Tell us about your new single The Rocky Road To Dublin?
Brian Dunphy and I were hanging out with Oscar and Grammy winning composer/ producer Ludwig Goransson in Los Angeles earlier this year and he played us some new pieces he was working on for the Warner Brothers movie SINNERS. We were blown away and after a while Ludwig asked us to add our lead vocals to two of the songs, ‘The Rocky Road to Dublin’ and ‘Will ye go Lassie Go?’ ‘Rocky Road’ blew up on a massive scale globally and it was inevitable that The High Kings re-recorded a new version to commemorate that success. Our version was released on July 4 and it’s already a huge hit.
What’s your favourite work at this point in time? (your group’s work)
I love our current album ‘The Road Not Taken’. It’s a fully original album containing songs written by myself and pitched to us by artists such as The Script and Kodaline. It’s been a huge success around the world for us and ‘Chasing Rainbows’ was our breakout hit.
How would you describe your sound in food form and why?
There’s an old Irish dish, Bacon & Cabbage. It’s exactly what it says on the tin. A taste explosion that contains meat and delicacy. It’s as real as it gets.
Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote.
We were rocking out onstage one night in Ireland and after the song finished I said to the crowd, “Jeez we were like Bon Jovi!” Some smart arse in the crowd shouted up ‘You’re more like Bonjella!’
What, or who, inspires you?
My wife Michelle and my 3 kids Josh, Ava and Sophie. They keep it real and are there to show me what’s important in life. The band is only a small part of it all for me.
Which song do you wish you wrote?
‘Sleep instead of Teardrops’ by Scottish band Del Amitri. Listen to it. You’re welcome.
What’s next for you?
More American tour dates and working on new material in my studio before we head to Australia.
What’s your scene?
Irish folk music. One foot in the past, the other in the present and 2 eyes on the future.
The Rocky Road To Dublin – The Celtic Remix is out now.
Tickets for The High Kings’ upcoming Australian tour are onsale now from metropolistouring.com/the-high-kings-2025/.
