Simon Fagan interview 27th Sept 2010.
Simon Fagan is not your typical Irish singer songwriter. Blending elements of gospel and folk with acoustic rock, Simon and his band produce a big Americana sound. This week Simon spoke with Shane Supple on Youghal radio about his new album. Simon has been performing since he was very young, joining the local brass band while still at school was where his musical career and love for the trumpet was born.
He then won a music scholarship for school and went onto study orchestral trumpet and music composition at both the Royal Irish Academy of Music and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He also got to play with Irish youth orchestra for a few years. He had been singing and playing guitar with a number of bands since he was 13 so the natural progression was to put his hand to writing his own music. In the last three years he has developed both as a songwriter and performer.
For the first time ever, I can say with hand on heart, that I feel truly happy with the sound that’s emerging. This is helped by a great backing band, who really get the music and make rehearsals and gigging seem effortless A lot of people compare my music to that of Ray Lamontagne, Ryan Adams and Paolo Nutini, as you will find elements of jazz, soul, acoustic and rock and even folk which I guess comes from listening to artists like Credence, Van Morrrison, Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder. However, my influences stretch well beyond these icons.
2009 saw Simon tour heavily throughout Ireland and the UK, performing on no fewer then nine primetime BBC shows, Newstalk’s Weekend Blend and Today with Pat Kenny on RTE. Fagan even ventured as far as Egypt, where he and his band not only performed sold out shows in Cairo, Sharm El Sheik and Dahab, but was invited to appear on national TV and Radio. He has previously opened for Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and more recently at Laura Izibor’s sold out Tripod show.
With a new album released this year Simon has been receiving accolades both in Ireland and the US. ‘Outside Looking In’ was named Album Of The Week by RTE, while ‘Never Really Cried’ picked up Best Performance at this years International Songwriting Competition, chosen from 15,000 entries and voted for buy the likes of Robbie Williams, Kings Of Leon, Jeff Beck and many more greats.
‘Outside Looking In’ blends Acoustic Rock with Gospel and Folk to give it an Americana feel. Full of upbeat funky tunes mixed with a hint of deep south guitar picking. Simon will be appearing in the Crane Lane early October 2010
He then won a music scholarship for school and went onto study orchestral trumpet and music composition at both the Royal Irish Academy of Music and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He also got to play with Irish youth orchestra for a few years. He had been singing and playing guitar with a number of bands since he was 13 so the natural progression was to put his hand to writing his own music. In the last three years he has developed both as a songwriter and performer.
For the first time ever, I can say with hand on heart, that I feel truly happy with the sound that’s emerging. This is helped by a great backing band, who really get the music and make rehearsals and gigging seem effortless A lot of people compare my music to that of Ray Lamontagne, Ryan Adams and Paolo Nutini, as you will find elements of jazz, soul, acoustic and rock and even folk which I guess comes from listening to artists like Credence, Van Morrrison, Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder. However, my influences stretch well beyond these icons.
2009 saw Simon tour heavily throughout Ireland and the UK, performing on no fewer then nine primetime BBC shows, Newstalk’s Weekend Blend and Today with Pat Kenny on RTE. Fagan even ventured as far as Egypt, where he and his band not only performed sold out shows in Cairo, Sharm El Sheik and Dahab, but was invited to appear on national TV and Radio. He has previously opened for Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and more recently at Laura Izibor’s sold out Tripod show.
With a new album released this year Simon has been receiving accolades both in Ireland and the US. ‘Outside Looking In’ was named Album Of The Week by RTE, while ‘Never Really Cried’ picked up Best Performance at this years International Songwriting Competition, chosen from 15,000 entries and voted for buy the likes of Robbie Williams, Kings Of Leon, Jeff Beck and many more greats.
‘Outside Looking In’ blends Acoustic Rock with Gospel and Folk to give it an Americana feel. Full of upbeat funky tunes mixed with a hint of deep south guitar picking. Simon will be appearing in the Crane Lane early October 2010
I love you Simon, I'm friends with your brother - Seán - love me please x
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