A man of many trades, Ciaran Gribbin has just gone solo. Having just released his solo EP ‘My Killer, My King’, we caught up with the former INXS frontman to talk about his new EP, the past, and his budding career as a film composer. After a lifetime of playing in bands, his first one forming at the young age of nine years old, why has Gribbin chosen to go solo? Well, obviously the last couple of years has all been INXS, and when they stopped touring… I’ve always been sort of putting out my own music under the name of Joe Echo. In fact, this is really the first time I’ve put anything out under the name of Ciaran Gribbin. Before joining INXS, I had so many songs written and recorded, and I went back and looked at all these songs and thought well, there’s no point in all these songs not being out there. I sort of reinvented some of them and worked with some of them to make them more up to date than what they were, but a song is a song, the production’s what changes. I just thought, why not put out some of my own stuff? What’s the point of having all of these songs sitting on a hard-drive somewhere doing nothing? Since INXS there’s been quite a following of people interested in what I’m doing, and if they’re interested, why not let them hear what I’m doing?
For a man for whom music was always such a big part of life, was there ever any other option? It’s hard to make a life as a full time musician, so did Gribbin have any other career paths in mind growing up? Yea, I’ve always sort of battled with ‘should I get a real job?’. Being Irish, it’s very hard to just be a musician. You feel guilty that you should be doing a real job. The music has always pulled me back. I’ve been lucky that over the years that in various forms, whether it be different styles or session gigs or cover work, that I’ve always been able to pay the bills doing music. I’ve probably been a professional musician now since I was 20, and it’s still paying the bills.
But of all people to begin embarking on a solo career, is anyone more prepared for the role than Gribbin? With such a wealth of musical experience behind him, as well as countless professional connections, he’s taking on this role well prepared. But how has this changed his approach to a solo career? It’s a very streamlined operation I run. I’ve a great manager, he’s been with me ten years, and it’s pretty much me and him against the world. But there’s all these people that we work with, that we bring in, and I love them as people. They all bring something to the table that I can’t do. So I know what I want. I’ve always surrounded myself with quality musicians and quality producers, so I always get the result that I’m after. If I’m going to be working with a writer or producer, I very much like to see the whites of peoples eyes, shake hands, and see how they do business – to see if I can help, and be a part of it.
As well as the solo work, Gribbin has become increasingly involved in writing for films- his next project is Al Pacino’s new movie ‘Imagine’ which is due for release in 2014. Has writing for film forced him to take a different approach to writing music? Gribbin explained further about his experience of working with film: You have to sort of go in to a different head space when you’re working with film. A lot of the time you’re sent a brief, for example on the new Al Pacino film I was sent a brief of exactly what they wanted. I love that. If I read it, and they tell me what they want, I can see it in my head, and that’s probably just years of experience. Growing up in Belfast and playing many different genres and styles of music, like cover bands, where one night you’re playing Chic, to full on Nirvana, to Scooter and all this sort of techno, trance, europop stuff. And you don’t realise it at the time, but that stuff is sort of infiltrating your brain, and you learn a lot of stuff from other artists, whether you like it or not. Particularly for the film music, you need to be a jack of all trades. I’m a bit of a jack of all trades, but I’m certainly no master. I wouldn’t call myself a wonderful musician.
For a man with such a rich history in Ireland, although now living in Australia, have any of our current upcoming acts caught his eye? With countless excellent bands emerging from the woodwork of this country, there’s plenty to choose from, so who has Gribbin noticed or earmarked for big things? Well, I’ve been out of Ireland a couple of years now, but actually last week – and I know they’re pretty much a big thing now – but I saw Kodaline at the Snow Patrol gig in Belfast. I was genuinely impressed! The older I’m getting, I’m getting a little bit cynical of all the bands coming through, because you just think ‘Oh I saw it all before’, but I was impressed – I thought those guys were good. They write a good song. There’s a band called Belfast called The Farriers – they’re from Bangor actually – but they’re awesome. Really really heartfelt soul. Real music. I think it’s not until you go away that you realise how special a place Ireland is.
But what does the future hold for Ciaran Gribbin? Between the solo work, the bands and now the film music, he’s a man of many talents, and definitely a busy one, but where will he be concentrating his talents on next? I don’t know what’s happening with INXS to be honest. I hope they continue, and I hope I’m involved in that on some level – I just don’t know. And in the meantime, I’m delighted I’ve written a new song for the new Al Pacino movie and actually having Al Pacino singing that, which is a massive honour for me! I know that that’ll breed more opportunities in the movie world. I’m going to ‘Rock in Rio’ next month to do two gigs. That’s my first time in Brazil. I cherish all these little moments, although they’re massive to me, but all these little moments. I’m just happy to be earning a living doing music. I know that I probably will put out an album of my own, but I’m under no illusions – it might not go anywhere! But I think it’s good for the soul as a song writer just to get stuff away.
It’s obvious that Ciaran Gribbin has no intention to stop what he’s doing any time soon, and with so many doors or opportunity opening up for him, why would he? Between band and solo work, film music and lots of other exciting developments, the future is bright for Gribbin, and 2014 is set to hold many great moments for him – a year that we’ll all be watching quite closely.