Damien Dempsey Interview

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Fusing Reggae, Irish music, Rock and Folk, Damien Dempsey is like no other. Since his debut album in 2000 ‘They Don’t Teach This Shit in School’ set him apart as a unique and important voice, championed from an early stage in his career by Sinéad O’Connor and others, Damien went on to release another successful album ‘Seize The Day’ in 2003, and has had a string of acclaimed albums winning him much recognition throughout Ireland’s music scene. He’s supported everyone from Brian Eno to Bob Dylan, U2 and Morrisey, and now he’s coming to Australia with his ‘Almighty Love’ tour.

Hi Damien how has the year started for you?
I’ve been doing a solo tour around Ireland.

Your music has been described as Reggae fused with Irish Folk and Rock. What inspired you to mix all these elements?
I grew up listening to Irish traditional and Folk music alongside Reggae and Ska music, so it just seeped in.

Would you say there is anyone out currently you could compare your sound with?
I hope not, I want to be original, there’s plenty of young Irish singers now sounding like me though, I encourage them to find their own voice.

Could you shed some light on your early musical inspirations growing up in Ireland?
I listened to a lot of Sinead O’Connor, Luke Kelly, Christy Moore, Shane McGowan, Phil Lynott, all soulful singers.

Since the release of your debut album you have enjoyed support from some leading figures in the music industry including Bob Dylan, Morrissey and Brian Eno. What do you think makes your music strike a chord with such great musicians?
It’s hard to say, but I reckon honesty, passion, an original sounding voice, visual lyrics, but I suppose you’d have to ask them.

Sinead O’Connor was an early fan of your music and features on your latest record ‘Almighty Love’. What impact has Sinead had on your career? What was it like working with her?
Sinead helped me a lot to break through in Ireland, and watching her sing every night on the tours shook me to the bone and showed me what soul singing is all about.

You have won plenty of awards in Ireland with major international music publications lauding your work. What would you say has been the proudest moment in your career to date?
I suppose when someone comes up and says, “Your music saved my life, I was in a very dark place and a friend gave me your album and told me that will help and it lifted me out of the hole.” Things like that get me through my own dark doubtful times.

You made your acting debut in Irish feature film ‘Between The Canals’ in 2011. Is this a direction you may be more focused on in the future?
It’s nice to get out of your own head for a while and try and get into someone else’s, try and lose yourself and your way of thinking and carrying yourself, I suppose a change is as good as a rest.

So tell us more about your acting?
Since I’m 6 ft 2″ with big shoulders I seem to get typecast, the gangster, the hard man, but I’m actually a shrinking violet and a soul of sensitive leanings!

What have you been up to since the release of ‘The Rocky Road’ four years ago?
I lived in Australia for six months, London for a year, lived on an island in Thailand for a while, wrote poetry for a graffiti artist to put up around Dublin, went out to visit the charity I support in the Philippines ‘Preda’ and played in a few prisons in Manila, restocking my inner pond I suppose.

You are touring Australia extensively in March 2013, what can the Australian fans expect from your live shows?
A spiritual experience, hopefully I can send them out the door on cloud nine.

Where are you most looking forward to visiting?
Sydney Opera House, it’s just such a buzz to play there.

If you get any free time whilst you’re there, what would you like to do?
I’m going to go walkabout with your great singer and friend of mine Dan Sultan, he’s going to show me his island.

Apart from the tour what else in the pipeline for 2013?
I’ve got a tour of the States, Britain and Ireland, and I’m supporting Bruce Springsteen in July, so I’ll be counting on Dan to get me back out of the bush safely!

Cheers and all the best for the tour!

By Harry Dillon

Make sure you see Damien at the Sydney Opera House on 17th March 2013.

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