Declan O'Rourke has been a favourite of mine since hearing a recommendation from Paul Weller for the song Galileo (Someone Like You) and the debut album, Since Kyabram back in 2004.
In our chat, we dig in to some incredible stories behind his songs and process from the move to Australia as a young man to his return to Ireland aged 24 and how he landed in the middle of a fiercely creative music scene in Dublin that was the fertile breeding ground for the likes of Glen Hansard/The Frames, Paddy Casey, Gemma Hayes, Damien Rice, Lisa Hannigan, and many more.
It was a real highlight to also properly chat about his magical new LP - Arrivals - which was released in April 2021.
The most emotionally raw and affecting album of his career, was recorded over six days at Paul Weller's HQ - Black Barn studios in Surrey, with Weller producing (‘he was there every moment, before, during and long after, discussing ideas about this and that, even down to the artwork. It was hugely impressive…’).
The sound is stripped back to Declan’s soulful and resonant voice, the virtuosic acoustic guitar playing for which he’s renowned and only the occasional sparse arrangement of strings and late-night drums bringing colour and light to the LP’s 10 songs. Paul also adds his multi-instrumental abilities to the recordings, including a beautiful piano accompaniment to the closing track.
Find out more about Declan - including tour dates, LP releases, newsletter sign up and his first novel - The Pawn Brokers Reward on his website declanorourke.com
Enjoy the podcast - share it on social media - and then dive in to his sensational back-catalogue.
2004 - Since Kyabram
2007 - Big Bad Beautiful World
2011 - Mag Pai Zai
2015 - Gold Bars in the Sun
2016 - In Full Colour 
2017 - Chronicles of the Great Irish Famine 
2021 - Arrivals
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