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Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent
@jeremydwilliams
4:59 PM 22nd September 2014
arts

Interview: Derek Darker

 
Derek Darker
Derek Darker
Irish songsmith Derek Darker has finally bitten the bullet and unveiled his début single 'Numb'. Lifted from his début EP 'Conversations With Rose', 'Numb' is one of the most tender, honest and beautifully raw ballads you will hear in 2014.

Captivated by his single, we had to find out more about the talented songwriter.

When did you first realise you wanted to make music?

The first day I ever got grounded. I was so angry I wrote a load of lyrics down on a page and half rapped half sang them to try and make myself feel better. I must have been about 10 I would think. I also drew an escape route for how to run away from home and where to build a tree house so nobody would find me...HA.

If you could go back to that day, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

Don't EVER try to rap and your escape route sucks ass.

What is your writing process?

Very natural, very just in the "moment". 99.9% of the time it comes from experience so don't ever piss me off or I'll write about it and can't say it'll be positive. Often when I sit at the piano I'll bash out some chords and just see where it goes, but sometimes I'll be somewhere random like in a cafe and I just get an idea so you'll see me acting all cool trying to hide behind/under the table just to quickly record the idea down onto my phone. People always stare but it has to be done because some of my favourite stuff comes out!



Where do you look for inspiration?

Life in general. Relationships, friendships. Music is a bit therapeutic I guess so sometimes it's easier to write a song about it.

If your music were a person, what would their personality be? Where do you think it would live?

Probably be a 'deep thinker' personality. Does that even make sense?!

I think a lot and it comes out in the music. It would live in a cupboard and I don't have any reason why it just was the first thing that came to mind haha.

If you had to cite your biggest three influences, what would they be?

My mistakes...learned from them and they make good material.

Family - they push me even when I want to give up.

General life experiences. I feel like I'm not answering this correctly haha...too many choices again...Netflix Part 2..

What are your three favourite records of the moment?

Three favourites at the minute:

1) Sigma - Nobody To Love- still can't get enough of it.

2) Haim - Falling Duke Dumont Remix

3) John Legend - All Of Me - love a good ballad and this is just insanely good. So simple but perfect.

What song do you wish you had written?

So many but right now 'Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come'. Powerful stuff.

If you could collaborate with any living artist, who would it be?

Adele absolutely. The chances of that...maybe she reads The Yorkshire Times..?? CALL ME

Touring is a big part of a musicians life, what are your tour must haves?

A bed! I need a decent nights kip. And just food, nothing fancy but takeaway fast food kills me man and if you get a dodgy stomach and there's no decent toilets nearby prepare for the worst. Oh and if I do have alcohol I need every possible hangover cure known to man prepared, otherwise I'll be a mess the next day. Funnily enough it's always up north that I seem to get the worst hangovers but best nights...

What makes a good live show?

Singing live itself. Live band, live music live everything and a decent atmosphere. People feel it more. Not thinking about it too much, just be natural.

What has been your favourite performance to date?

I have a few but as a solo...in The Olympic Village during the Olympics and Paralympics.

As a collab, I sang alongside my very good friend ENV at London Pride in Trafalgar Square...was 15,000 people or more I think and it was amazing. He even said he thought I lost my mind I had that much energy on the stage...he does think I've lost my mind most days but I know he thought it even more this time haha.