We Irish are the rock stars of the world... we’re the coolest
Performer on lockdown love & her new album
For such a small place we’re overflowing with creativity and I’m really proud of us IMELDA MAY ON HOW IRISH TALENT IS KNOWN WORLDWIDE
before lockdown and I think a lot of people had that decision to make when lockdown was announced.
“Do you get together or stay apart? Most people didn’t have a lot of time to think about it.
“We decided to be together and so far, so good.”
Various publications misquoted Imelda as saying she did not expect her new love to last a year.
She quipped: “I said he came for lockdown and we didn’t expect lockdown to last a year.
“It was everywhere and we were laughing at it, my whole family were laughing, taking the p**s out of us.”
Her new album, 11 Past The Hour, is an invigorating blast of rock ’n’ roll featuring a collaboration with Ronnie Wood and Noel Gallagher on Just One Kiss.
Imelda explains: “It’s a hot as hell song, it’s a cheeky little number. I thought Ronnie and Noel would lend themselves well to it.
“I know both of them, I asked them to be on it, they’re so cool, they brought that sexy vibe to the song.
“Ronnie is the coolest guy, he’s a great friend, when he plays that solo the whole studio just stopped and jaws dropped.
“The sound going through the walls, it was so cool he absolutely nailed it. It just knocks you sideways.” The mum of one also told how she has no religion “except for love” and said retracing our pagan past has helped her understand who we are as a people.
SPIRITUAL
She said: “I’m not a big believer in religion but I’d say I’m spiritual.
“I’m starting to research paganism and who we were pre-christianity as a culture, because we were that way for hundreds of years before Christianity came along.
“I don’t see Christianity as who we are, I think it’s what we’ve become.
“I think it’s worrying how much religion and State was linked arm in arm and I don’t think that’s healthy for any country or any person.”
Imelda’s passion for nature is also echoed in her new album.
She said: “I want to learn from those people, they’re my ancestors and that’s what’s in my blood.
“They were more connected to nature and to the earth and I think we can relearn that at the moment.
“I think we need to be more connected to the earth.
“The one thing I do believe in, I believe in love, it’s the basis of all religions, of all those messages.
“If you boil everything down to love, that’s what we’re supposed to be doing. We have things that come
from love or fear, they’re the two emotions.
“I prefer to try to come from a place of love and it’s not always easy, you have to work at it. I believe in love as a religion.
“I’ve had so many tours cancelled, I should have been on the road already, but I’m really excited for the album to come out.
“There’s so much love on it and positivity, it’s more than just a romantic album, I hope it gives you something to feel and connect with.”
Imelda May – 11 Past The Hour – is out on Decca Records on Friday.