Cormac Looby
Cormac Looby is a singer-songwriter from Co. Tipperary. He draws inspiration from a range of artists including Mick Flannery, Bell X1, Phoebe Bridgers and Sam Fender. Cormac combines elements of folk, pop and rock; with introspective and honest song-writing to create an earnest musical experience.
Cormac's debut single 'I Don't Need Your Love' was released in 2020, independently amassing over 20,000 streams and featuring on BBC Introducing and RTÉ Radio 1 Recommends. This was followed up by his second single 'Feel Good' that same year.
2022 heralded the release of Cormac's debut EP, 'Things We Don't Control', recorded with a full live band at the Black Gate Studio, Galway. The singles taken from it, 'Patriot' and 'Hard-wiring' also featured on RTÉ Recommends and BBC Introducing respectively.
In support of the EP, Cormac and his band toured extensively, playing venues such as Fiddler's Elbow London, Róisín Dubh Galway and two sold-out shows Upstairs at Dublin's iconic venue, Whelan's. They concluded the year with a headline gig in the Workman's Club, Dublin and a hometown show in Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
In the intervening period there have been two more singles; 'Lobsters' and 'I Don't Want To Let You Down'. In February 2023, Cormac was chosen as a nominee for the Irish Music Month 'Local Hero' with Radio Nova for the latter of these singles. Also, this year, he twice appeared at the renowned Ruby Sessions, sharing the stage with Bombay Bicycle Club and played support for folk artists David Keenan and Maria Kelly.
Recording of his debut album; 'A Perpetual State of Irony', has just concluded. Consisting of ten brand new tracks, Cormac and his live band worked once more with producer Liam King of the Black Gate Studio, in his most ambitious and exciting project to date.
He is set to play a truly mesmerising, magical headline show at Dublin's The Workman's Club on December 17th and it's bound to be a show that's not to be missed!
Phoebe Bridgers - Smoke Signals
I had previously heard one or two of Phoebe’s songs and really liked them, but this was the first one that floored me and ultimately lead me to become completely obsessed with her.
“I buried a hatchet, it's comin' up lavender
The future's unwritten, the past is a corridor
I'm at the exit, lookin' back through the hall
You are anonymous, I am a concrete wall”
Like how does someone even write that? So sad, so beautiful. In recent years she has been the biggest influence on my own songwriting.
Mick Flannery - How High
Along with Phoebe, Mick has been one of the other main influences on my writing, so much so that I essentially just paraphrased one of the lines in this song for the opening of my own track ‘Patriot’.
“I drive into town at night
Just to see colour, just to see light.”
For me the song paints such a vivid picture of what living in Ireland, particularly rural Ireland, can be like. The chorus then a reminder that there is always the hope of getting out for those who feel trapped by circumstance.
Sam Fender - The Dying Light
My favourite track on his new album. The lyrics are gorgeous and poignant, but the song structure is what I am drawn to most. I love a tempo change and it’s done so effectively here. It transitions the song from despair, to despair with just a touch of hope, something I try to bring to my own songs.
“I'm damned if I give up tonight
I must repel the dying light”
Bruce Springsteen - Racing in the Street
One of the most beautifully sad, yet so simple piano intros to any song I know. Worth listening to the first 20 seconds alone. About 2 or 3 mins in the same piano part returns with a key change, organ and hits straight to the heart. Seeing Bruce in Kilkenny for my 18th birthday is one of my defining moments as a young musician.
Mitski - Your Best American Girl
The best song of all time. I listened to it 4 or 5 times the first day I came across it. It’s emotional with an infectious, perfect chorus, and has a lovely, melancholic sentiment to it. A massive influence on one of the songs that will feature on my debut album, which have just finished recording.
Frightened Rabbit - The Modern Leper
Only recently have I done a deep-dive on FR and I can’t believe I haven’t been listening to them all my life. Some of the most heart-breaking lyrics you’ll encounter:
“I’m ill but I’m not dead
And I don’t know which of those I’d prefer”
But still the music somehow manages to feel hopeful and ultimately I think that should be the overriding emotion people take from listening now, however tragic it may be.
Bellx1 - Lamposts
Had to include one from my favourite Irish band. This is a massive tune which also contains such a warm sentiment in the refrain:
“I’ve been walking you, into those lamposts again
But I’d rather do that, than let go of your hand”
Add Paul Noonan’s unmistakable vocals and you’ve got a cracker on your hands.
The Killers - Bones
I’m a massive fan of The Killers first two albums, I could have picked any number of songs, but I loved this song as a youngster, and still do! I am a sucker for some brass, which gives the signature Killers synth lines a big lift to make such a huge pop/rock anthem.
Clairo - Bags
What an artist. ‘Immunity’ is such a brilliant pop album and this is a perfect pop song. Great arrangement, catchy piano riff, strong chorus, and meaningful lyrics. Can’t ask for much more than that.
James Blunt - Wisemen
It would be remiss of me not to mention this number. When my parents got wind of my ability to hold a tune as a child, I was wheeled out at every family occasion and this was often my party piece. Getting to sing the line “pernickety little bastards'' in front of my granny was a real thrill. I owe a lot to those experiences for giving me a grá for performing.
