Cork musician: I love  touring, playing music and meeting new people

About David

Irish-based session-musician, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, David Murphy, is best known for playing pedal steel guitar with artists such as The Delines, The Lost Brothers, John Blek, and Arborist, among many others. He has just released his debut single Citi na gCumann, the first glimpse into the upcoming full-length album, Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar.

Where were you born?

I was born in Cork and grew up in north Cork – first in the small village of Liscarroll before my family moved to the very slightly bigger town of Buttevant, when I was very young.

Where do you live?

In St Luke’s. It’s but a stones-throw from the beautiful music venue in the old church, Live at St Luke’s, and I try to get to as many of the superb gigs there as I can. Some recent shows have been The Unthanks as well as Martin Hayes’ Common Ground Ensemble.

Family?

Mari, Charley, aged 7, and Lola the dog – a shaggy-haired, energetic golden doodle.

Best friend?

My son Charley – he is very funny and witty and makes me laugh a lot and is generally great craic to hang out with!

Earliest childhood memory?

My parents ran a rural pub and dance hall in Liscarroll, north Cork, in the 1980s. 

I have some fond memories as a three-year-old on the stage playing air-guitar along to Dire Straits blasting from the jukebox.

Person you most admire?

Right now, the individuals as well as organised groups of people who are standing up and calling out the oppression and barbarism being forced upon thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza for what it really is.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

I’ve enjoyed a few epic road-trips all around the U.S. The south and south-west states have been the most memorable: spectacular sunsets and endless skies in the deserts of Arizona and west Texas; driving through Monument Valley and hiking down into the Grand Canyon; driving off the beaten path to old delta blues juke joints amongst the fields of rural Mississippi and Louisiana; mountain trekking in Oregon and rafting in Nevada; and meeting a lot of interesting and warm, open-hearted people along the way.

Favourite TV programme?

I’m not a regular TV watcher though I really enjoyed Creedon’s Atlas of Ireland on RTÉ. I am very interested in history and local history in Ireland. 

I know my way around most of the laneways, highways and byways of the country from travelling as a musician. 

Learning more about how towns and villages around Ireland were named in relation to the landscape or terrain or during notable times in history was right up my street.

Favourite radio show?

Late Date on RTÉ Radio 1 always throws some surprises as well as highlighting fantastic new music from Irish artists.

Your signature dish if cooking?

Butternut squash and chickpea curry.

Favourite restaurant?

Good Day Deli. I’ve brought visitors and friends there who have all marvelled at the beautiful location and serene setting. It’s a real oasis within the city centre; the food is superb and the staff are friendly and always provide a warm welcome.

Last book you read?

Martin Hayes’ autobiography. Shared Notes. It was fascinating to learn about his life-long relationship with his musical instrument, how he uses it to mine great depths within the tradition, and how he can find deep and meaningful expression in performing.

I admire his philosophy towards the music he learned growing up in east Clare, how he continually adapts and turns these ancient tunes inside out, discovering new ways of exploring the melodies and rhythms – and he does it all with great humour too.

Best book you read?

Willy Vlautin’s latest novel, The Night Always Comes, is a real page turner and a marked difference in tone and pace to his other previous novels. It tells the gritty tale of a hard-working young woman’s struggle to survive amid the greed and accelerating gentrification of her home city of Portland, Oregon.

It also comes with an amazing accompanying CD soundtrack by the band The Delines, conveying all the late-night feelings of dread and desperation that the protagonist is combating. An amazing read.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

Turas, by Ordnance Survey on vinyl from Plugd Records. The latest album by Dublin-based electronic/experimental artist Neil O’Connor who recorded it in passage and wedge tombs around Ireland, making use of the tombs’ acoustics and 3,000-year-old reverberations.

Favourite song?

Led Zeppelin – Since I’ve Been Loving You.

One person you would like to see in concert?

I’m a bit of a Led Zeppelin fanatic. I’ve met each of the surviving band members over the years, though I have yet to see Jimmy Page perform live. He’s 80 now and doesn’t really play live any more in any capacity – so I’m not holding my breath.

Do you have a pet?

Our house is shared with Lola, a 1.5 year-old shaggy-haired golden doodle. She is a ball of energy as well as a big ball of fur.

Morning person or night owl?

Both – I’m sometimes a burn-the-candle-at-both-ends kind of person, though am getting to the age now where it’s beginning to become a little bit tougher.

Your proudest moment?

Birth of my son Charley.

Spendthrift or saver?

A bit of both, I save a bit every month though I am partial to the odd splurge on musical equipment. Though if I don’t find I’m using it, I’ll sell it on. I don’t like waste!

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

The traffic on Summerhill North is a disaster since the changes to the MacCurtain Street two-way flow of traffic recently, which nobody seems to be using by the way!

What makes you happy?

Hanging out with my son Charley and partner Mari; playing music with friends and enjoying a quiet pint in The Corner House, Coughlans or Henchy’s. 

I love travelling when I get the opportunity, touring and playing music and meeting new people.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who liked to have the craic with friends and family, was a good pal, and hopefully remembered as a half-decent partner and parent!

What else are you up to at the moment?

I work as a Data Engineer with Enterprise Solutions department in UCC and we have had a busy start to the year with some interesting projects.

I also lead a busy double-life as a musician, playing pedal steel guitar, recording and performing with various Irish and international artists.

I’ve released my first solo album, Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar, on the Rollercoaster Records label and will be performing it along with an ace band of Cork-based musicians in Coughlans, Cork, on April 18.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

davidmurphymusic.com 

instagram.com/steelydave83/ facebook.com/davidmurphysteelguitar/