AQUA TOFANA

The AQUA TOFANA Bio

Venture into the sonic universe of AQUA TOFANA, and you will be met with a dark dreamscape of gauzy guitar, dizzying melodies and powerhouse vocals—think Alice in Wonderland directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Named after a 17th century husband-killing poison, AQUA TOFANA is the alias of Lurgan singer-songwriter Eva Kearney. The project has been incubating since her teenage years, and this year Kearney is set to announce her arrival with her participation in the prestigious Scratch My Progress talent development programme. Kearney is a shapeshifting songwriter, moving between the worlds of hip hop, grunge pop, and acidic rock. Honing her craft through years of busking has given her a deft ability to weave in and out of genres, gathering an army of friends and collaborators along the way. Working with the Belfast Groove Collective and performing backing vocals for trailblazing rapper Leo Miyagee saw Kearney showcase her soulful voice, but now she is ready to step into her power as an artist in her own right.

The AQUA TOFANA moodboard is eclectic, taking inspiration from American Horror Story, Nine Inch Nails and the eccentric pop pageantry of Lady Gaga. “I take influence from many places, but I’m always thinking about how I can make it my own,” Eva explains. But the ultimate inspiration comes from her diverse creative partnerships. In 2024, Eva took to Peter Gabriel’s legendary Real World Studios to record an EP with Afghan artist Zarifa Asghari. As the Taliban took control of her country and restricted the rights of women to work, learn and go out in public, Zarifa found safety in Northern Ireland. Facilitated by charity Beyond Skin, Feile Belfast and Oh Yeah Music Centre, the project explores the potential of music to emancipate, provide solace and foster creative expression. And the potential of music to unite and heal is an undercurrent that flows throughout AQUA TOFANA: “I make music to bring people together, because it’s such a powerful creative energy.”

Kearney’s bold artistic direction has received support from outlets including Chordblossom and BBC Radio Ulster. Recorded with producer Michael Mormecha, her 2023 single ‘Again’ explored themes of repressed trauma over looping beats and hypnotic acoustic guitar, whilst her most recent release ‘trees of green’ is a shoegaze slow-burn, best described as Stevie Nicks meets Smashing Pumpkins. “I have always thought of songwriting as a blank canvas. You throw paint on it and it molds into something you might not have expected.” Empowerment through experimentation is a theme that resides at the core of AQUA TOFANA, and her upcoming release as part of the Scratch My Progress EP will further showcase her chameleonic talents.

‘Unconditionally” tells the story of Kearneys Journey of self discovery and the ups and downs of being a performer. The message is clear! Eva sings about the struggling of self love and pushing herself towards her dreams of being a musician whilst dealing with her anxiety, epilepsy and personal traumas. “I hope that Unconditionally can help listeners feel less alone with mental health, disabilities, etc. Who we are as individuals should be celebrated, to sing from the soul and to be loud and confident in your own shoes. And don’t forget to dance, that also very important!” Eva explains.
“My music is all about contrasts—light and dark, sweet and sour,” she explained further. This is evident in Kearney’s mercurial vocal style, providing saccharine melodies and guttural growls in equal measure. Armed with a rebellious spirit, a roster of collaborators and an expansive creative vision, participating in Scratch My Progress will see Eva bring even more of her ideas to life. Get ready to journey down the rabbit hole and into the curious world of AQUA TOFANA.

Written by Lauren Johnson