Hiya Mahuna, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
A pleasure, double espresso on the way.
What made you decide to pursue music?
Growing up in the turbulent environment of 1970s West Belfast, I needed to find a way out of the dark. Music had been a constant light in my life so it felt natural when I eventually gravitated towards pursuing it.
Can you please tell us about your musical history?
The road to simplicity is a complex one. Music is no exception. After many years of writing, performing and recording I finally understood what it was I wanted to say and how best to say it.
What’s the live music scene like in Berlin right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
Berlin is a great place to live and create music in. When it comes to playing live I prefer Ireland.
I’ve seen a lot of people struggling for support recently online. What’s your view on the ever changing music industry?
I used to think of it as Franz Kafka’s Castle, a dark and shady place the inside of which you would never reach. Now, I don’t really care much about it. The struggle for artists to rise above the morass remains, the scenery just looks a bit different.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry, and where do you envision yourself to progress on to?
On a raft on an unpredictable ocean but it’s a beautiful day and my imagination is on fire. I love horizons whether I see land or not.
Tell us two truths and a lie about you.
The guitar I played on Underneath A Hazel Tree is over 100 years old. David Gray spent a few weeks in my home studio. I try not to lie unless I have to.
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture? Discuss….
I prefer writing songs. If songs take me the wrong way I change them.
Do you subscribe to any conspiracy theories? If not, why not?
I once dreamt I was trying to make my way across slippery stepping stones towards a misty veil, beyond which lay another series of stones and more mist beyond which…I woke up. Spending time in the company of conspiracy theorists reminds me of the dream.
What was your best experience on stage?
May 2017, on the music bill of a literary festival at Roisin Dubh, Galway. The gig that proved to me beyond doubt that I had found the right path. A phenomenal reaction from a crowd hyped on poetry and prose.
What was your worst experience on stage?
1990s, Bull and Gate, London. Playing to an audience of 1, a staggering drunk who left the room shortly after the gig started, probably after having realised he’d lost his way. I kept singing into the void. Amazingly, MCA Records contacted me afterwards looking for a demo, saying the gig promoter had recommended me.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I have a degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University, Belfast. Still surprises me.
What are the next steps you plan to take as an artist/band to reach the next level?.
The second single Dream Winter’s Day has just been released. There will be a couple more singles, an album and, all going well, live dates in Ireland. If the work spills over into the UK and beyond I wouldn’t stand in its way.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
There is a new album entitled Forever Is Mine waiting in the wings which will be released on vinyl, as well as streaming services, around March 2025.
What was the recording process like?
It was incredibly cathartic and rewarding. Ten songs performed, recorded and mixed live to 2-track tape in 2 days in May this year, with the help of a double-bass player, a vibraphonist, a piano-player and a backing vocalist.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes for your upcoming album and what can people expect?
Learning to recognize the essence of a song and understanding how to capture and preserve it.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Not a thing.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
If it doesn’t sound like a moment’s thought then all your striving has been in vain.
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