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Mick Flannery interview
SpunOut.ie's Susan Quirke predicts big things for the talented Corconian.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing a superb new talent to come out of Cork - Mick Flannery. For a 25 year old, Mick has a vast amount of wonderfully raw songs full of heart and soul. I met him in the Roisin Dubh in Galway just before he went on stage. The gig itself was intense. The energy and feeling on the night was that this guy is special. He may be one of the most self depreciating guys I’ve met but I think big things will happen for the young Corconian. Watch this space...
This is what he had to say:
SQ: What song are you most proud of?
MF: I’ve never answered that question before. I feel like if I answer it I’ll be cocky or something.
SQ: You’re not cocky. Come on, there has to be one song you are very proud of?
MF: Ah okay go on so, I’ll answer it. There’s one song called ‘Nearer or far’. It took me ages to do and so I was proud of it. I was trying to do internal rhyme and shit. I was glad when it was over. It’s the songs that take me the longest that I get the most satisfaction from.
SQ: When and how do you write your songs? Is it lyrics first or melody first?
MF: Melody first. Even though there is not a huge amount of melody in them. I have more melodies than I have words. But you have to have words you fit into the melody then which can be hard as you’ve often nothing to talk about.
SQ: Have you noticed any patterns in your song writing?
MF: Just free time really and if there is no one around. People know if you’re writing a song and for me it’s kind of private. I’d be just messing around and mumbling words and I just prefer to be on my own. And if there are people around you can’t just start roaring out some shit that’s not finished. I’ve also found that hangovers can be good for writing. Like you know that twilight zone you have when you’re coming out of a hangover? About there is good. Not the depths of puking now or anything like that, just that twilight zone in between.
SQ: Are you having fun?
MF: Yeah I get a kick out of the lads (in Mick’s band) having fun. They just make me laugh. And you know you’d be nervous before a gig. I’d be nervous before a gig and then afterwards you’re like ahhhh it’s over and then I just get hyper. It’s just elation. I see it in the band. It’s cool.
SQ: I know you have previously worked on your own but you are with a record company now. How did you find that transition?
MF: They’re not intrusive at all really. They come to some gigs but not all. Very few of them. And even when they do they are not critical, you know? They are very easy going. I don’t know what they see in me. They seem to just let me do what I want. They’ve never really told me “You have to do this for us” or “You have to wear a clown suit and do a disco song on the Ray D’Arcy show” or anything like that. They’ve never really done that. It’s cool. Thankfully though because then I would have to tell them to f**k off and then there would be tension. (Laughs.)
SQ: So would you tell them to f**k off?
MF: Well I have made compromises before that I’m not really ashamed off. Otherwise I’d just be pissing all over them. It’s like any business relationship. You have to give a bit too. You can’t just be a sulky prick all the time.
SQ: Only most of the time?
MF: (Laughs) Yeah exactly. Only most of the time.
SQ: Do you have any fear of the music business at all?
MF: Ah you just have to stay away from bullshitters you know? I often think that after this, whatever all of this is, is over, what’ll I do? Will I be able to be happy? You just have to think it’s not much. It’s just a gig and then everyone goes home for their dinner.
SQ: Where would you like to see yourself in ten or twenty year’s time?
MF: I don’t know if I want to be big. I’m a bit scared about that. But I don’t know if I want to stop either. No, I don’t want to stop.
SQ: Why are you afraid of getting big?
MF: Well you’re not normal any more. I’ve met a couple of people who are big and they are nice but they have to do certain things in different ways. They tend to not go out to their locals anymore. It’s just what comes with the territory. I don’t really like to hear people complain about it either because it’s their own fault.
Interview by Susan Quirke
Website: www.mickflannery.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/mickflannery
