Drinking the soup and moving to London was surely a huge change for you, how have you found that so far?
I’ve enjoyed it. It feels like there is more of an industry here compared to at home which obviously comes with the size of the market.
How has the distance to Ireland affected your work with Brook?
It’s been challenging at times when I might have to miss gigs/video shoots etc but with video calls and the constant connection of being online all the time it means that most of the work is still the same no matter where in the world we are.
What do you miss most about Ireland and what, if anything, are you glad to have left behind?
I miss seeing some of my favourite artists play to an Irish crowd. I also miss boojum burritos wow![For the uncultured and uncivilised like myself, Boojum Burritos are a Irish Mexican restaurant chain whose classic mexican staple the Burrito was the second most ordered dish on Deliveroo in 2017. Sean says they're really lovely.]
What are your aspirations with Brook? Do we have a defined end goal or are we simply enjoying the process as it is?
Like I said earlier, I hope that Brook Records becomes a melting pot of the next generation of culturally significant artists in Ireland and beyond. I aspire to build a roster that I’m super proud of and continue to help artists reach their full potential through label and management services.
How have you found the transition from Artist to record label? Experiencing the other side of the coin per say?
I’ve always known that this is the side of the coin I wanted to be on. I was fortunate enough to play big venues and have great experiences as an artist which gives me a unique perspective when working with other artists but I’m a lot happier to be working on this side and building an identity as a label manager.
What advice would you give anyone looking to start their own venture like this?
Go for it. For a while I was stuck on not feeling like a proper label with a bit of imposter syndrome but the more you do it the more real it becomes and the more it builds. So even if it’s a slow start just go for it and learn from your mistakes.
Who is on your radar for 2024?
Obviously Curtisy and katie phelan are the artists that I’m most excited about this year. Curtisy has his debut album coming out in May and katie is working on her debut body of work so I’m really excited to watch them grow and achieve this year.Other artists on my radar are Dublin based rapper Ahmed, with love - he’s an all round creative. I recently saw him live and it’s truly a show. He’s a born performer with such good artistic instincts. Holly Munro, another Dublin based artist who released one of my favourite songs of 2023 called ‘Open Ended’. I’m really excited to hear what she will release this year. She’s a captivating songwriter with a hauntingly beautiful vocal. Seanie Bermingham - another incredible songwriter who writes delicate songs that really hit the sweet spot for me. I could listen to him in any mood.Super producer turned artist MOIO is really exciting right now too, he is dropping banger after banger and I’m sure he won’t stop doing so anytime soon.
Finally, what can we expect from Brook for 2024?
Lots of exciting new music & our first album and vinyl release.