The first time Roisin O felt the power of performing in front of an audience, she was 12.
The Irish songstress and daughter of national folk sensation Mary Black was touring with her mother and the Black Family on an Irish Festival Cruise around the Caribbean at the time.
“I had sang on stage with my mum many times before but this time they wanted me to get up for the audience and sing a song on my own,” she said.
“The response I got from the audience that night was like nothing I had ever experienced before. My mum even shed a tear; something she had never done when I sang before. I’ve been hooked ever since.”
O released her debut album in 2012, fielding comparisons to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Joanna Newsom and Kate Bush. She’s returning to the UAE for a free, 18-date tour at various McGettigan’s branches this month, including JLT, Dubai World Trade Centre and Abu Dhabi. It kicks off on Wednesday at DWTC.
Coming from a musical bloodline — aside from her mum, her brother is Danny O’Reilly of the Coronas — O tells tabloid! about rare family jam sessions, and shares why Taylor Swift is her ultimate guilty pleasure.
Is it your first time in the UAE? What do you have planned for the shows?
This will be my fourth time in the UAE. I’ve played twice before in Dubai and once came on a family holiday as a kid. I’ve stripped the set back a bit for the UAE tour. It’ll just be me and my multi-instrumentalist friend John Broe.
You’ve had a few comparisons, in terms of your voice and style. Who would you say are some musicians that have inspired you?
A big one for me was Joni Mitchell. I’ve loved her from a young age. Amazing melodies, lyrics, voice, musicianship; she has it all. Her repertoire is vast and I can’t help but be in awe of her disregard for stylistic restraint. Other big ones for me are Fleetwood Mac, Paul Simon, Wallis Bird, Fleet Foxes and Florence and The Machine.
You’ve grown up in quite the musical family. Do you ever get together and have jam sessions?
Not as often as you might think, I feel a lot of people think we go around like the Von Trapp family. But I suppose we do have a sing-song now and then, at special occasions, like weddings or at trad sessions [Irish traditional music sessions] when my uncles are home from America.
What are some lessons you’ve learnt from your mum?
I suppose she’s taught me to be confident in my ability as a musician, to not let people walk over me while still always being kind and professional to the people I meet.
What’s your favourite cover to perform live?
At the moment my favourite one from the set is Chandelier by Sia. It’s really challenging to sing, in a good way, and I love when the crowd sings along. Also Call Me Al by Paul Simon, which is just a lot of fun.
What are some of your guilty pleasure songs, artists or albums? And what’s your favourite song on the radio at the moment?
Taylor Swift! I love her! I don’t listen to a lot of pop music but I just love her. She’s such a great musician and seems like a really lovely girl. Her new album 1989 is just a great pop album. I’m addicted to the song Blank Space. My favourite song on the radio right now is Get Loose by The Coronas.
Don’t miss it!
A full list of dates for O’s UAE tour is up on mcgettigans.com.
