![]() Other times it’s a melody that old lyrics find their way into. It may have an accompanying melody or may not. It usually starts with a simple lyrical idea, a couplet or single line that contains some core feeling. This song got everything across I wanted it to. It’s rare a song doesn’t suffer the loss of some idea or sentiment on it’s way to completion. With ‘Take Me To Church’ I feel like I managed to convey everything I had set out to do. I try not be too proud of anything I write either. I think that’s probably for somebody else to judge for themselves. The singer concludes he could only suffer having the Devil’s job if he had her love to come home to, and as such decides to hand himself over and spend eternity in hell telling the Devil, in detail, just what he was missing to spite him. I started a blues recently about a man being called up by a jealous Devil demanding to swap lives with him so that the Devil can be with the man’s lover, or face paying his debt and burn forever in hell. I enjoy writing little story songs sometimes when I’m not under pressure. What’s the last song you wrote or started? It was influenced a lot by Bukka White’s playing style on songs like ‘Aberdeen Blues’ and ‘Parchment Farm Blues.’ I think one of the first was a folky song about the loved ones who keep you going. Many incomplete songs of teenage angst, no doubt. What was the first song you ever wrote? Tell us about it Irish singer-songwriter, Lisa Hannigan and her work was a big inspiration for me to keep writing early on. I had an obsession with Tom Waits as a teenager. As singing was always my first primary instrument, I’ve never felt like much of a guitarist. I learned a few chords when I was younger and just listened to music and tried to replicate it, blues first and then a long clumsy process of just learning songs I loved. I taught myself from about the age of 15. More recently I’ve gotten into a group called Tinariwen, some absolutely beautiful playing. Skip James, Junior Kimbrough, John Lee Hooker. I love noodling around still, trying to learn the technique of influences. Whenever I can… touring gets somewhat in the way of having time to do so. How often do you play for fun, just for yourself? What sort of stuff do you play when you do? Columbia showed much early interest for America, it all moved very quickly. ![]() I remember Justin Eshak of Columbia Records traveled to a place near the middle of nowhere for a charity gig I was performing at in Ireland. Not long after the EP was launched there was growing interest from major label A&R representatives. I can’t quite recall the ins and outs of it. How did you end up getting signed to Columbia records? I was aware we had the tour sold out, but the enthusiasm and support from the crowds was something I never expected. The response at the shows has been the warmest I’ve received to date, which I was unprepared for and quite moved by. ![]() How has playing in the states been going? Is it what you imagined it would be like? It was from this point I allowed myself to use my influences a bit more openly and honestly in the work, so there’s shades of blues, folk, soul and gospel throughout both.The second EP explores a slightly brighter side to some of my songs ( From Eden) and has perhaps more going on in it by way of production but I think they share in most core features and influences. They’re a collection of songs I had written over the past year or so, from a point where I decided to start recording a bit more at home in order to try and produce a sound I felt closer to. ![]()
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