
Damien Dempsey Interview 2014
An Irishman that tells it like it is, Damien Dempsey’s music is a captivating plethora of traditional folk with deep insight into politics and society, influenced by public individuals like Sinead O’Connor and Morrissey. We couldn’t miss a chance to speak to the man himself, so we took some time to get into the head of this outspoken and poetic lyricist before he comes to Australia this March!
Hi Damien, how has 2014 been treating you?
I’m off alcohol and on a diet, the nights are long but the mornings magical!
That takes a lot of discipline! Well done. Where has your music and performing taken you to recently?
England, Switzerland, the States, Australia, the Philippines, music’s an adventurous partner!
It certainly is! You’re due to release new album, ‘It’s All Good – The Best of Damien Dempsey’; what can we expect from it? Will there be new and old tracks on it? Any special collaborations?
It’s all the best songs from my 6 studio albums with a couple of newbies thrown in and a collaboration with Glen Hansard on a Brendan Behan song called the ‘Auld Triangle’, I give insights to where the songs came from on the inlay as well.
The artists you quote as inspiring you are very opinionated individuals, including Sinead O’Connor and Morrissey, and you aren’t afraid to approach subjects like politics and society; why do you think subjects like these are often used in music, and music is often the greatest medium to get them heard, yet they still remain controversial?
I think some artists care about them issues, and some couldn’t give a toss. Thankfully there’s both these type of artists and it’s not all one way traffic, there’s room for everyone, and if you can put some wisdom and message and meaning into a song it can go into people’s consciousness and the don’t even realize it’s going in because they’re enjoyin’ the melody and harmony and rhythm.
If you couldn’t express yourself through music, what other source would you use?
I dread to think about it!
You’re celebrating the album’s release with an Australian tour in March, have you felt a constant support base from the country over your career?
Australians seemed to get me from the off, them and the Scots embraced me quickly, it took other lands a lot longer…
What can we expect from the gigs? Will there be music from all six albums?
Songs from all six yep, and lots of communal singing, it’s almost like a spiritual experience, some folks say they’re high for days after a good show, naturally high!
How will you be celebrating St Patrick’s Day? Do you have a favourite pub or venue that you like to pay a visit to when you visit Australia?
I’ll be playing in the most isolated city on Earth, Perth! We done the Sydney Opera House last Paddy’s Day, the bar ran out of alcohol half way through… I was thirsty!
Haha! When we spoke to you in February 2013, you said that you spent a bit of time off in the Philippines to do charity work, have you been able to go out there since Typhoon Haiyan?
No, but I’m doing a fundraiser for the charity I support in the Philippines later in the year.
We can see you’ve stayed pretty grounded, how do you find the notion of “celebrity” as it is today?
I was asked to be a judge on a talent show called ‘The Voice’ here in Ireland, if I’m honest I could have used the money, but I encourage everyone to sing, if only to themselves, it’s healing, and it’s an ancient spiritual thing, so I’d never sit in a chair and tell someone they weren’t good enough. Sing all your cares away!
If you could put together a group of yourself and three others singers/musicians, who would you choose?
Phil Lynott on bass, Jimi Hendrix on lead, John Bonham on drums, that’d be some after show… Jaysus!
Besides the release of ‘It’s All Good’ and the adjoining tour, what plans do you have for the near future?
My plan is to try to enjoy the rest of my time here and help out where I can and pass some wisdom onto the kids and give them a good example, and keep writing songs that help people through…
Thanks Damien, we look forward to catching you on the tour!
Damien Dempsey Tour Dates:
Thurs 13th March 2014 – Mick O’Malleys, Brisbane
Fri 14th March 2014 – Prince Bandroom, Melbourne
Sun 16th March 2014 – The Metro Theatre, Sydney
Mon 17th March 2014 – Capitol Theatre, Perth
By Charlotte Mellor