On the couch . . . musician Caimin Gilmore
Dubliner, Caimin Gilmore, is a classical musician, singer and composer. He has played double bass in Lisa Hannigan’s band on tours of America, Europe, Asia and Australia, and he performs regularly with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and Ulster Orchestra. Caimin has also played with the likes of Damon Albarn, Bon Iver, Niamh Regan and Dionne Warwick, and features on Leonard Cohen’s posthumous (and Grammynominated) album, Thanks for the Dance. His TV appearances include Other Voices, The Late Late Show with James Cordon and the Glastonbury Festival on BBC. Caimin has released a solo record, String Ogham Live, and composed music for Crash Ensemble and others. His latest collaboration, Sun Collective, recently appeared on Other Voices and have released three singles. suncollective.ie
How much TV do you think you watch every week?
Maybe an hour. I listen to a lot more radio. I’m a big fan of John Kelly, John Creedon, Ellen Cranitch, Lilian Smith, Seán Rocks and Cathal Murray.
Which gives you more artistic satisfaction – composing, recording or performing live?
They all o er various degrees of artistic satisfaction and there are pros and cons to each of them. I’d compartmentalise them like this: composition for artistic development; recording for improvised and impulsive creativity; performing for self-worth and craic.
Is there just too much good TV now to watch it all?
There’s a fair bit going about! Too much good everything to listen to and watch. Between trying to create my own music and record others, I can’t get through all the new beautiful Irish and international music releases every week. Great for consumers and content providers, but very hard to cut through the noise for artists. It would be really great to see more Irish artists featured on prime time TV. The likes of Other Voices have done an incredible job over the years and must be wholeheartedly commended. More of that, please!
Were you nervous appearing on such a big-ratings TV show as James Corden’s Late Late Show?
I absolutely was, yes. Knowing how many people were watching, I was hyper-aware of myself, my playing and my movements – which isn’t conducive to performing in a natural way. Great fun on top of CBS buildings after the show, though. Small talk with Lars Ulrich of Metallica was a highlight.
What are your unmissable shows right now?
Rupaul’s Drag Race. Unbelievable craic.
What show would you like a cameo in?
Withnail and I. I’m halfway there in reallife so I’m a shoo-in.
What shows do you watch the old-fashioned way, i.e. once a week at a particular time?
The Tommy Tiernan Show. Really interesting and entertaining. Tommy has so much empathy for his interviewees, allows silence and space when chatting, has a great way of making people comfortable. He’s also very insightful and there’s a bang of wisdom from a life well-lived o him.
What TV show would you love to write a soundtrack for?
Anything by Kilkenny-based animators, Cartoon Saloon (Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers), or something by Myles O’reilly and Donal Dineen when they have a TV show on RTÉ.
Are there any shows you have on box-set, DVR or red button that you haven’t quite got round to watching?
I’m making my way through the Other Voices ‘Courage’ series and the festival shot in Dingle in December that Sun Collective took part in. An unbelievably well-curated and beautiful cultural document from the past year. There’s also a Reeling in the Years DVD in the attic I bought my Da (but really for me) for Christmas about ten years ago. I’ll take a nostalgia trip soon.
Darragh Mcmanus