Waterford musician Deaf Joe has released his fifth album, Kalachuchi. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
The Edinburgh-based artist, real name Joe Harney, creates forward-pushing electronic pop and has collaborated with Katie Kim and Percolator.
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Speaking about Kalachuchi, which was recorded in Scotland, Denmark and Ireland over three years, Harney says, "The last two albums, Stuck and Love Stories, were made after I came out and they let more light in.
"I wanted to continue that with Kalachuchi, keep the curtains open, kick the windows out. Even if things get heavy here or there, it can still float, still feel buoyant, still shimmer."
Tell us three things about yourself?
I'm an aging hipster that somehow still hasn't committed to a single tattoo. I've been vegetarian since 2010 when I hung out with some beautiful baby calves the morning after a very badly behaved night out and I've never seen Star Wars.
How would you describe your music?
Soulful experimental pop, riffing on love and loss.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Susumu Yokota, D'Angelo, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Stevie Wonder, ABBA, Nina Simone, Ricardo Villalobos ... I could list 1,000 people! Also, anyone that knows how to put a good mix together for a journey, I love you.
What was the first gig you ever went to and the first record you ever bought/downloaded?
I think the first gig I ever went to was when I got dragged along to Oasis at their peak, age 13. First record I want to tell you about buying (!) is probably Daft Punk's Homework.
What's your favourite song right now?
It's a piece of music by Irish composer Sam Perkin called Waves. It's so grand, timeless, and completely beautiful it should be installed permanently in the National Gallery.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"It's been seven hours and 15 days, since you took your love away ..." I know it's from Prince's pen, but the way Sinéad releases that wave of emotion in the first half and collapses into herself in the second ... still gets me every time.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Stevie Wonder's As. Or maybe Mariah Carey's Hero so me and my boyfriend can sing awful karaoke into eternity together.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My new album Kalachuchi is out now on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and anywhere else you like to access your music online.
