A Chat with Cormac Looby (21.11.24)
Far more than just a folk musician, Cormac Looby saunters through folk, pop and rock melding everything into a genre-diverse sound. Quickly building an international reputation for honest, insightful, innovative lyricism with emotional melodies, the Irish artist is reaching far beyond Ireland. We speak with Looby about his new album, A Perpetual State of Irony, songwriting, upcoming plans and much more.
OSR: Your debut album, A Perpetual State of Irony, delves into themes of anxiety, grief, and self-awareness. Can you share more about what inspired you to explore such deep, introspective topics in this project?
Looby: While writing these songs I was going through a particularly difficult time mentally for a variety of reasons. I didn’t really choose to explore those themes you mention, they were more things I was experiencing. It was very cathartic to put pen to paper and I’m very grateful to have songwriting as an outlet.
OSR: You drew the album’s title from a quote by comedian Tony Cantwell. How did that idea of “living in a perpetual state of irony” resonate with you personally, and how does it reflect in your music?
Looby: That quote particularly resonated with me as he described the first 27 years of his life as constantly feeling the need to turn every that would happen into an ironic, piss-take situation. I like a joke and a laugh and was often one to shy away from having sincere conversations. Listening to that podcast I was at the beginning of a period of becoming more self-aware and realising that I use humour as a defense mechanism sometimes. It really stopped me in my tracks.
OSR: Your songwriting is often praised for its honesty and introspection. Have you always written this way, or has your approach evolved over time?
Looby: Definitely not. However, somewhere along the way I made a conscious decision to be more honest in my songwriting and the quality of lyricism improved significantly. It can be daunting putting very introspective work out into the world, but I try not to think about the songs too much after I’ve written and released them.
OSR: The pandemic and its challenges have influenced many artists. Could you tell us about the experience of writing ‘Lucid Dream’ and the process of capturing that surreal period in music?
Looby: That song came out of writing the line “it’s like watching a funeral on YouTube”, which is a literal lyric as I had just watched my dad deliver a eulogy on a live stream. It was a really odd, detached experience. I knew I wanted to incorporate that line into a song and it took about a year to finish, adding lines here and there. That’s not normally the way I write, but I’m glad I took my time with it, it’s one of my favourites on the album.
OSR: You’ve worked with Liam King from Black Gate Studio on several projects. What has that collaborative relationship brought to your music and growth as an artist?
Looby: Liam is such a pleasure to work with. He’s quite laid back, like myself, so we have a good working relationship. He’s a really talented technician and producer and has a great eye for detail which is something I lack! He also only ever interjects in recording or producing where he sees necessary, which has given me so much space to grow in knowing how I want songs to be arranged and sound.
OSR: Your sound combines elements of folk, pop, and rock, influenced by artists like Mick Flannery, Bell X1, and Phoebe Bridgers. How do you balance these genres and influences to create a sound that feels authentically yours?
Looby: I don’t know that I do yet to be honest! I’m still trying to figure out what “my” music sounds like and that’s why you’ll hear the album sway from folk to a bigger indie/pop sound. I’m learning by doing in that sense and I think my next project will be my most cohesive yet.
OSR: Your songs often address personal struggles and life’s complexities. How do you hope listeners will connect with these themes, especially in tracks like ‘Joke’ and ‘Crutch’?
Looby: Those two tracks really hone in on themes associated with the title. Maybe it might encourage people like me who struggled to take things seriously to look inward and to have a conversation with themselves as to why that might be the case for them. Or else just keep having the craic all the time, I don’t mind!
OSR: Touring is such a huge part of any musician’s journey. Looking back on your tour with the EP. Things We Don’t Control, what were some of the most memorable moments or lessons learned on the road?
Looby: Those shows were very important. I’m lucky to have an amazingly talented band playing with me, but I think we’d all agree we hadn’t got a clue in those days! I learned so much about putting a show together and what to physically do when on stage, changing/tuning guitars etc. I think our headliner in Workman’s main room last June was our best effort to date.
OSR: How does performing with a full live band shape the sound and energy of your songs, especially those on your new album?
Looby: The lift from playing some of the bigger tunes like ‘Losing You’ and ‘This Is Your Life’ with the band is undeniable. When all the instruments kick in together towards the end of those tracks, I feel something deep within me and I’m so glad I get to share that feeling with the band. They worked tirelessly in writing parts and recording this album so I’m very grateful for that.
OSR: Looking toward the future, what themes or musical directions are you most excited to explore next beyond A Perpetual State of Irony?
Looby: Right now we are focused on our mini-tour of Ireland in the Sunflower Belfast Nov 30th, De Burgo’s Galway Dec 7th and then a hometown full band show in Cahir, Co. Tipperary Dec 14th to fully launch the album. Next year I hope to gig as much as possible and hopefully work on some side projects collaborating with other artists a bit more.
Many thanks to Cormac Looby for speaking with us. Find out more about Cormac Looby on his X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
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