My Weekend: 'There is music all around,' says Cork singer

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024 - 07:00

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background in music;

I’m from Clonakilty, and come from a musical family. From my dad to my aunts to my brother — there is music all around. I learned guitar quite young, probably from listening to my dad playing old blues and ragtime numbers, and I developed my own style and technique. As kids, we would try to sing along to the choruses and harmonise with his blues songs. My mum tells me that I didn’t speak until I was four but I used to go around humming tunes like an old woman. I learned to play saxophone at a young age too. I always fancied myself as a sax player and played it in several bands as well as doing vocals throughout my teenage years. I kept losing my voice back then which brought me to get lessons with Voiceworks in Cork which led on to a four year Voice degree in MTU Cork School of Music.

I formed my original band while in college and started to write my original music which led to me recording my first EP Young Naive Me in 2019.

Since then, I played at loads of venues and festivals around Ireland until the pandemic hit. I stopped playing music, like many other musicians, but it didn’t stop me writing songs.

It was after the pandemic that I decided to record an album to get back into the music scene and that’s what you’ll be hearing in November.

As well as writing my own stuff, I’ve also been writing songs with a band called The Kates who inspire me to keep writing.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

My ideal Friday is relaxing after a long week of work but that can be challenging as my line of work feeds into my weekend. If there was a gig on in town though, my ideal Friday evening would be to watch it with a nice pint of Murphy’s.

Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you?

I do love a good lie in. As the days are getting shorter and colder, I find it hard to get out of bed. (Most of my songs are actually about that).

Eve Clague's Album Cover for Caught in Words.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Well yes, when I’m playing music.

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

I’d like to go to London as I’ve never been. I’d take my boyfriend or The Kates!

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

I do like walking on the beach after work as we have one of the best beaches in Clonakilty. That is Inchydoney but we also have some lovely little coves that are not too far away, that are very peaceful.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

I see a lot of my family during the week, so I tend to run away from them at the weekend.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

During the pandemic, I found a love of gardening. This summer, I’ve enjoyed picking and cooking my own vegetables from the garden.

I found a new obsession watching Charles Dowding videos.

Entertain or be entertained? If it’s the latter do you have a signature dish?

I like to be entertained. As long as I’m fed and watered I’m quite content. I have been nicknamed a delicate plant while on tour cos if not fed and watered, I become very hangry.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork— where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?

My go to coffee spot is Filter where I usually get a bag of coffee beans to take home for the week. My favourite places to eat are Da Mirco on Bridge Street and usually, on a Sunday, I love going to Miyazaki Japanese take away and sit in the pub down the road, O’Sho, where I can eat that with a nice pint.

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it?

Well as I said above, I do love to eat out on a Sunday and there is plenty of music around the pubs. I like going to the Corner House to listen to the Old Time Session.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

It doesn’t.

MORE ABOUT EVE’S NEW ALBUM

Eve Clague is set to release her debut album Caught in Words on November 14. This album is a deeply personal exploration of emotions, blending hurt, love, and frustration.

“It’s like a criticism of myself and my emotions,” Eve says of the work, which she initially titled Caught Up in Words due to her struggles with dyslexia — a source of both frustration and growth in her life.

“I’m glad I settled on Caught in Words,” Eve explains, “especially when the album designer, Megan Clancy, pointed out that ‘In Words’ could also be a play on ‘Inwards.’ That’s exactly how I would describe the album — reflecting on emotions and introspection.”

The songs on Caught in Words explore themes of self-consciousness and insecurity, experiences that Eve, as someone with dyslexia, feels are common among people who have faced struggles in traditional education systems.

“It could be different now,” she adds, “but this album is my way of processing those feelings.”

Over the last two years, Eve has been developing a unique sound that blends acoustic instrumentation with spacey, orchestral elements. The eight tracks on Caught in Words incorporate drones and atmospheric textures, complementing Eve’s acoustic guitar and voice.

“I wanted to capture the richness of live instruments playing together,” she explains, “and it was an incredibly fun process working with guest musicians to bring each song to life.”