Music Industry In Ireland – Luka Bloom: "My gigging life, which is the core of my work, is gone for the foreseeable"

Luka Bloom

How has the impact of Covid-19 affected you and your business?
My last solo gig was February 7 2020. My gigging life, which is the core of my work, is gone for the foreseeable.

What is the worst aspect of it all for you?
Not seeing my family.

Did you have to let staff go?
I don’t have staff, but I think of all the PR people, the sound and lighting engineers, managers, promoters, agents, the people working in the venues, the tour managers.

People with high rent or with large borrowings have been worst hit. How have you been?
I’ve been okay.

Some people have been finding it hard to survive. Is that something you’ve encountered?
No. I’d been saving for the house I will never buy...

Music is a people business – how has the loss of contact with staff, colleagues or with others in the business affected you?
Professionally, this is really tough; hard to quantify. There is this odd, schizophrenic existence which is my norm. The solitude of writing, followed by intense periods of time working and travelling with great people, as well as the gatherings that make gigs so beautiful. I miss it all, but I accept this situation. Others are suffering more than I am.

Were you in a position to try anything new or different?
I’ve released three records in the past 14 months.

'Music Industry in Ireland: Where To Next?' is a special feature in the current issue of Hot Press, running to over 20 pages, featuring music industry professionals as well as artists including Moya Brennan, Jess Kav, Luka Bloom, Fia Moon, Kneecap, Gavin Glass, Mick Flannery, King Kong Company, Mary Coughlan, Rosie Carney and many more.