a little, I think, even behind the scenes sort of something. You know, for you to come on and do that, and he's not going to take a chance on anybody coming on the show. So there's a lot of thought within that. So that has to be a massive burst of your confidence. And you know, you have to stop and all the time and pinch yourself and say, is this actually happening? You know, so your parents must be very proud. Yeah, I mean, 100%. It really is, as you say, it really is a matter of gelling as well with the team, with the artist, likewise on their side and on my side as opposed as well. And in that sense, I'm just so blessed that the whole team is just so professional. I mean, sound, lights, everything, it's just the whole crew is so professional. And so nice as well. There's such a good vibe. And I'm a kind of person. I'm actually a happy morning kind of person. So I'm usually in a good mood. So for me as well to be in that environment where everyone's friendly and it's just, it's amazing. And yeah, my mom and dad actually, they're coming over for our gig in the National Stadium in Dublin. So they're coming over for that and I have some families, some other family coming over. Excellent. So yeah, it's great. That's well done. And that's a great boost for them. It's great pride there, but it's great for you to be standing on that stage looking down on your parents. That's going to be a brilliant feeling. Oh yeah, 100%. I mean, the last time they were here, seeing me on a stage, I was on stage of the Hot Country TV Awards and I received Hottest Act in Irish Country Music. I remember that. Yeah. And it is just such a huge moment for us to share because they've always supported me. They've really, I mean, since I, as a seven-year-old would play the same song over and over again, they've supported me every step of the way. So it's a huge moment for us as a family as well. Well done. Well done. The album. Now, you give us a copy of this album and the DVD. This is what I call professional. This album, just in case anybody's looking out of here, here we have it there. And there's, you know, I'm really looking forward to having a great listen to this in my own place. And it's live. The T H T in Galway. And look at the songs that are in that. There's 17 tracks in total. And these are, these are big songs. Caledonia, one of my favourites. Greenfields of France. The Dutchman. I just absolutely love the Dutch. I love to make them a clumsy doing that. And these are big songs. You know, this is a big, the green and red of Mayo. You know, my God. And you've got, you've got your own tracks on there, which is brilliant. And it's an absolutely professionally put together, tells a story. It's just so well done. And it's a full credit to you because some people can just, you know, put together a CD, but your heart and your soul's done that. And it's just amazing. So well done on that. How's the sales going for the CD? How have you found that? Well, first of all, thanks so much. I'm so glad you like it. And yeah, it's great. Actually, this album, I think will always have a very, very, very special place in my heart because there's a very special story. And as well, the booklet tells that story. So I urge everyone to go on to Cina Thiel Music. Actually, I haven't spelled my name yet. So I'll just do that Cina. So S, S for sugar, S-I-N-A. And Thiel is T-H-E-I-L. So Cina Thiel. If you go on to CinaThielMusic.com slash shop, you can order the DVD and the album and the T-shirts and the hats and everything's there and the fleeces. But anyway, so the booklet tells the story of how, when the pandemic hit, it was a fork in the road, I think for many people because, you know, there was lots of talks of retrain and reskill and we don't know where this is going and how this is coming back, if it's coming back. So there was a lot of uncertainty. And I think for many people, including myself, that was a make or break moment. It was the moment to say, am I going to give this all I got? Or am I going to do something else? And for me, it was the moment, I think when I really said, I'm all in. Sink or swim, whatever. I came here with a purpose to do something and I'm going to do it. My God, you are doing it. And we're wishing the home with the best of luck. You're mad hatters. You're hatters following you everywhere. You've got a crisp fan base. And you know, when you put a post up on Facebook, it's not that I'm amazed, but you get a lot of likes and shares and views and you look at that and you go, my, you know, so well done to you. Oh, thank you. We would love to get another song. We're going to take an hour break, but the next song you're going to do for us? I'm going to do an original now. I'm still thinking about which one I'm going to do, but I'm going to do an original. Brilliant. Stay tuned. We're talking to Sina Teal right here on Highland Radio, Monday Night Sessions. Don't go away. It's where you live. It's where you relax. It's where you make memories. Treat your home to a visit to Cooney's Home Interiors. We have everything in store to help recreate your home. 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It's always on a Monday night just 25 minutes in front of the night and I do hope I find you well. Thank you for watching us. Sina Taylor is with us here. She's really done a beautiful Kristi Mur song. She's going to do one of her own. Have you written any songs? Yes. Have you? So that's another project for another day but my next album I would really like it to be an original album. So live at THT Galway has two original songs but I would love the next album to be mainly original because I do have a lot of originals. Yeah, well I know you have so we're looking forward to that. Right, this song you're going to do first now then. Okay, so you just mentioned my Mad Hatters and I thought I'd do this next one because I get a lot of inspiration when I write songs from my life of course but also from my Mad Hatters and one day on social media I asked a question. I asked if you could wish for one thing. What would you wish for? And maybe you could think that people said oh I want a lot of money, I want a big car, I want a big house but no, most people said that if they had one wish they would like to have one more hour, one more minute, one more second with the person that they love and that they lost. So I felt really inspired to write a song about that burning wish that although you know it cannot be true you just keep on wishing. Love the thought in there. And that's it and I'd love to dedicate it as well so David James, one of your presenters he was at our gig last night and one of his friends was there and apparently they received tragic news this morning about the father of one of his friends passing away so I would love to extend my condolences and maybe dedicate it to you. It's called Wishing Well. I wish I could just turn back, just turn back the time. Say that time's the grave, I told you I'd be strong now. There's these tears for you don't