Fake Saint - On Our Radar Q&A: "When I write, I try to make it relatable. But I also want it to be about my story and why I feel these things"

What do you want people to think when they hear the name ‘Fake Saint’?

To feel like my music is an escape. When I write, I try to make it relatable. But I also want it to be about my story and why I feel these things. I try to show people they’re not alone - they’re not the only ones going through these things.

Did your friendship with Teddy Swims change your trajectory?

Partially. The very first time I met him, he was playing the Academy in Dublin. The next time I saw him, he was playing 3Arena and Wembley. Seeing what I’m doing working for somebody else has kind of made me go, ‘Okay, well, I’m doing the right thing.’

What do you think makes the Irish scene so unique right now?

Artists like Hozier, Dermot Kennedy and CMAT are showing the world we can produce incredible talent. I always felt like Ireland is a very pessimistic country. If someone’s doing well, we’re like, ‘Who does he think he is?’ Then they break out and we latch onto them for dear life. The music itself just kind of comes naturally to us, it’s in our blood.

What track should someone listen to, to understand you as an artist?

Can I name two? The one that represents me best, what I’m about and how I put myself out there is definitely ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Me’. Because that was really the first time I’ve written a song and been like, ‘Jesus, I put all of me into that.’
The other would probably be ‘Afraid To Live’. I became a dad when I was 17. I was really scared and trying to make sure I was doing all the right things. That song shows I was afraid that I’m gonna fail.

Can we hope for a full-length album soon?

I would absolutely love to release a full album. Right now, I’m focusing on a seven-track EP that’s coming out September 25. If the EP does well, the next goal would be a full-length album.