Irish singer songwriter SAL has released her new single, Tough, and plays The Cobblestone, Dublin on 19 October. We asked her the BIG questions . . .
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Tickets priced €15.00 including booking fees are available here.
Originally from Kildare, SAL has spent her recent years in Cork, Ireland, creating and performing all the time.
After signing a management deal with London based Charlie B Management, SAL was unveiled at Liverpool Irish Festival 2021, where she showcased a set of new material with her band. SAL has undergone international touring since 2019 all across Europe, from the UK to Germany to Switzerland.
She has shared the stage with Declan O'Rourke, Aimee, Scullion, Hermitage Green, Mick Flannery, The Stunning, Luka Bloom, Wyvern Lingo, and many more.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I have tried to grow a tough skin for years and I've recently surrendered that, that's never going to happen, which is a relief and a gift, I've come to find out. Songwriting has always helped me to feel like I wasn't alone and my intention when I sing and write is to do just that, to give a voice to those who feel silenced. I don't like drinking tea, I think I'm the only person Irish person in the world who doesn't.
How would you describe your music?
My music explores the spectrum of colours in folk music, whilst maintaining pop sensibilities. Folk is where I started, so it's definitely the foundation of my writing, but pop infuses a lot of what I create too. The most important thing to me is being a channel for the songs and being raw and open is the only way I can do that.
Who are your musical inspirations?
My inspirations vary from Joni Mitchell to The Prodigy. I grew up listening to Damien Dempsey, Christy Moore, The Prodigy, Faithless and Gwen Stefani. I have always been drawn to lyrics that I can resonate with and that relate to my life, and Damien Dempsey, Joni Mitchell and Christy Moore always did that for me. I love the passion of The Prodigy and a lot of 90s/00s deep house and techno, it's so alive and invigorating. Then the vibrancy of pop has always drawn me in, the playfulness has always been so hypnotic to me.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
The first gig I ever went to was either Britney Spears in the RDS, Dublin when I was about nin4. I danced all night to every word. Britney is an icon and a prolific performer. Or it was Christy Moore in the National Concert Hall playing with Declan Sinnott and Jimmy Higgins, at around nine, also. I sang along to every word too and I was so inspired by the connection Christy had with the audience and his band. I knew that when I saw Christy play that it was all I wanted to do.
What was the first record you ever bought?
The first record I ever bought was This Is It by Six in 2002. I don't think I bought it because I was a child, but it's the first one that was mine!
What’s your favourite song right now?
My favourite song right now is Black Dog by a band called Big Special. I think this is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever written. I adore it. I've never heard a song describe the darkness of depression with so much compassion and honesty like this.
Favourite lyric of all time?
'The evening sun on the water, is my beautiful pal, The sun has slipped down on this town for a thousand years, And when it rises up, out of the Irish Sea in the morning, Liverpool is yawning, a golden lane vein snakes up the Liffey to greet me, A street cleaner cheerfully winks at me, Inside me, there's a symphony.' - Soft Rain by Damien Dempsey.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
F.E.A.R. - Ian Brown
Where can people find your music/more information?
Instagram and Spotify.
Alan Corr
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
