In 2012 Steo Wall packed a bag, left his native Dublin and headed out west to Ennistymon in Co Clare. With his partner Jessie away on the road a lot working, Steo picked up his guitar again after a decade or so and began writing songs.
From a very early age, Steo had a way with language and loved to write poetry and bend words to his will. He quickly began to immerse himself in the vibrant local music scene of North Clare, where he met and became friendly with legendary Irish folk singer, Luka Bloom.
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Watch: Steo Wall on the Today Programme on RTÉ Radio 1
In 2016 he got the chance of a lifetime, to go on a national tour with an artist he had looked up to and admired for many years, Damien Dempsey, who himself became a huge fan of Steo's work. It was the crowd reaction to his songs at those shows that prompted Steo to enter the recording studio in 2017 and start recording what was to become his critically acclaimed debut album, Where I'm From. Dempsey ended up featuring on the first single from taken from the album, What's wrong with the world ma?
Growing up in Dublin gave Steo a grounding in rap, "Though I was more Toothpick then Tupac" he jokes. The experience of losing friends and family members to prison and drugs informs much of his music. With his debut, Steo brings the listener on a trip from the badlands of Dublin’s working class housing estates to the beauty of Ireland’s west coast - it's quite the musical journey.
In June 2018 he launched Where I'm From at the Doolin folk festival in Clare, and soon after, a love song he penned for his girlfriend entitled Jessie's Song was picked up by and spent two weeks on the RTÉ Radio1 playlist. On 25th of October Steo also performed at the inaugural RTÉ Radio1 Folk Awards in Vicar Street.
"No lies or gimmicks, no ulterior motives, he’s the real article. This is Irish soul music," says Damien Dempsey. Later this month, it all comes full circle as Wall opens for Dempsey's Christmas show at Vicar Street. We're looking forward to seeing them take the stage together, two unique artists, back where they're from.
Steo Wall plays Glor Theatre, Ennis on December 15th, and Vicar Street, Dublin on December 23rd - more details here.
