Hiraeth Project

About

Hiraeth (heer-eyeth) is a Welsh word that describes a longing for a place that exists more vividly in memory, imagination, or yearning than in reality, often shaped by loss, shifting perspective, or the simple passage of time. As a group, Hiraeth Project explores that feeling through the lens of the diverse musical traditions that have inspired each of its artists.

Originally formed as a student group at Northern Illinois University called Hiraeth Quartet in 2016, the group began as an Irish fusion project before quickly evolving into something more globally collaborative, featuring percussion, guzheng, flamenco and Django jazz guitar, Chinese flutes, and a Korean pansori singer. Many of these musicians relocated after graduation, eventually leading to the group becoming dormant in 2018 following a series of performances and a recording session.

During his 2026 Strathmore residency, founder and bandleader Michael McSweeney reimagined Hiraeth Project as a flexible ensemble built around a core rhythm section and featured artists, creating space for each collaborator’s distinct musical background to help shape the music. The core features Chris Hon on keys and synth, Grant Le on bass, Asadali Bandeali on percussion, and Michael on a hybrid drum set/percussion setup. To date, this reimagined version of the group has collaborated with musicians such as Kanysha (vocals), fellow founding musician Qi Yu (guzheng), Juan Manú (vocals, violin), and Jack Gruber (piano), and has performed at The Mansion at Strathmore and The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. Together, they create music equally rooted in tradition yet yearning to explore, resulting in a sound that feels like a home you simply hadn’t found yet.

Interested in presenting Hiraeth Project or exploring collaboration opportunities? Get in touch to discuss performances, residencies, workshops, or anything else you have in mind!