Musician Brídín chats about money to Sunday newspaper
SLIGO musician Brídín told a Sunday newspaper about her work has influenced how she views money and material items.
She was interviewed by the Sunday Independent for their regular feature ‘My Money’ which delves into the values and views that different people place on money and material items.
Brídín – real name Bríd McGowan – was recently nominated Best Emerging Artist at the RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards and released her debut EP, Ocean of Stars, last year. In addition to her music, the west Sligo native also works as a funeral director and embalmer.
The first question posed to her was about what here career as a musician taught her about money. She said: “Spend it! I believe in my music and my brand – and have found that it is so important to invest my money in it. I have a ‘music fund’ which I save into every week to cover things like paying for my band’s recordings and gigs, videographers making good quality music videos, photographers capturing fantastic artwork and so on.”
In regards to best advice she ever received about money, she credits her dad with stating: “Don’t walk on water and don’t trust anyone who is trying to sell you something!” Speaking about her favourite coins and notes, Brídín said she has found memories of old currency as well as the excitement of the switch over to a brand new one.
“I have such a warm, vivid memory of the old Irish pound notes. My grandad had just taught me money with them – and then the Euro came in so I had to learn it all over again. I did like the shiny new euro coins when they arrived.”
She added that if she could design her own Euro note, her preferred symbol would – of course – be the harp.
On whether she is a materialistic person,
Bríd said that working as a funeral director has given her a perspective which allows her to view material goods in a dimmer light. “Although I do like and enjoy material things, ever since becoming a full-time funeral director and embalmer, I’ve learned to not take material things too seriously and to remind myself that everything can be replaced, but a life.”
Asked about whether she likes to haggle, she admitted it is something she used to do but has learned to respect the seller’s price from all walks of life.
“I used to love the craic of haggling when I was younger and abroad but, in general, I respect people’s prices. If I can’t afford it or I think it’s overpriced, I don’t buy it.” Finally, she was asked about the material items she would struggle to make do without.
“Good healthy food, my car and skincare or make-up,” she said.