The Savannah music community is mourning the unexpected loss of one of its most respected behind-the-scenes talents.
Musician, producer, DJ and audio engineer Oisín Daly passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Savannah home on June 12, 2026. He was 38 years old.
Originally from the Beara Peninsula in West Cork, Ireland, Daly developed a passion for music at an early age before studying Music Technology at Maynooth University. After moving to Savannah in his early twenties, he quickly became an integral part of the local music scene, building a reputation as a talented guitarist, producer, freelance audio engineer and collaborator. Whether performing on stage, running sound behind the scenes or working under his DJ name “Oceanman,” Daly became a familiar face to musicians and music fans throughout the Coastal Empire.
Over the past several days, social media has been flooded with tributes from fellow musicians, venue owners, promoters and friends, all describing the same qualities—his kindness, generosity, humility and willingness to help anyone who needed it.
While I can’t honestly say Oisín and I were close friends, I can say that every interaction I ever had with him reflected exactly what so many people have been sharing this week.
The first time I met him was sometime around 2019 at the downtown Kroger. We had recognized each other through Facebook, and before I knew it we were talking about the soccer scarf I happened to be wearing. He asked if it was my favorite club, and I had to laugh because I really didn’t know much about it—it was simply a scarf a friend had brought back from England years earlier. I also remember him patiently teaching me how to correctly pronounce his first name before we went our separate ways.
It was a brief conversation, but it perfectly introduced me to the kind of person he seemed to be.
Over the following years we’d occasionally run into each other at live music gigs, festivals and open mics around Savannah. Sometimes we’d stop and talk for a few minutes. Other times it was simply a handshake, a smile and a quick “How’s it going?” One night he told me the story behind one of his Facebook nicknames, explaining how it came from a joke in the Simpsons cartoon. Like so many conversations that happen between sets at local shows, it was random, funny and completely unforgettable.
Those interactions may have been brief, but they were always warm. Oisín was soft-spoken, approachable and genuinely kind every time our paths crossed.
Like many people, what has struck me most over the past few days hasn’t just been the loss itself—it’s the incredible outpouring of love from Savannah’s music community.
Reading through hundreds of comments and tributes, it became clear that Oisín was much more than an exceptional musician or talented audio engineer. Time and again, people described someone who connected musicians, encouraged creativity, quietly helped others succeed and made everyone around him feel welcome.
One of the most moving tributes came from his longtime friend and XuluProphet bandmate Xulu Jones, who described Daly as “the most noble soul” he had ever known and credited him with helping shape both his music and his life. Jones wrote that Oisín’s friendship increased his “ability to give and receive love” and remembered him as someone who always made the impossible seem possible while putting others before himself.
I’m friends with Xulu as well, and one of my very first thoughts after hearing the news was wondering how he was holding up. The two shared a friendship that anyone involved in Savannah’s music scene could recognize. When I spoke with him a few days later, I told him exactly that—that I couldn’t imagine what he must be going through. He told me I wasn’t the first person to say it.
Sometimes we don’t fully realize the impact a person has until they’re no longer here.
It’s easy to recognize someone as “the sound engineer,” “the DJ,” or “the guitarist” without realizing just how many lives they quietly touch behind the scenes. Judging by the overwhelming response from Savannah’s music community, Oisín was one of those rare people whose influence reached far beyond the stage.
Although I only knew him as an acquaintance, I always respected the work he did for the local music scene. Looking back through my camera archives this week, I realized I had photographed and filmed him performing on several occasions over the years. Those images now serve as reminders of someone who helped shape Savannah’s musical community in ways many of us probably never fully appreciated while he was here.
Oisín is survived by his wife, Vanessa Daly, his mother Bernadette, his siblings and extended family in Ireland, along with countless friends throughout Savannah and beyond. A funeral service will be held on July 8 at Families First Funeral Care & Cremation Center, followed by a Celebration of Life at The Sexton Pub & Provisions.
A fundraiser has been setup for Vanessa Daly as well, you can contribute to it here.
On behalf of Savannah Jams, we extend our deepest condolences to Vanessa, Oisín’s family, his friends and everyone in Savannah’s music community who is grieving this tremendous loss.
Rest in peace, Oisín.
Thank you for everything you gave to Savannah’s music scene.
