Sea Sew is the debut studio album by Irish singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan. It was released in Ireland on September 12, 2008, through her independent label, Hoop, and later released in the United Kingdom and the United States in early 2009. The album was recorded at Fainne Music in Dublin and produced by Jason Boshoff.
The musical style of Sea Sew is generally classified as folk or indie pop, characterized by Hannigan's vocal performance and acoustic-led arrangements. Instrumentation on the album includes the use of acoustic guitar, harmonium, glockenspiel, trumpet, and strings. The cover art for the album features needlework designed and hand-stitched by Hannigan, reflecting the literal interpretation of the title.
The album received significant critical acclaim upon its release. It was nominated for the 2009 Mercury Prize in the United Kingdom and the 2008 Choice Music Prize in Ireland. Commercially, Sea Sew reached number three on the Irish Albums Chart and was certified platinum by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). It also entered the Billboard 200 in the United States following Hannigan's appearances on American television. Notable singles released from the album include "Lille," "I Don't Know," and "An Ocean and a Rock."
Outside of this specific musical work, "sea-sew" is an archaic or regional dialect term historically used in parts of England to refer to the common gull (Larus canus), though this usage is not common in contemporary English.
