Last month we wrote about Irish rising star Isaac Butler, and his latest single, ‘On The Run‘. Now we’ve taken the opportunity to ask him some questions, including one he’s never been asked before.
What inspired you to start creating pop rock music?
It 100% was seeing big bands live. I went to Lollapalooza in Chicago with a group of mates and The Killers closed the festival on the Sunday night. This legitimately blew my mind, and I knew after that weekend I wanted to start creating big anthemic tunes, not just the piano ballads I was writing and recording back then. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I do love writing that type of song, but that weekend changed my perspective on how I wanted my shows to be in the future.
What was your first performance at a venue like? Did it go well?
You know what, my first performance at a venue surprised me! I was insanely nervous, but about 5 or 10 minutes into the first few songs that totally disappeared and I felt like I was in my element. It was a small pub venue in Dublin, and I was part of a five act lineup. I think I was only 19 at the time and I was the only solo act. I mean, I’d like to think it went well but you’d have to ask the people that were in the crowd! From memory I played maybe five or six songs, I only had three originals then, well three that I was proud of, and the covers I played were ‘Make You Feel My Love’, by Adele, ‘I See Fire’, by Ed Sheeran, and a mash up of Skinny Love/We Found Love by Rihanna, and ‘Stay With Me’ by Sam Smith. I remember that mash up going down really well!
Which artist had the biggest influence on your style of music?
It’s really hard for me to pinpoint one I mean growing up I listened to a lot of the music that my parents listened to which was a lot of Alanis Morissette, Amy Winehouse, The Eagles, Dire Straits, The Beatles, and then when I began to come into my own little bit and choose the music myself I started to listen to a lot of Ed Sheeran. I listen to a lot of Eminem actually as well, which is bizarre because my music sounds nothing like him, but I just respected him and I suppose drew a lot of inspiration from him, more so the story on his come up; and then listening to Ed Sheeran, at that time he was making music and hanging around with a lot of UK grime artists like Wretch 32 and Devlin, so I started to listen to them quite a lot. I know this isn’t answering your question at all as you’ve asked me for a specific artist but it’s just too hard of a question there’s too many!
Does touring make you feel exhausted or burnt out?
So I’ve actually never been on a tour. But I’m hoping to be on one very soon and then I’ll get back to you!!!
Being a rising star in the music industry comes with a lot of pressure – how do you deal with this pressure?
It’s a bit bizarre to think of myself as a rising star I just don’t think I’m there yet but maybe I am I mean for me right now there is a lot of pressure to sell it this next show it may seem like a small milestone or goal right now to some people but for me the Academy in Dublin is a bucket list venue. Having sold out Whelan’s in April it’s a pretty big ask for an independent to sell out two headlines in one year in the same city so I suppose I feel quite a lot of pressure to make sure that goes well. It will be a cool achievement if it happens so I suppose I just have to do everything in my power to make sure it does. I like the path that I’m on things seem to be moving nicely.
What are your goals in the music industry?
My goal in music really hasn’t changed since I started releasing songs for me it’s all about the shows I want people to come to my shows and to enjoy them to feel something at them. If you’re looking for a specific goal I would love to sell out the Three Arena in Dublin, and then who knows maybe Croke Park or the Aviva or both haha! Trying my best to manifest here!!
What question do you wish someone would ask you in an interview, but nobody ever does, and what is the answer to that question?
This is a difficult question so I’m going to say a question that I’ve never been asked: Do you prefer cats or dogs? The answer is dogs.
Listen to ‘On The Run’ on Spotify and follow Butler’s Instagram and Facebook.
