Times, they area’changing
Dempsey turns to rap and spoken word on his new album
WhenDamien Dempsey spoke to me in the summer of 2017, it was on the occasion of the release of his seventh studio album, Soulsun. A five-year gap had ensued between that collection and 2012’s Almighty Love, and he promised he would return to recording action sooner next time out. Some 18 months on, comes Union; an album of collaborations with, as he puts it, ‘people who sing from their soul and who moved us with their voices’.
Some of the tracks such as Celtic Tiger with Sinéad O’Connor, Rainy Night In Soho with The Dubliners and Big Big Love with Imelda May have been previously released, but there is also a raft of duets with more contemporary artists such as English spoken-word artist Kate Tempest, Dublin rapper Paul Alwright and Wexford performer Maverick Sabre. At 42, the Donaghmede man shows again that he is as inspired by artists at the cutting edge as by legends and stalwarts.
‘When we did Soulsun last year the record company wanted to release the track I did with Imelda May, Big Big Love. Then, they noticed that I’d done lots of collaborations down through the years and thought between those, and if I did a half a dozen new collaborations, we could make an album,’ he says.
‘Working with Kate Tempest was (producer) John Reynolds’s idea. She is an incredible spoken word artist. John just took a chance and asked her would she liked to sing with me. She liked what she heard and she agreed to be on the track.’
The track on which they collaborate, A Child Is An Open Book, is a perfect meeting of mouths and minds. As is You’re Like The Water with Sabre who was a fan of Dempsey’s before he left New Ross in his teen years and went on to have a British top three album with Lonely Are The Brave.
‘I thought it would be great to have him on the album. I’m mad about his songs and his voice and phrasing,’ he says. ‘There is a youth worker in Ballymun called Dean Scurry who used to work with Maverick when he was 17 and living in Dublin. Deano used to help and encourage young rappers. He brought back Maverick to Ballymun after he got famous to talk to new rappers. That’s where I met him.’
Dempsey is well known to be socially aware and Soulsun was written in the wake of the samesex referendum. Since we spoke in 2017, the abortion referendum has passed. How does he feel about Ireland as 2019 beckons?
‘I remember the church telling us not to vote Yes in the same sex marriage referendum or the abortion referendum, but the people did anyway. That’s quite a change from our parents’ days,’ he says.
‘There are people in the Government who try to do the best they can, absolutely. But there are other influences who pull them this way and that way purely for their own ends.’
After a relatively rapid return with Union, Dempsey appears to be contemplating another period of reflection and reappraisal.
‘I need to soak up some more stories and immerse myself in some culture before I can go back to recording again,’ he says.
‘I’ve got some good melodies and good words stored away, but I want to put it all together with the words that are going to mean things to people and pick them up, and give them joy in their lives.’
Damien Dempsey plays Vicar Street this Wednesday and Dec 21, 22 and 23. Union is out now.
‘The marriage and abortion votes and ignoring the church ...big change from our parents’ days’