VOICES I used to write a lot. In my twenties I lived in a house with Darren Thornton, the writer and director, and the actor and musician John Ruddy. That was a creative household for sure. When it came time to record my album Year of the Tiger I had 63 songs written. I would demo them on a little 4-track cassette machine I inherited from my brother. But some songs just sounded wrong when I played them back, and I couldn’t figure out why. It was John Spillane who unlocked it for me. “That voice is a weapon,” he said. “It’s a machine gun. Write for your voice.” I have an odd voice. It’s a good storytelling voice I think, it has a certain amount of authority and authenticity. I’ve learned to write for it in the intervening years as a solo artist and with my band, Kern, the greatest collaboration I’ve ever been involved in. One of the most exciting things about being Artist in Association at Droichead Arts Centre this year is the potential to write for other voices. Singers whose voices I love and can believe, whether the song is salty or sexy or sad or swashbuckling or serious. I write differently now. The business of raising a family and working in education means I write in my head a lot. I write more slowly, but with a greater chance of not wanting to bin the song at the end of the process. I’m really excited about presenting something new to you next spring when the song cycle I’m working on is complete. I hope you’ll love it.
SJ MC ARDLE
droichead arts centre artist in association 2018/19
www.droichead.com
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