John Spillane recently sat down with RSVPLive to discuss life since turning 60 – and his many plans for the future:
You recently said since turning 60, you’ve never been busier! What have the past few years been like for your career?
There’s a famous story, The Hare and The Tortoise, and I’m like the tortoise who wins in the end. The hare might be fast, but the tortoise – the slowcoach – wins the race. I’m 63 now and I’m catching on. I had my first gig at Electric Picnic this year and I’ve made three albums in the last four years.
So you’ve no plans to slow down any time soon?
No, I want to score some big goals in the last leg of my career. Having said that, I don’t tour abroad as much anymore, I did a lot of that when I was younger. I’ve no interest in going to the likes of Germany or America for a month. I’m very happy to gig around Ireland.
Where does your love of music stem from?
I started playing guitar when I was a teenager and fell in love with it. I formed a rock band in school in the 1970s and was always in bands after that. It’s been a part of me for all of my life really, I’ve always sang, played guitar and written songs. When you catch the bug, you have to keep going.
Did you have a different career before music became your full-time job?
I had a few goes at cracking the music scene. When I was 17 I got a job in Bank of Ireland and left when I was 20 to pursue music full-time. Ever since then I’ve been trying to prove my point to try to be successful in the music industry. Leaving the bank in 1981 was the crime of the century; people thought I was mad. At certain points down the years, I gave guitar lessons in order to make money. When I was 30, I was discovered and got signed by EMI records, the greatest record company in the world. So I’ve been on a long climb to glory.
It’s a fickle industry though, did your family ever worry about money?
Yes. Long ago, my mother used to be freaking out. I’ve been with my wife Cathy for a long time now, we’re celebrating 30 years this year, and she’s always been hugely supportive of my music. She’s incredibly positive and very encouraging. Sometimes I’ll write a new song and play it for her and she’ll say, “Oh my God, it’s brilliant we’re going to be rich.” She has the enthusiasm and belief. It’s important to have that support because the music scene is a very tough game in fairness.
Who influenced you to start songwriting?
My favourite band has always been The Beatles, ever since I was a child and I still do. I’ve always loved Christy Moore too.
Ireland has seen a resurgence in folk and trad music in recent years. Younger people love The Tumbling Paddies and the Wolfe Tones have never been more popular. Why do you think that is?
Honestly, I think it’s amazing music. We have the best traditional music in the world. It’s like a crock of gold, we’re particularly brilliant at it. I think it’s timeless and it comes round every few years for a new generation to rediscover.
What is your personal opinion of the folk and traditional music scene in Ireland today?
I think we’re the most talented country in the world. We have more music than any other country in Europe, even in the world. Irish music is extremely strong. We have the best rock and roll bands, incredible trad music and you could say our folk music is the best in the world.
You describe your latest album, Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough, as a folk opera. Can you tell us more about it?
It’s an audio fairytale, mostly in the Irish language, about the Lough in Cork, and instead of just me singing the songs I have lots of different singers. Each singer is a character – so there is a king, a queen, a princess, a narrator, two clowns and villagers in the chorus. It’s a variety of voices mixed together to tell the story and it’s over two hours long. In terms of genre, the music style is Irish traditional music. It’s not a classic opera, so I’m calling it a folk opera. I’m hoping in the future this will get staged, but for the moment it’s just a record. Jesus Christ Superstar was an album before it was a show, so you never know.
You clearly love storytelling within your music, but are you inspired by real life experiences as well?
I am. Interestingly, my fairytale opera is about a king who closed a well and cut off water in ancient Ireland. When I was writing it, hundreds of thousands of people were protesting about water charges. The princess sees people are going to drown because the water has overflown so she tries to stop it. She’s like Greta Thunberg, she’s warning everyone about rising sea levels and everyone is ignoring her. The myth is real and the story is relevant to people’s real lives. What seems like a very old fashioned story from long ago, is actually not, it’s happening right now. Art imitates life and life imitates art. It’s still very relevant to modern times.
A lot of your songs are sung in Irish, as a Gaeilgeoir how important is this to you?
Very. I’ve a big grá for the Gaeilge, I just wish there were more people to talk to in Irish. It’s kind of sad that people in Ireland don’t speak their own language. It especially sounds beautiful when it’s sung.
You’ve had an incredible career, what are your biggest pinch me moments?
Playing Electric Picnic this year. About a thousand people came to see me and I had a really positive reaction from the crowd. It was a gorgeous day, it was my first time performing there and I had great fun.
Is there an artist you would love to work with down the line?
I’ve done some great work with Christy Moore over the years and he’s been very kind to me. I’ve done a lot with all of the big trad singers too. I love all of the new pop singers as well. Lyra is someone who I’d love to work with some time. She has a big, powerful voice. I’d love to have her sing one of my songs.
You mentioned you still have some “big goals” left to score – what else are you hoping to tick off the list?
I’d love to have a number one in England. I’m probably only dreaming, but I always saw that as a great thing to be able to pull off. We can all have our dreams!