Cork troubadour John Spillane has released his new single, Princes Street, and his new live album, In Another Light, follows on 14 October. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
This live version of Princes Street will be accompanied by a new video, directed by former member of Gráda, Alan Doherty, and is the second instalment in a trilogy of films telling a unique story.
Speaking about the series, John says, "As In Another Light is a career spanning album-including songs I have written between the years 1983 to 2021, we wanted to create the videos in a similar vein.
"We wanted to work with one videographer across all three videos to have a consistency in the vision, Al Doherty who created these videos has a really wonderful point of view and a great eye, so it had to be him."
He adds, "Each video explores a different theme. The first for Dance of the Cherry Trees, was all about childhood and wonder.
"This, the second in the series, was built on the excitement you can only feel when you're beginning your journey into adulthood; hopeful, curious, open and invigorated. It very much brings me back to the time when I wrote the song.
"I used to busk on Princes Street when I was 21 and I wasn't even conscious at the time that there was a family connection. My father's family had lived at 16 Princes Street, where Clancy's Bar is now.
"My father died when we were all very young, so I've always seen him as mirrored in the past, in an old romantic Cork light. The song itself speaks of meeting in our beautiful city on a night where you don’t know what will happen or where you will end up.
"It’s an ode to the magic of Cork and I see Princes Street as the heart of the town. In my poetic imagination the fountain in the English Market there represents the umbilicus of Cork".
John plays the Clonakilty Guitar Festival. October 6 - DeBarra’s, Clonakility. October 7 - Hot Spot, Greystones. October 15 - The White Horse, Ballicollig. October 21 - Cleere’s, Kilkenny. October 23 -Roisin Dubh, Galway. October 29 - Gleneagle INEC, Killarney. November 6 - The Pavilion, Dun Laoghaire. December 2 - Duncairn, Belfast. December 16 - Doolin Hotel, Clare. December 18 - The Everyman, Cork.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I have the same birthday as J.R.R. Tolkien. I don't know which I prefer more: poetry or melody. My favourite plant is Honesty.
How would you describe your music?
Like rain falling into a rusty bucket beside a cottage made of stars. Like a spear flying across a distant constellation. Like a mountain weeping in the misty morning. New Traditional Folk Gaelic Cork Surreal.
Who are your musical inspirations?
The Beatles and Seosamh Ó hÉanaigh.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
A musical play called John Paul George Ringo and Bert in the Father Mathew Hall in Cork. It was about a fictitious fifth Beatle. Rita Connolly sang beautiful versions of Beatle songs. This was about 1976.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Nothing Rhymed by Gilbert O' Sullivan. A 45-rpm vinyl single. A great record.
What’s your favourite song right now?
I'm deeply engaged with composing a song about two giants and it's my favourite song right now. "Things were said by the living and the dead, stones were thrown from giant thrones, round the red rock of the harbour of Cork."
Favourite lyric of all time?
"Oh, my love, my darling, I hunger for your touch, a long, lonely time, If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life what would it be?" - Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers or The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My website.
