Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I was born in the mid-80’s and grew up on the outskirts of a small village in Ireland. My parents listened to an eclectic mix of music. Nanci Griffith, Benny Goodman, Gypsy Kings, Fleetwood Mac, and so on. When you include my older brothers tastes the meltong pot gets even meltier. Cypress Hill, Guns n Roses, Air, Depeche Mode etc. My primary school friend and first bandmate introduced me to stuff like Ben Folds, Green Day & Faith No More. And then Nu-Metal happened for better or wrose! So there is plenty of blame to go around for my inability to stick to a genre in my own music.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Elephant”?
A: I understand how important social media has become for independant arists and I admire people who have found a way to make it work for them. Personally, I find the need to continuely repackage every song into short form content uncomfortable and it doesn’t sit well with me. So I would say to anyone about to listen to discover Elephant, please take the time to listen to the whole thing. I put as much effort in to the rest of the song as I do the hook!
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: There are so many. Here are a few that came to mind in the moment. Tears for Fears, Anhoni, Sufjan Stevens, Scott Walker, Joni Mitchell, The Blue Nile, Wim Mertens. The list goes on and on, but I would consider Bowie my lodestar.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Too Close.”?
A: Too Close is confessional..and deeply personal. Its about retreating from intamacy for fear of both causing and getting hurt. If I’m honest, this was the first time in 10 years releasing music as Elephant I considered re-writing the lyrics because of how exposed I felt. I’m glad now I didn’t.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Eclectic?
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Too Close”?
A: It’s actually the first song that I recoded, mixed, produced etc totally solo. I’ve released four albums with trained pros in the big chair and over that time, have picked up the basics. Though, taking on this production myself was very challenging. It was also very rewarding. I am still very green.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: I have no message, I have no agenda. Each song is it’s own thing. If someone gets a message or a meaning in the songs, thats great. As for my goals? It might be boring or cliche to say but I dont have any. I love making the songs and albums. The process of creating them is what I love. So I guess thats the goal, to keep creating music until I don’t want to anymore…or atleast until the robots take over.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Bowie for dead, Enya for living.. but you would have to get her to come out of that castle.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Look at what I do and then do the opposite.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Have courage, trust your instincts… and learn the saxaphone!
