The enduring popularity in Ireland of the “singer-songwriter” (i.e. the lone performer plying his or her trade with just guitar and/or piano for accompaniment) is a phenomenon that stretches back to the 1960s and earlier. Even before Bob Dylan – often cited as the original singer- songwriter – first appeared in Ireland, there was a long tradition of balladeers, troubadours, poets and bards, travelling the length and breadth of the county, entertaining the locals with their words and music.
The ballad and folk boom of the 1960s saw the first stirrings of what would become a movement of solo artists beginning to write and perform their own material. The popularity in Ireland of international singer- songwriters such as Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Tom Paxton, Ralph McTell and others would provide a spur to homegrown acts to forge their own styles.
Many of them did just that – and the rest is history. These days our songsmiths and their music travel the world over – and they are rightly hailed internationally. From Chris de Burgh, through Paul Brady and Christy Moore, to Eleanor McEvoy, Glen Hansard, Damien Rice, Gemma Hayes, Damien Dempsey, Hozier and the likes of Gavin James, Irish singer- songwriters continue to be among our most visible musical exports.
The definition of a singer songwriter is a fluid one, but generally refers to a performer who both sings and writes, and crucially who can perform his or her material completely solo. Of course it’s arguable either way whether Gilbert O’Sullivan or Chris De Burgh – two of Ireland’s most successful international performers – would fall under the category of “singer- songwriter”. The same question might apply to Shane MacGowan, Sinéad O’Connor, or even someone like Pugwash’s Thomas Walsh, who all to a greater or lesser extent are more band than solo orientated.
In The Frames, Glen Hansard is most definitely a bandleader, but in his solo incarnation and with Swell Season, he is a hugely successful singer-songwriter. The same could be said of someone like Neil Hannon, who often swops between his roles as bandleader and solo performer.
Most of the long established Irish singer songwriters have their roots in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when many of our pre-eminent exponents of the genre started out.
Paul Brady arrived at his current destination as a widely acclaimed songwriter through a circuitous route that took in R ‘n’ B in the 1960s and traditional and folk in the 1970s. Johnny Duhan, whose songs have been covered by Christy Moore and Mary Black, emerged from Limerick rock/soul outfit Granny’s Intentions (as did Pete Cummins), while Sonny Condell started out in the psyche/ folk duo Tir Na Nog before going solo in the 1970s.
Luka Bloom is another successful solo performer and songwriter who spent long periods in both traditional-based and rock outfits before opting for the solo route. Meanwhile, Mick Hanly, who scored a huge country hit in the US with his song, ‘Past The Point of Rescue’, served time in Moving Hearts and Rusty Old Halo, while Jimmy McCarthy, whose composition ‘Ride On’ has been widely recorded, was in various rock bands in his early days.
Declan Sinnott, the highly respected guitarist/ producer, was a founder member of Horslips and long time associate of both Christy Moore and Mary Black and has only in recent years gone solo, releasing two highly acclaimed albums. Some successful singer-songwriters have even opted on occasion for the Eurovision route, either through writing or performing; among them, Charlie McGettigan, Mickey Joe Harte, and Don Mescall.
The current generation of noted singer-songwriters came to prominence through a variety of avenues, including street busking and open-mic nights, which remain strong breeding grounds for burgeoning talent. The International Bar, and later Whelan’s in Dublin, fostered and nurtured an astonishingly fertile singer- songwriter scene in the 1990s with the likes of Mundy, Declan O’Rourke, Damien Dempsey, Paddy Casey, Damien Rice, Ollie Cole, Roesy and, of course, Glen Hansard among those who graduated with honours.
That ongoing burst of creativity is not confined to the capital: around the island an eclectic range of singular solo performers with their own distinctive styles flourished. They include Cork’s John Spillane, Belfast’s Duke Special, Wexford’s brilliant Pierce Turner and the Louth- based Jinx Lennon.
Equally impressive is the number of female singer-songwriters who also established themselves – among them Sinéad Lohan, Juliet Turner, Cathy Davey, Leanne Harte, Annmarie Cullen of Saucy Monky (who also releases solo records), the aforementioned Gemma Hayes, Julie Feeney and Wallis Bird, to name just a few. Some opted for solo careers following long spells in previously successful bands. Former In Tua Nua singer Leslie Dowdall scored a huge hit with her song, ‘Wonderful Thing’ and has continued as a solo artist, performing her own material.
Meanwhile, back with the blokes, Dave Couse formerly with A House and Nick Kelly ex-Fat Lady Sings have both enjoyed solo success. In more recent years there has emerged a new breed of Irish singer-songwriter whose influences are more American in nature, James Vincent McMorrow and Mick Flannery being the most notable.
Against that backdrop, it was still a huge surprise the extent to which Hozier took fire with his debut album – and most notably with the beautiful single (and brilliant accompanying video) ‘Take Me To Church’. He has been one of the most important global breakthrough artists of the past two years.
But others are now queueing up to follow in his footsteps. Gavin James – the big boned, red-haired young man from Dublin with the extraordinarily beautiful voice – has already started to achieve a remarkable level of recognition, which will almost certainly translate into international success over the next 12 months.
The quality of what Gavin has to offer is not in doubt. For a start, he has a glorious and original voice, which locates him somewhere between Ed Sheeran and Sam Smyth, in a moment where there is more interest than ever in solo male performers of that type. He is a fine interpreter indeed of other people’s material. But he also has the original songs, which reflect his distinctive – and, as it happens, very attractive – character and personality.
This is something that Irish people in particular love. More than most, we like to hear a good story told in song, preferably by someone who can deliver it with the right combination of passion, wit and skill. The words of a song – and their meaning – is
an important element for us and we seem to have a genuine appreciation of the art form (as artists like David Gray, who had his first success in Ireland discovered.)
Suffice to say that the singer- songwriter, as an entity, is as popular as ever in Ireland. Gavin James’ current successful tour of the US should consolidate his position both here and abroad. Back in Dublin recently to support a very good cause at the Berkeley fundraising gig in The Academy and perform as a special guest at one of Ed Sheeran’s massive Croke Park shows, he spoke to Hot Press’ Colm O’Regan about being on the road with British solo superstar Sam Smith. “We’ve only done three dates so far – I’m flying straight back out there on Sunday – but we covered Florida pretty well. It’s been great so far, the crowds have been amazing. I write sad songs about relationships too, so myself and Sam are probably a good fit!
”James isn’t the only one on the cusp of greatness. This issue’s cover star Ryan Sheridan is also gearing up for a big international breakthrough, as the superb quality of his new album, and his growing list of successes at home and abroad, confirm. One thing is for sure: he has what it takes in spades.
Without doubt we can expect to see many more successes of a similar kind emerging over the next 18 months. Because, as it happens, Irish people are very good at this singer-songwriter thing. All we really needed was the opportunity to shine...