Follow Declan on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/declanorourke
"A major new talent" Paul Weller
"An incredible talent, a rare gem and a true genius" Kate Rusby
"Singing in a velvet-tinged bartitone with a killer falsetto….it's a rare gift that his music can bear comparison with so many classic era troubadours, Fred Neil, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen while still sounding so completely original" Nigel Williamson, Uncut
Declan O'Rourke used to be one of Ireland's best kept secrets, but rave reviews for his debut album 'Since Kyabram', a growing international fanbase and an enviable collection of eminent devotees, including Paul Weller, Snow Patrol and Kate Rusby, are rapidly changing that.
On its release in Ireland, 'Since Kyabram' reached double platinum status and garnered Hot Press magazine's 'Best Debut Album' award. A major record deal with V2 and a publishing deal with BMG followed, as did patronage from his peers – invitations to support Snow Patrol at Marlay Park in Dublin, Teddy Thompson on his UK tour, The Divine Comedy for dates in Germany and the U.K., and to perform at the legendary 100 Club at the request of Paul Weller.
The buzz is growing, based simply on the calibre of great songs and a unique voice. Declan's lyrics touch on all aspects of the individual, his songs focus on the centre of everyday emotions and beyond and his voice irresistibly draws the listener in. He has an understated charm, a quick-wittedness that make him highly endearing live and equally at home playing to one person as he is to thousands
From the opening melody of 'No Place To Hide', the first song on 'Since Kyabram', to the final key of 'Marrying The Sea', Declan's ability to tell a story unfolds. Each track on the album gives a feeling of being part of a collection of short films; the connecting thread being Declan's flowing and dreamy lyrics. The album embodies the roots of his Irish heritage, but also has a distinct rock edge, reflecting, in part, his time spent in Australia from age fourteen to his return to Ireland four years ago.
2006 was another fantastic year for Declan during which he played support to Nizlopi, The Cardigans, The Divine Comedy, Paulo Nutini and Snow Patrol in the UK and Europe. Jonathan Ross became a fan and played Galileo, Your World and No Brakes on several different occasions on his BBC Radio 1 Show.
Declan also recently toured with the great Paul Weller, who has been a great supporter, recently telling Q magazine that Galileo was the best song he had heard in 20 years and that he wished he had written it. He also listed Since Kyabram as one of his top ten albums of the year in the Guardian.
Following a successful strings of dates opening for Snow Patrol in Austria and Germany the band asked Declan to join them to play acoustic guitar on their sell out tour of the UK in December 2006, including 2 performances in the legendary Wembley Arena in London and on their home ground in Belfast, he also opened for them in The Point Theatre in Dublin. The end of 2006 also saw him tour Ireland with his own band culminating in a sell out show in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.
Recently the composer Brian Byrne arranged Declan's songs for the RTE Concert Orchestra which were performed to a sell-out audience in the Helix.
At the beginning of '07 Declan began to focus on putting together his long awaited second record. This culminated in the recording of 'Big Bad Beautiful World' over the course of the summer '07, a more robust outing, dynamically, than his first record but keeping the lyrical and melodic sensitivity of the Declan O'Rourke that fans of 'Since Kyabram' have grown to love. It consists of 12 songs, recorded and performed live at Grouse Lodge studios in West Meath with Declan and his band.
Driven, as expected, by Declan's acoustic guitar, along with the piano this time, and decorated with some beautiful Brian Byrne and Declan O'Rourke string arrangements performed by the RTE National Concert Orchestra, this record is musically very rich and has much depth of field for the discerning listener as well as the casual. 'Big Bad Beautiful World' was released in Ireland alone in September '07 and hit the ground running with a top 5 position in the charts.
It has been growing in popularity since with the help of two singles, the catchy title track 'Big Bad Beautiful World' and the touching 'Whatever Else Happens,' both of which continue to recieve regular airplay on Irish radio. The record is well on the way to achieving
platinum status, a feat that its predecessor 'Kyabram' took a year and a half to reach.
to view other performances from Declan cut and paste the link below
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=44CFC6C1A41150B7
CLICK ON THE SINGLE TO BUY THE SINGLE 'BIG BAD BEAUTIFUL WORLD' at iTunes Music Store
Click on the album to buy 'Since Kyabram' at iTunes Music Store
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