ever dry. No, there's the emptiness I feel inside. I aside, yeah I would give the stars just to see your smile. How I wish I could just turn back, just turn back the time, back the time. Say that wishes are for fools and not just to will but I can't help drowning this wishing well. Do you know what, it hung on to every word, it hung on to every line, the song. Thank you so much. And that's how you know, in my head that's how I know a good song. Beautiful, well done. Thank you very much. I never heard that before, I don't think you've done that before. No, no, no, yeah I wrote that. It was as well kind of during the lockdown and it was I think a very difficult moment in many ways, but in many ways as well it brought us together because with my Mad Hatter's my online following, really we grow together as a real family during that time and one of the stories that I haven't told about Live at THT Galway yet is that it really just exists because of my Mad Hatter's because of my online following and if you're now listening wondering why it's like Mad Hatter's because I always wear a hat and I'm a bit mad to be honest but I raised during Covid 16,000 Euro in three weeks with them to make my dream really of having my own album that is truly just mine that I own. That's amazing. That's amazing. Yeah, to make it and I'm so proud. You know, like so much was going on in the world then and you're able to do that. Yeah, well I really feel that we gave each other so much support. I mean people, I get so many still lovely messages of people saying you know look you helped us so much throughout lockdown with live videos and but for me it was the same I mean I got up one day and I looked in the mirror and I said if I didn't have my online following my Mad Hatter's, my music I'd be so lost because my family doesn't live in Ireland I remember came here by myself. And your personality is not one of just right that's it there's no one happening because you have to be going all the time you know you strike me as that type of a person that's it. You can't sit still really and it must have been like a big pfft all of a sudden I know a lot of people went through a lot during the pandemic and I'm talking musicians here and I'm always curious as to how they dealt with it and how they worked with it and the reason why I ask that question is always I like maybe somebody listening do you go ah right okay you know just they can take it on board might help somebody out you know but I think he's managed well I think a lot of people don't very not when I say very well I mean for the mental health they exceeded themselves and congratulations to them and well done to you for that tell us about the DVD because this has gone out on TV Yes oh I'm so happy Brilliant Yeah so first of all I must say a huge thank you to Fergal and the whole crew at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway because they really they really work for the artists and that is just amazing to see so they supported me all the way and yeah it's an album it's a DVD and Tijikaha acquired the license and it's going to be broadcast on TV and also on the online player for the whole world to enjoy on the 4th of February at 7.30 p.m. so Will you be sitting on the watch side or what way will you be because you've seen it obviously but it's just maybe a surreal feeling sitting watching TV and that's me there Oh unreal unreal well the thing is on the 4th of February at 7.30 p.m. I'm going to be getting ready to go on stage at the Racket Hall because that is a tour date but I even though I'm going to be warming up and this and that I'm definitely going to find a TV and tune in for at least a little bit at least the first moments because yes you're so right I was actually so lucky to be on Opry Le Daniel as well that's right yeah a few weeks ago and the moment you tune into the telly and you see your face and it's just it's unreal I mean same as hearing your songs on the radio and a huge thank you to you and to all your listeners as well for supporting radio supporting radio and for supporting Irish talent and Irish based talent it really really goes such a long way well we have we have it here and spade folds and bucket folds we have it here the talent is here in the Northwest in the country and we're just tapping on it and that's where we encourage people send us your music and get it out there and that's what it's all about and it's just a privilege to be sitting here on a Monday night and artists like yourself and artists like Jim is coming on and you know and these people you know just bring so much to the table I'm just an awful and yourself and all listen it's been an absolute delight having you we would love to get a final song if you don't mind absolutely well do you know what this one mentions Donnie Gull actually as well it's one of my own songs as well and it is one that I played on Opry Le Daniel so to you know see your own song on television it's it's a huge deal and of course thank you for having me everybody get your tickets so on the 10th of February we're in Mount Erego here in Lederkenny and then on the 18th of February we're in Swatra and on the 24th of March we are in the Millennium Forum in Derry which seems to be sold out but keep your eyes peeled and you know if you when there's a will there's a way to the ring the reception at the hotels is that how to get tickets yes and also Dan McCabe music and Dan McCabe music slash tour so have a look I mean there's still over 30 dates left and more being added to the calendar so just have a look and see you know where would suit you or even make a weekend out of it there are people there from you know in Waterford that are from you know Dublin or from Galway or so make a weekend out of it it is a fantastic show are you delighted with the reception you're receiving at these from the audience yeah I really really am I mean it's I came to Ireland with that dream and that purpose to one day stand on a stage like that and sing to a fantastic audience and it feels it's a dream come true so if you're listening if you have a dream work hard at it that is a big thing and keep hard at it and hard work we'll give the details of the CD and music and that after but this final song it's called home is where the hardest oh I love that once again Scenetill music is available you've got your Facebook you've got ScenetillMusic.com and Facebook forward slash Scenetill Instagram at Scenetill and the album is called Town Hall Theatre in Galway and there's 17 tracks and I am so looking forward to having a listen to this. The DVD is available as well and you can catch Scenetill Live on T.J. Cahar on the 4th of February or you can catch her live with the brilliant Dan McCabe on his Nationwide tour of 30 plus gigs and I had him all the time come here the pleasure is over thank you so much indeed thank you so so much for having me and again Sina spelled S-I-M-A S-I-M-A T-H-E-I-L thank you so much everybody for listening have a safe journey back to Kildi