An Interview With The Irish Musician FIONN REGAN On His Forthcoming Album, ‘The Meetings of the Waters’!

Photo Credit- Autumn de Wilde

Critically acclaimed Irish musician Fionn Regan’s new album The Meetings of the Waters is out now via his own label 常に愛TSUNENI AI (translates to “Always Love” in Japanese). Of the album, NPR Music proclaims, “Fionn Regan returns, his feathery acoustic sweetness intact,” while BrooklynVegan calls it, “gentle, delicate.”

In support of the release, Regan has confirmed a headlining show at New York’s Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, June 8. Tickets can be purchased here: http://ticketf.ly/2moWUda

Additionally, Regan has created an “Album Preview” application that contains access to the first two singles, video for “The Meetings of the Waters” featuring Cillian Murphy, lyrics, photos and access to exclusive events. The app is available now in the App Store: http://apple.co/2p6FzWF

The Meetings of the Waters was co-produced by Regan, Philip Tennant and Dave Granshaw at Chale Abbey Studios on the Isle of Wight. It was mixed by Tom Elmhurst at Electric Lady Studios in New York, and by Tchad Blake at Mongrel Studios in Wales. Of the new music, Regan explains, “For me to make a completely acoustic record now would not be honest. It’s just what you hear, it’s the bleeding in of everything, it’s the landscape that we’re in. Just a voice and a guitar doesn’t tell the whole picture for me right now, it’s everything that I’ve taken in sitting around listening to electronic music.” The album’s title is, he says, an acknowledgement that “the record is kind of a meeting of both things that are influential. That meeting is the two things actually arriving. That’s what I was trying to get to, and that’s why it took a little bit longer, to work out how to do that and for it to evolve naturally, and for it to feel timeless, and like it comes from the same source.”

Born in Bray, Ireland, Regan came to prominence with the release of his debut studio album, The End of History in 2006. Over the course of his career, Regan has been nominated for the Choice Music Prize in Ireland, the Mercury Prize in the U.K. and the Shortlist Music Prize in the U.S.

Learn more about Fionn Regan in the following All Access interview:

Fionn, Thank you for taking the time to share your musical journey with us!

Thank you, it’s a pleasure!

How would you describe your style of music? 

I feel it’s not really for me to say, the songs are what they are and if there’s a style to speak of it’s probably more relative to the opinion of the listener however I do think the songs are mostly uplifting and humorous

Does your Irish background play a significant role in your musical stylings? In what ways?

I suppose the atmosphere of a place can have an effect and of course there’s tradition, but really I’m not sure how directly that influences the songs

I know it has been quite some time since you’ve put out an album. Can you tell us what The Meetings of the Waters means for you? 
Is this the start of something new?

I felt it was the end of a cycle after the last record (The Bunkhouse Vol 1 : Anchor Black Tattoo) So I chilled it for a bit, considered doing more painting and other artwork until eventually these songs brought me back to making a record and so now it feels like it might be the beginning of something new…

How would you say The Meetings of the Waters compares to your past work?

There’s maybe a few songs that have some kinship with my first album, but every album is new for me.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

I couldn’t easily name you any singular musical influence, it’s a broader thing.. there’s so much great music everywhere

What is it about them that most inspires you?

Photo Credit- Autumn de Wilde

When something has that undeniable thing … It doesn’t matter the genre… it’s that indescribable quality

What musician would you most like to work with in the future? Why?

At the moment… Lana del Rey because she has the most beautiful voice and she’s a complete classic artist

I noticed that your label imprint 常に愛TSUNENI AI and its meaning “Always Love” in Japanese. Where did you come up with this name? And why in Japanese? P.S. I love it!

Thank you! It’s the name of one of the instrumental songs on the record.

How do you approach songwriting?

 It just arrives sometimes and I don’t really know where from

How do you capture the inspiration when it comes?

I try not to overthink it, I just see what happens

What are the biggest changes you would like to see happen in the music industry? 

I think it’s the best it’s ever been…

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music? 

I hope you enjoy my new album and I’m excited for you all to hear it