Clíodhna Ní Aodáin’s forthcoming album, For the Love of Trees, is rooted in a simple but profound act: sitting beneath trees and listening. Set for release on August 14, 2026, through Curve Blue, the album presents seven meditative works shaped by the artist’s direct encounters with trees in Ireland, Switzerland and the United States.
For many years, Ní Aodáin has felt a deep connection with trees and their quiet presence. That relationship eventually became a creative practice, as she brought her cello into forests, sat beneath individual trees, and allowed the first musical impulse to guide her. From there, she would sing, find the melody on cello, and enter into what she describes as a spontaneous musical dialogue.
The album includes pieces inspired by Linden, Rowan, Redwood and the Fairie Tree, each carrying its own emotional tone and character. The focus track, “Linden Tree,” runs 2 minutes and 23 seconds and evokes the calm strength and gentle wisdom associated with the tree. Other tracks include “Rowan Tree,” “Lament for the Trees,” “Fairie Tree,” “Forest Moon,” “Redwood” and the title piece, “For the Love of Trees.”
Recorded in Boulder, Colorado, on the cello of Grammy Award-winning cellist David Darling, the album was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Mickey Houlihan. Ní Aodáin blends cello improvisations, voice and piano with atmospheric textures and subtle field recordings, creating a sound world that is contemplative, Celtic-influenced and immersive.
For the Love of Trees is both a musical offering and an invitation. Through its intimate cello soundscapes, Ní Aodáin encourages listeners to slow down, sit with nature, and rediscover a sense of peace and connection with the living earth.