David Murphy

David Murphy is a multi-instrumentalist based in Cork, Ireland known best for his work with the pedal steel guitar.
Murphy's unique application of the evocative and ever-mysterious pedal steel guitar has resulted in his invitation to participate in many collaborations and projects over his years as a session musician and band-member.
Taking the instrument outside the confines of its traditional roots, Murphy has accumulated a growing list of recording and live credits. He can regularly be seen and heard on stage and in the studio with diverse Irish artists such as The Lost Brothers, John Blek & The Rats, Arborist, Cian Nugent, Ordnance Survey, Greenshine and The Remedy Club amongst others as well as touring or performing alongside acclaimed international artists such as Willy Vlautin, The Delines, Richmond Fontaine, M. Ward and Jolie Holland.
Blurring the boundaries of music into which Murphy has taken the instrument, he has contributed to records across a range of genres, spanning pop, Americana and folk to ambient, experimental music and film soundtracks. David has also participated in tours of Ireland, UK, Europe and U.S.A. as well as performing on live national radio and television. 2024 sees Murphy take his first steps out of the shadows as a solo artist with the release of his own full-length studio album 'Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar' on the Rollercoaster Records label. This continues his quest to expand the vocabulary of the instrument and take it in new and exciting directions.

"Irish traditional rendered ghostly by washes of pedal steel and almost subliminal piano... widescreen
and structured, like an early Celtic Ólafur Arnalds... 8/10" UNCUT
"...a sonic experiment of narcotic enchantment... blossoming with old world charm in luminous
modernity." ***** SONGLINES - ALBUM OF THE MONTH
"...an intriguing proposition... very moving, at times oddly Balearic, the Hawaiian roots of his warm
pitch-shifting instrument spangling through." THE GUARDIAN
"an incredibly confident debut album. Balanced against its elegance and the dreamlike sound of his
pedal steel is a quietly adventurous spirit that is beautifully judged and unpretentious - an
extraordinarily great album." KLOF MAGAZINE
"A brave and pioneering undertaking... a landmark in ambient Irish traditional music" LONESOME HIGHWAY
"sensational... deliciously sun-drenched and weary" BBC NIGHT TRACKS