Person to Person: 'I'm a night owl...it’s when I do most of my composing'

Tell us about yourself;

I’m a multidisciplinary artist; I started making music from a young age because I was lucky to have done Suzuki piano from the age of five. It basically taught me how to teach myself how to play loads of other instruments.

I love doing as many art practices as possible so I pick up new instruments all the time and I also do textile art, ceramics and glass. I spend all of my time making art or going to gigs.

Where were you born?

In Dublin city.

Where do you live?

I grew up in Greystones in Wicklow. I lived in Cork city for four years for my degree, but I will be moving back to Wicklow in the new year.

Family?

I am the middle child and I have two brothers and my mam and dad.

Best friend?

I have multiple! I do not believe in friendship hierarchy, lol.

Earliest childhood memory?

I got a bubble gun for my third birthday and I remember sitting on the deck in my back garden and thinking my dad was purposely taking too long to set it up so that he could play with it first.

Person you most admire?

My mam because she’s a very positive person and is always ready to support me.

Person who most irritates you?

They know who they are...

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Going to Achill island when I was five and accidentally breaking my brother’s arm by pushing him down a slide when he wasn’t ready.

Favourite TV programme?

Adventure Time or Over The Garden Wall. I still love watching them and have tattoos for both.

Favourite radio show?

I listen to RTÉ 2FM mainly, and mostly Dan Hegarty and Beta Da Silva’s shows because I always find new, smaller musicians through them.

Your signature dish if cooking?

Some variation of salmon and rice or tofu and rice.

Favourite restaurant?

I love Cafe Mexicana in the city.

Last book you read?

I have dyslexia and ADHD so I will be so honest and say I don’t think I have read a book fully through since I was 12 years old.

Best book you read?

Jolly Phonics.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

Frog For Sale by Frog. I saw them play live earlier this month, they were really great.

Favourite song?

Untitled God Song by Haley Heynderickx - I have lyrics from it tattooed on my arm.

One person you would like to see in concert?

Wednesday.

Do you have a pet?

I have two rescue dogs called Sandy and Coco and I have two cats called Frog and Pixie.

Morning person or night owl?

Night owl, it’s when I do most of my composing and get my creative ideas.

Your proudest moment?

I think it will be on the day I play jazz! It’s the same day I graduate from my undergrad in Crawford after dropping out of school when I was 15. I never did my Junior Cert or my Leaving Cert so this will be the first time I graduate from something academic that wasn’t primary school.

Spendthrift or saver?

I go through phases of being both.

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

Repave the paths so I don’t trip over loose bricks and slabs of concrete every time I leave my house.

What makes you happy?

Music, art and my friends.

How would you like to be remembered?

This I am not sure of yet.

What else are you up to at the moment?

I’m doing a lot of writing and I have a lot of ideas for projects that I plan on starting once I’ve finished cleaning my room.

Ezra will perform at Live at St Luke’s on October 22 part of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. They will be joined by fellow Irish talent Tyra-Lee Spry, Maya Libbey and Mirrors. Tickets on sale on https://guinnesscorkjazzfestival.com/