Declan O'Rourke has released the 20th anniversary edition of his much-loved debut album, Since Kyabram. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
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Speaking about the new edition, he says, "Since Kyabram was not only my first complete offering of artistic expression, but the culmination of years applying myself to the learning of a great craft and infusing it with an identity of my own.
"Getting to make a record was a privilege I took very seriously and when it came time to, I entered the studio with a collection of songs I felt were strong, and distinctly mine.
"I revelled in the studio environment and had the best of musicians to help in pursuing the vision I had for each song. We went for the old school vibe of playing together in the same room and capturing performances.
"It was a magical time and a dream to watch each of the songs landing. But the most unexpected thing for me was to witness something being born that was far beyond anything I had imagined and that had legs to stand up all on its own.
"Surreal and magical, the experience was something entirely new, and very addictive. But it all happened so fast at the time.
"So, the re-release in celebration of its anniversary (along with all the extra surprises found hidden among the master tapes and my own archives recently), has been a great chance to go back and absorb Kyabram at a different pace.
"It sounds as fresh as ever to me, but this time around I had the wonderful sense of just being a passenger, and of how lucky I am to have been a part of it all."
Since Kyabram was an instant success, entering the charts at No 5 and eventually earning gold, platinum, and double platinum certifications.
The album, which included the tracks Galileo, Sarah, No Place to Hide, We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea, and Marrying the Sea, caught the attention of high-profile musicians such as Paul Weller, Eddi Reader, Paul Brady, and Snow Patrol.
The 20th Anniversary Edition includes a second disc with unreleased demos, alternate takes, and behind-the-scenes footage.
At long last, this baby is set free today !
— Declan O'Rourke (@declanorourke) February 7, 2025
Available instore now with bonus disc with lots of 20th anniversary extras and ships worldwide! ✌🏼😘✨#musiczone #towerrecords #goldendiscs #freebird #zhivago #spindizzy #rollercoaster #benoneill #lucarecords#steamboat pic.twitter.com/KsGS1tvGbr
Declan will perform a series of special 20th Anniversary concerts, revisiting the album that started it all with a live in-store at Spindizzy Records in Dublin at 5pm Wednesday 12 February and the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Thursday 13 February. More dates will be announced.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I have curly hair, I make noise for a living, and I love what I do.
How would you describe your music?
Ray Charles said there are only two kinds of music - good and bad. I like to think he’d have scratched his head a bit if he heard mine. I’ve also heard that the role of the artist is to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable. I like that too and I aspire to it.
But ok, if you were an alien, that’s too vague. I have a deep voice, but I sing high too. I’m wordy. I’m naturally inclined to slower moving music than fast, but sometimes I break out. It has to mean something or I won’t continue with it. I never allow myself to write something that sounds like something else I’ve written. I feel allergic to that, so I like to try different things in terms of themes, styles and colours. But I prefer organic instrumentation generally. Real instruments. I love strings. There’s something ancient and hypnotic about strings that seem to speak to the soul. Medicine. So, I find I use them a lot. I can be complex melodically, but hopefully not so much that it becomes obtuse. I’m usually just entertaining myself and wandering somewhere that feels in tune with whatever it is I’m saying.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Too many to narrow it down. But I sometimes have said if I had musical parents (other than my parents) they would Paul Brady and Joni Mitchell. That covers a lot.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Neil Young with Booker T and the MG’s. Slane 1993 I think. Indescribable! I’m still there.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I was allowed to pick my present by a family friend when I was seven. I chose Paul Simon’s Graceland which was all over the radio. Still love it! First one I ever actually bought myself was a few years later . . . Open Up and Say Aah by Poison. That hasn’t aged quite as well. Ha.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Well, my inner radio is on so I’m focussed on new songs and don’t listen to much else when that’s going on. Ask me next year?
Favourite lyric of all time?
Jesus. No pressure. VERY hard to choose. One that blew my mind just awe-striking genius from a song-writing point of view, is Irving Berlin’s How Deep Is The Ocean: "How deep is the ocean? How high is the sky? How much do I love you? I’ll tell you no lie. How many times a day do I think of you? How many roses are sprinkled with dew? How far would I travel, to be where you are? How long is the journey from here to a star? And if you ever left me, how much would I cry? How deep is the ocean? How high is the sky?"
As you can see, it works like a snake eating its own tail. You can’t tell where is the start and where is the end. Some parts are both questions and answers at the same time.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Again, no pressure … A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My website.
Alan Corr
