At the moment.. Me of course ..various breads and various butters..
Influences
Randy Newman, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Billy Holiday, Paul Brady, Andy Irvine, Bruce Springsteen, Planxty, Bob Marley, Dire Straits, The Ink Spots, Johnny Cash, Bjork,
Joni Mitchell, Leadbelly, Leonard Cohen, Nina Simone, Damien Dempsey, Robert Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Paddy Casey, Jimi Hendrix, Sting, The divine Comedy, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Neil Young, Ray Charles, Mundy, Paul Simon, Roesy, Noam chomsky, Daddy Cool, The Waterboys, Sharon Shannon, Al Green, Booker T. and The MGs, Ben Folds, David Bowie, Muddy Waters, Jeff Buckley, LIFE and little bits of everything else that my ears pass by...
Sounds Like
Well so I've been told.. Rufus Wainright, Nick Drake, Bruce Springsteen, Nat King Cole, Tom Petty, Paul McCartney - Weird combination ha?
I think I most sound like me..
“An incredible talent, a rare gem and a true genius” Kate Rusby
“Singing in a velvet-tinged bartitone with a killer falsetto….it’s a rare gift that his music can bear comparison with so many classic era troubadours, Fred Neil, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen while still sounding so completely original” Nigel Williamson, Uncut
Declan O’Rourke used to be one of Ireland’s best kept secrets, but rave reviews for his debut album ‘Since Kyabram’, a growing international fanbase and an enviable collection of eminent devotees, including Paul Weller, Snow Patrol and Kate Rusby, are rapidly changing that.
On its release in Ireland, ‘Since Kyabram’ reached double platinum status and garnered Hot Press magazine’s ‘Best Debut Album’ award. A major record deal with V2 and a publishing deal with BMG followed, as did patronage from his peers – invitations to support Snow Patrol at Marlay Park in Dublin, Teddy Thompson on his UK tour, The Divine Comedy for dates in Germany and the U.K., and to perform at the legendary 100 Club at the request of Paul Weller.
The buzz is growing, based simply on the calibre of great songs and a unique voice. Declan's lyrics touch on all aspects of the individual, his songs focus on the centre of everyday emotions and beyond and his voice irresistibly draws the listener in. He has an understated charm, a quick-wittedness that make him highly endearing live and equally at home playing to one person as he is to thousands
From the opening melody of ‘No Place To Hide’, the first song on ‘Since Kyabram’, to the final key of ‘Marrying The Sea’, Declan’s ability to tell a story unfolds. Each track on the album gives a feeling of being part of a collection of short films; the connecting thread being Declan’s flowing and dreamy lyrics. The album embodies the roots of his Irish heritage, but also has a distinct rock edge, reflecting, in part, his time spent in Australia from age fourteen to his return to Ireland four years ago.
2006 has been another fantastic year for Declan during which he played support to Nizlopi, The Cardigans, The Divine Comedy, Paulo Nutini and Snow Patrol in the UK and Europe. Jonathan Ross has become a fan and has given several plays to Galileo, Your World and No Brakes on his BBC Radio 1 Show.
Declan also recently toured with the great Paul Weller, who has been a great supporter, recently telling Q magazine that Galileo was the best song he had heard in 20 years and that he wished he had written it. He also listed Since Kyabram as one of his top ten albums of the year in the Guardian.
Following a successful strings of dates opening for Snow Patrol in Austria and Germany the band asked Declan to join them to play acoustic guitar on their sell out tour of the UK in December 2006, including 2 performances in the legendary Wembley Arena in London and on their home ground in Belfast. He also opened for them in The Point Theatre in Dublin. The end of 2006 also saw him tour Ireland with his own band culminating in a sell out show in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.
Recently the composer Brian Byrne arranged Declan’s songs for the RTE Concert Orchestra which were performed to a sell-out audience in the Helix. Declan is currently in the process of recording his second album which is to be released in Ireland and the UK in September 2007.
to view other performances from Declan cut and paste the link below
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=44CFC6C1A41150B7
CLICK ON THE SINGLE TO BUY THE SINGLE 'BIG BAD BEAUTIFUL WORLD’ at iTunes Music Store
Click on the album to buy 'Since Kyabram' at iTunes Music Store
Hey cool Declan! Thanks for the add!!! Hope Kinvara is treating you well and it's feeling like home. I miss the place heaps but Austin is, well... Austin!
hey deco, thought you'd be home by now, so thought i'd drop you a line, how was your flight back home? hope all is well cant wait to have you back out here, we shall have to go for a bit more of a tour of this area! good luck! devin
Hiya I've just uploaded the first mixed version of 6 tracks from my debut album. They are starting to come together nicely now. Please have a listen and leave a comment if you wish. Chat soon, J.
Hey, Declan, Hope your lovin Aus...and the gigs are goin well. Northcote is a cool suburb, and it's neighbour Fitzroy is one of my favourites in Melbourne. Cheers Katherine
Hi Declan, Great show on Friday night at Northcote Social Club. Pity about the rowdy crowd. I was getting pretty darn irritated to be honest. And I couldn't really say hi because you were already knee-deep in tipsy girls wanting photos with you. What a rockstar! Oh well. I do hope you enjoy your travels around Melbourne town.