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We’re very happy to be speaking today with acclaimed Ireland-based Indie Folk singer and songwriter David San Clair; greetings and salutations, David! Before we mosey down the Q&A musical pathway, how is the freshly-minted autumn of 2023 treating you?
Hello! It’s lovely to speak to you too. I love it so far. Autumn is always a special season for me, well in recent years anyway. I just released Juni, along with announcing a tour across some popular Irish venues, including Whelans in Dublin. So I can’t wait for that.
Major congratulations and kudos on your gorgeous new single Juni which just premiered this October 20! What served as your inspiration for this lovely tune?
Thank you! I’m so happy that the song is finally released into the world for everyone’s ears. The inspiration really came first from the name ‘Juni’. I was born in June, and that always was a special month to me. It also felt right to call my future child that. From then on, the lyricism covered the paternal love between a father and his daughter. A lot of references stem from my own upbringing, and how much my mother cared for me. In other words, Juni is me, and the lyrics show the love I will give to my child come the time they are born.
Can you introduce our ever-inquisitive readers to some of the talented musicians that lent their musical alchemy into making Juni a reality?
For sure, my amazing band consisting of Camryn Teehan, Josh Hackett, Dara Abdurahman, Louis Younge, Edelian Geber & Katie Phelan all poured their heart and soul into this song. Their musicianship and creativity cannot be put into words. This song was given life by those individuals, and I’ll always praise them for their involvement.
Who was your producer on Juni and what did the collaboration between artist and producer look like in the studio while working on the new tune?
A brilliant man named Daniel de Burca. Dan and I first started working together in February 2022 on my first E.P ‘Anything Goes’. We then solidified our friendship and created a beautiful bond and trust between each other. We both had mutual understanding, and that’s why getting him to produce Juni was essential for the creative aspect of my music, as no one knew my sound more than him. It all came together very quickly, I was certain about what I wanted, and so was the band. That’s why I cannot stress enough why mutual understanding is so important when tracking these songs and turning them into timeless pieces of music. It takes 100% effort from everyone.
In your humble opinion, what differentiates Juni from the Distinguished Competition on the 2023 music landscape?
I like to think that Juni is within its own genre/style. Don’t get me wrong, you can definitely narrow down the influences and find a common theme, but like all music, nothing is linear and subjectivity allows the listener to decide for themselves, not only me. I know what Juni is, but someone else can debate that, and rightly so. I take many influences from each style of music I love, I guess that’s why it sounds so different to other things, because one moment it’s an orchestral piece, then it springs into this late-90’s alternative folk ballad with a full-band ensemble. I guess, I just like adding lots of things on top of each other and hoping it sticks to people the same way it does for me.
On the heels of the October 20 release of Juni, can fans look forward to an EP or LP release from you in 2024?
Definitely, I always said to myself that a record is the next step forward. I won’t rush this process as I want to do this the right way. I have a lot more newer and different sounding material, so people can expect a different take on my music. Other than that, I have another song expected to release before the end of this year, along with another project I had kept secret for a good while now.
How do your Irish roots inform you as an artist and as a person?
My first experience playing in a band setting was when I was playing traditional Irish music. I played rhythm guitar and sang alongside very experienced musicians. I was thrown into the deep-end and was always kept on my toes by those lads, but I held my own regardless. Although I wouldn’t play trad music frequently, I greatly respect it along with my Irish roots for showing me the unity that music brings between people. I know Ireland is a small country, but the amount of talent it has is insane. I’m just glad that I’m a part of it.
What does your touring/performing dance card look like in the coming weeks and months?
As I said previously, I have a couple of dates announced for Dublin, Drogheda and Meath. There is a lot to look forward to, especially that I will be debuting my new sound and material, along with performing live regularly, which I love doing the most.
As a respected singer and songwriter, which generally comes first for you during the creative process: The lyrics or the music?
I always get this question, and before I would’ve said ‘either’, but now It’s always the music. I usually have 2/3 ideas pop into my head everyday. I would track down the music into Logic, then once I have a definitive structure, I move onto the lyrics. Themes like Love, Life and Nature spring to mind quite a lot, but currently, I’m writing less about myself, and more about stories I think are cool, and that have nothing to do with me. It takes the pressure off myself sometimes, which allows me to be more creative in the sense that I’m writing about things I have never experienced, so it forces me to do some research.
How is Juni similar to some of your past music? How is it different?
It’s quite similar to songs off ‘Anything Goes’, especially tracks like Better Than Myself and Anything Goes. They are all powerful ballads that are also heavy in instrumentation. It’s different because my previous work was me just beginning my songwriting journey, whereas now I have finally found my sound, and I know what to do next.
At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-spin to your brilliant new single Juni?
I hope that listeners can understand me a bit more. I like to think I’m being truthful currently with my writing, as I’m no longer afraid to truly express myself lyrically. Juni was definitely a track that portrays my honesty about how I feel. Before, I mostly wrote love songs and songs that made me happy. Now I write what gives me purpose, and what allows me to be me, but even still I write with themes of love and happiness.
