Oisín Walsh-Peelo of O Deer on the inspiration behind his debut album ‘Os’ set to launch on May 20th.
Tell us about your new album?
The bulk of this album was recorded between April and June 2020 when the world was in disarray and everything felt strange and unknown. Despite the chaos, I found a beautiful sanctuary in the making of this album. For the first time in my life I paused, properly. I had time to listen to the sounds around me - the clacks of the sparrow on my roof, the purr of the wood pigeon, the slow drip-drops of spring-rain on the studio, the cautious, slow approach of wind through the forest, the resonance of an open-strung guitar. My talented brother Ferdia helped capture some of these moments within this selection of my songs and they became this album. It’s called ‘Os’, the old-Irish word for ‘deer’, the non-diminutive form of my name Oisín.
You’ve a musical family.
Yes! Ferdia produced and engineered this entire album himself in the home-studio of our childhood in Ashford, Co Wicklow. Ferdia was trail-blazing with his acting career (Ferdia made his film debut in Sing Street and was one of the main cast in the Oscar-winning Coda) but also with his interest in music production. When the pandemic hit it was the perfect time to knuckle down and focus on O Deer. Ferdia was so generous to take the album on as a project and we went deep into a void of experimentation and creativity with the sounds that formed the album.
Over the past seven or eight years myself and Ferdia have written and recorded together. This writing has melded into our now-band The Fynches. That band has a more 70s-infused flavour with big vocal harmonies and rock n roll sound. We have a few upcoming gigs in West Cork too over the summer.
My brothers and I have made music our whole lives. My older brother Tadhg and I had a band for many years called Mo Hat Mo Gheansaí, an eclectic Gaeilge-pop group. We also toured for a long time in the band Hudson Taylor as well as with Gabrielle Aplin and others. I can’t leave out our younger sister, Síofradh. She played some fiddle on the track River Man and is a great violinist. The musicality of our family comes from the diligence of our mammy, Toni Walsh. She’s an operatic soprano and encouraged our pursuits. Our dad, Mick’s a great singer too!
What brought you to Rathbarry?
During the pandemic, like so much of the population, I took up far too many hobbies, growing vegetables out the back of my terraced rental in Dublin. I had chickens and everything. Then the owner sold-up and I was homeless. Myself and my brother Tadhg had met Vic and Deb of Camus Farm, Clonakilty the previous summer and they were looking for veg-growers to work on the farm. I was on the verge of beginning a course in horticulture but I was already so drawn to Clonakilty that I didn’t need asking twice!
I have been here nearly four years. It’s my favourite place in the world. I’ve never known such a welcoming community. It’s life-affirming with so many talented individuals around, amazing venues and stunning surroundings. I feel at home and have made some of my best friends. I’d always wanted to live by the sea again so I’m living my dream here.
Does West Cork inspire some of your work?
Many are inspired by the surroundings of Clon/Rathbarry. Time spent in places like Red Strand has been incredibly cathartic. I even wrote a song inspired by the ghost of the strand! Also, attending the Thursday night session in Fisher’s Cross pub was such a pleasure easing out of the lockdown. I was reacquainted with the joy of playing music for the pure love of it after a long time of quietude.
• O Deer will celebrate an album launch at DeBarras, Clonakilty, Friday May 17th. (Photo: Thady Trá)
