Interview with singer-songwriter Kevin Neary

The young Galway born and Dublin based musician talks all about his new single 'Take Me Anywhere', the struggles of working ing during Covid19 and much more...

What has inspired your most recent single?

My most recent single "Take Me Anywhere" was a song I wrote in Summer 2019, during a bit of a lull period of my life where I was feeling quite down about where I was going, and struggling to find out what I was supposed to be doing. I had another really close friend of mine, who was struggling with the same thing, and one morning I used her as an inspiration in the writing.

She helped me quite a lot earlier in the year, get through a tough time and was always there to support me in all my highs and lows. I felt very strong and supported with her help, and I wanted her to feel the same from me, or to at least know that I knew she was having a hard time, despite her trying to hide it.

It was summer and I was feeling that "wanderlust" feeling, with a pinch of wanting to uproot my life and go somewhere new. She has an adventurous spirit too, and I just found myself daydreaming about just how much I trusted this person, that we could uproot our lives and she could "take me anywhere".. we could travel anywhere and escape our struggles by exploring all the nice things and discoveries the world has to offer. That's a friendship to write about!

What made you want to pursue a career in music and go for it?

Without trying to sound cliché, I feel like I never consciously made a decision to

pursue music, it was ingrained in me, that it was all I ever wanted to do, from a very young age.

I was encouraged to do solo singing parts in the school choir as a gap-toothed 8 year old boy, the highlight at that age being my piece I sang at my communion! I played classroom recorder and was then spotted by the music teacher as having a bit of a flair for it, and enjoyment of learning the songs. She put me on the clarinet, and my mother bought me a guitar for Christmas one year with lessons.

I then had my guitar teacher, ask me, as a 10 year old, to go home and write a song for the following week for "homework", and thank god she did, she gave me a huge headstart into writing by encouraging something I mightn't have thought of doing for a good few years after that. So I guess I grew into it. It just was normal life for me, the same as waking up, going to school, playing sport, etc.

I just loved listening to my brother's CD's as well and listening to lyrics, and I have used songwriting since the age of 10 to get my feelings and thoughts, good and bad, out of my body, into a healthier space.

I was hugely inspired as a teenager, seeing all the buskers in Galway playing on the street. The freedom, how were they gathering such a big crowd? People really are listening, aren't they? They're smiling, look! So I started that around the age of 16, going at the weekends to play and earn my little bit of pocket money. And that just kept happening throughout the years; writing, playing and learning instruments at home, spend a college summer here and there in an apartment in Galway living off busking 3-4 times a week, move, after college, to teach in London for a year to learn more about music and get a sense of having a band play with my music,

And finally I came back to Dublin last year, and really decided that I would love to live and perform full time one day, write songs that people can take meaning from. There is no better cultural scene for a singer songwriter to grow in than Ireland, and I'm trying to find my way through it at the moment, and see if it has a place for me.

How have you found working in the industry so far? Is it as risky as people make it out to be?

It absolutely is. I can only speak about it from my experience as a relatively unknown independent artist. Of course, it depends on your background, raw talent, luck, who's supporting your music etc. There are so, so many invisible variables you can't even begin to try and comprehend in this industry.

Full disclosure: I've worked as a primary school teacher for nearly three years now to fund my living/music, often struggling very much to balance the two. Last June-December, I decided to put the job on hold and focus solely on trying to start my music career; focusing on recording an EP, writing music, getting a band together in Dublin and throwing together a show in Whelan's. Most people would look at that as a good achievement to do that, and I was absolutely delighted with the progress made, and goals reached.

But I was not prepared for the time needed and financial costs to try and do it right; even with the smallest things like even having a band practice. Rehearsal sessions for the headline gig were nipping away at the money I was making gigging in pubs around town, one practice in the place we used was 60 euro an evening, and with 2 practices a week, getting the gear needed for the gig, paying for gig poster designs, promotion posters, Instagram promotion campaigns, photographers, session musicians, etc. it felt like I would have to believe enough in what I was doing (which I did) to make such a heavy investment.

I thought it would be all about playing the music on my time off work, but I've definitely found myself this year spending more time walking blindfolded along the tightrope that is music marketing. Trying to find my feet, with a couple burns here and there aside, I've definitely found it a beneficial and interesting experience trying to push myself as an independent artist. Easy: No. Risky: Yes. Worth it: If you love what you do, definitely.

What’s a day in your life like?

It depends on what I'm doing, but generally, unorganized! Routine is a personal weakpoint, and I'll admit, between working as teacher and trying to pursue music, I can find myself losing the track of the weeks sometimes! But, living in city centre Dublin, it's wonderfully chaotic and random as well at times. I'm very sociable and have a lovely community of friends, in the music scene, from home, from college, from teaching, who keep me on my feet, going to different things, just connecting with others! I'm fairly extroverted, so I enjoy the company of others in my day. In terms of music, I try to get out once or twice a week to something music related, whether I'm playing a gig in temple bar, watching a friend's gig, playing the local Wednesday night singer-songwriter "Zodiac Sessions" or whatever, it's something new every week. I don't have any rigorous technique or schedule for writing and creating. If it happens, it happens. Usually when I'm feeling very deeply about something and I need to get it off my chest. That's a truly magical and utterly random process for me, and if I miss 10 things I was supposed to do that day, but I wrote a song instead, I'm still very happy!

How is the Covid19 pandemic affecting you as a musician?

As a musician, I'm finding it a very strange time, for sure. No doubt, the musician community is struggling big time with no ability to earn money from gigs, etc. And only being able to earn from streams and royalties for songplays. But I'm lucky enough to have invested in the teaching job, to keep me going.

I released my first single a few weeks before the pandemic happened and I am finding I can't really push on with my plans to support the single and prepare for upcoming singles, at the moment. I'm at a standstill, and I can't add the finishing touches to my debut EP until it's over. But, I'm finding myself writing a few new songs recently, and rediscovering the un-pressured creative process I lost a bit in trying to record, promote, market and release music. And I'm just experimenting with my songwriting and playing a bit now. So maybe it's a blessing in disquise? But I definitely miss playing gigs and the social element and buzz of that. I guess, like any of our hobbies/passions, it'll be all the more valued, when we get the opportunity to do it again!

Any upcoming music you can tell us about?

For sure! I just released my debut single "Take Me Anywhere" on Spotify, iTunes and all other streaming platforms, last month. I'm delighted to finally put something out there, and I have 3 more tracks that I was intending to get out before the end of 2020, along with some other plans. The music will stretch between the genres of acoustic, folk, soul and Rn'B. With the current situation, it's unsure when exactly I'll be releasing again, but I'm hoping to release my second single in September. Keep an eye on my social media pages for more information on all that!

Follow @kevinnearymusic on Instagram and stream 'Take Me Anywhere' now