Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: Sure! I’m a singer-songwriter from Dublin. I grew up in the countryside though, relatively sheltered, very religious, and quite a bit emo. Breaking away from that and all of the shit that came after led me down a path of many relationships and stories; emotional, physical, and spiritual. This history’s best channel out was through writing, recording, and performing songs.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of R U A I R I in three words?
A: Lyrical, Emotional, True.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: My fans are a small group of loyal friends and family, with a few die-hard listeners. I connect with them individually – everyone has a different favourite song or story, everyone connects to my music in a different way. During the process of creating my new album, I had a ‘review crew’ who even gave input into the direction of the music as honest feedback that helped me to shape it before release.
Q: You have just released your new album, ‘I Hold Your Ghost’. Is there a story behind it?
A: I Hold Your Ghost is not built around one story, but several, from across my life and the people it’s touched. It’s a concept album of sorts, a journey of discovery through feelings associated with these stories , and the indelible marks left on my life. The songs explore each aspect of my connections, relationships, thoughts, feelings, and more, before concluding by recognising how all continue to impact the person I am today. The songs keep this narrative and hold it in neither positive nor negative light – simply as it is.
Q: What is your favorite track from the album and why?
A: My favourite track is the title track ‘I Hold Your Ghost’. It originally wasn’t on the album, but there was a gap that needed to be filled, so I wrote the song that was on my mind at the time, and somehow it became this leading light for the album, eventually ending up as the lead single with its own music video and everything!
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album, “I Hold Your Ghost”?
A: This one was a crazy one. Originally I went with a friend of mine to Windmill Lane studios in Dublin (all locked down in COVID, we had the place to ourselves), but after that didn’t work out, I ended up recording the album in my house over the course of several months, and learning how to mix and produce myself. A lot of work, but what it did was allow my to experiment with new sounds that went beyond my acoustic guitar and voice, and create a textured landscape that matches the lyrics and emotions.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for you so far?
A: I regretfully have not been performing much of late, and am yet to even hold an album release gig (I will do something soon – small and intimate!). For me, my memory goes back to playing open mic nights and busking on Grafton Street a decade and a half ago. All the songs and performances since then have led to this moment, this album, and this release of emotion. It’s a journey not just one moment!
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: For me, my track ‘Front Lawn’ stands out. It’s a song I wrote 10 years ago, a simple repetitive melody and mantra that grew into an intimate ballad. It holds a place in my heart, because it didn’t change over the years, but I did. And at the same time, the emotions in the song remain true. I’m proud that it holds up to that test of time, and that it’s something I can share with the world.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into your unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: I’m 100% a lyricist first! I write from the heart, taking notes whenever inspiration strikes me. I try not to mess with it too much, to force rhymes or anything like that; instead just letting the words flow. Not quite James Joyce! But the inspiration from other writers, poets, and creatives helps too. Once I have the lyrics mostly there I tend to focus on recreating the same emotion in music – an acoustic guitar is the best friend here. From there I imagine the finished song, and build towards that with any sounds I have. No instrument is too weird for me to play!
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for R U A I R I, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: I just hope that people can resonate with the music. I always find that even in something so intimately personal, someone can discover something that they feel too and that helps them. For my fans or for anyone that comes across my music: I simply hope that you enjoy this, and look forward to many more weird, wonderful, and different songs to come.
