“Come on, Olaf! Are you doing this for Hot Press or The Sun?”
The last time this writer spoke to Kevin Rowland of Dexys, upon the release of their superb 2012 comeback album One Day I’m Going to Soar, what I thought was an innocent question about his reported perfectionism in the studio resulted in that somewhat testy response. I really should have learnt my lesson.
Next month Dexys will release their fifth studio album, Let The Record Show Dexys Do Irish & Country Soul, along with an accompanying film. Drawing on Rowland and co-producer/core band member Sean Read’s Irish roots, the record features an eclectic combination of their interpretations of famous Irish songs (‘Carrickfergus’, ‘The Town I Loved So Well’, ‘Curragh of Kildare’), alongside covers of old classics by the likes of The Bee Gees, Joni Mitchell, The Platters and Rod Stewart.
Needless to say – as ably demonatrated in the National Concert Hall on March 29th when they performed three songs as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme – the accomplished eight-piece ensemble have put their own highly distinctive spin on these familiar chestnuts.
I was in a very positive frame of mind when I rang the 62-year-old singer at his home in London to discuss this forthcoming release...
OLAF TYARANSEN: Hey Kevin, how’s it going?
KEVIN ROWLAND: Alright, man.
I just watched the film as well as listening to the album.
Oh good. The whole film? The 50 minute one?
Yeah. You say in it that the idea to do this album came to you while you were in India.
Well, no. Originally I had the idea in the ‘80s to do it, around the time we were recording Don’t Stand Me Down. We never got round to it. So we didn’t do anything for years and years. The idea was still in my mind. While I was in India, I was on an Ayurvedic retreat. I think we were getting ready to record One Day I’m Going To Soar, and then I just thought, ‘Okay after this album is the time to do this one’.
What kind of retreat did you say you were on?
An Ayurvedic retreat. It’s an ancient Indian medicine. I was a little bit under the weather at the time, nothing serious but just a few ailments that were getting on top of me. It was suggested to me by a yoga teacher. It seemed a bit extreme at first. I was like, ‘Bloody hell!’ Whatever you’re running from, you face it when you’re there. It’s that kind of thing where you’re not making phone calls, you’re not watching TV. It was very basic, you’re not being pampered.
Would your day-to-day life in London be pampered?
Pampered? (sarcastically) Oh absolutely! I live in a five-star hotel all the time and never travel in anything unless it’s first class. I drive a Rolls Royce, all of that. Ha, ha! No, it’s not pampered.
The album is nicely timed. Here in Ireland, we’re celebrating the centenary of the 1916 Rising.
Yeah, not intentional. Didn’t even consider it. I didn’t even know it was going to be finished by this time. It’s just I got a phone call in November last year telling me about the... [National Concert Hall gig]. Like, I knew about the 1916/2016, but I didn’t know there’d be any celebrations, and I certainly didn’t think we’d be involved in them, until I got a call.
How did you arrive at the eclectic mix of songs on the album?
Well, originally in ‘84/’85 the album was gonna be called Irish, and it was gonna be all Irish songs. But then, as I said, we didn’t get round to it and then the band broke up. We didn’t really do a lot for a while, but the idea was still in my head. I would think about ‘Carrickfergus’, how I could possibly do it and what kind of style I would do it in. Then I started to think, ‘Well, I don’t just want to do Irish songs, there’s other songs that I’ve always loved and wanted to do’. It was almost like they chose me, really.
Are there songs here that you performed live over the years?
No, we’ve never performed any of them live.
One of your bandmates described you as ‘uncompromising’ in the film and I was...
(Interrupts) He said ‘uncompromising’ in specific artistic ideals. I don’t think I wanna answer that, mate. I don’t really wanna have a conversation about that. I’ve just done an album I’m really happy with, and nobody said anything like that. He just said I’m uncompromising about certain ideals and that you’ve to step up to it in Dexys. That’s what he said.
Are the musicians there to fulfil your creative visions or are you all a team?
Well, both of those things. We’re very much a team, but it’s not a democracy. It is everybody helping me to achieve my vision. I don’t always know what that is, but we arrive at it.
Is there a plan to tour?
I don’t know yet.
So what’s coming up next?
In London next week, Friday. We did one in Dublin a few weeks ago.
How did that go?
I dunno, seemed alright to me. You’d have to ask someone who was there.
Surely you can sense the crowd’s vibe from the stage?
You know what? I’m not really enjoying this conversation. I’m gonna leave it, mate. I’ll see ya. Good luck (hangs up).

Let The Record Show Dexys Do Irish & Country Soul will be released on Warner Records on June 3rd.