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INTERVIEW CIAN DUCROT
Hi Cian thanks for taking the time to talk to us about your album and tour. You’ve had quite a year between releasing a number-one album, flash mob performances, singing with orchestras choirs touring, with Ed Sheeran and even opening for The Killers here in Belfast. If you had to, just pick one moment to frame in your memory forever, out of the past year, what would it be and why? I think it would probably be the first few minutes or hours I spent hanging out with Ed Sheeran. Just because it was so surreal to be in that position and it’s things like that still to this day that don’t feel real. I mean that entire tour with him was just an unbelievable experience. I think that moment, those first few like minutes where I was like, this is Ed Sheeran sitting in my dressing room talking to me. This guy that I have just idolised and worshipped and been such a fan of my entire life basically inspired my entire career. I think that moment or at the moment I found out I had a UK number one album when I was on the plane and it touched down in Cornwall for the Boardmasters Festival. I had never felt that sort of emotion and pride of anything before really. So I think yeah maybe those two moments were two moments where I’m just like this is not actually happening. You’ve touched briefly there on some of your inspirations, obviously, being partly from Ed Sheeran. You’ve been very open about your childhood and the abusive childhood you had at the hands of your father and how that inspired your music and the victory album, do you feel that writing producing and playing that album has kind of been your therapy? I think so in many ways because getting the stories in there is so important, it feels so nice to write about it and to kind of remove that barrier and that stigma between myself and like fans or audience you know but also because it just feels really special to be able to see the fans connect with my music, with my stories that are so personal. I feel like I am telling them “You don’t feel alone, you know.” You’re performing for all these people and you see people singing the song back to you and you’re like, I guess you guys must relate to this in some way and whatever way that is it makes you feel really connected and that makes you feel sort of less alone in your story and what you’ve gone through. I think that’s the purpose of music for the fans and also for the artists, but we just get to connect and it’s a really special thing and it’s definitely extremely therapeutic. Expanding on the answer you gave there what advice would you give to anybody going through going or
having gone through similar experiences, you have in your childhood? I think the most important is therapy and doing a lot of that, just to make sure it affects you as little as possible in a negative way. Surround yourself with people who love you like family members or good friends and do things that you love and that you enjoy and know when to take time out if and when you need it. Don’t be afraid if you feel like you can’t go to school for a day or something just because you need the space or you’ve been to therapy and you’re struggling, it’s important to take that time and to just recover properly. Then to try to have some escapes, things that you love to do that help you escape and think about something else. And you know, music is always extremely helpful but I think most importantly don’t let it define you, you know? Don’t let it overtake your personality or who you are, allow yourself to be whoever you want to be and don’t allow yourself to be defined by things. You want to be defined by and become whoever you want to be, you know, and I think that’s what I want to do inspire with this album, is like no matter what year you’re going through or have been through, you can still be Whatever person it is you want and whatever your dreams are you can achieve them! Reader question from Tony, “ Now that you’ve become well-known and famous within the music industry and your story is out there has your father tried to make contact and if he did how do you think you would react? He’s never tried to make any contact, not that I know of anyway. I haven’t received any attempt of contact from him, if he has I don’t know he’s tried. I don’t how I’d react, to be honest, no idea. I guess it’s obviously going to get to him eventually, you know with more and more people knowing my story and stuff but I tend to pretty much keep his identity unknown and I don’t know how he’ll react if he finds out, but I guess that’s not really something I have to think or worry about, you know. I don’t wish to ever speak of his name, I never wish like harm on him or anything, you know, that’s not who I am, maybe he’s learnt to live with it, I don’t know, I mean, I can’t speak for him. Another reader question this time from Cathal who wants to know what is the key secret to happiness? I think it’s doing more of what you love doing, more things that you love and you enjoy like I truly believe that that’s it. Spending time with your friends and I think it’s important to actually question what makes me happy or what gives you endorphins or that you feel you enjoy doing. I remember a time in my life GNI MAG [13]
