The musical vastness and ambivalence of Declan O’Donovan’s sound is reflected by the picturesque backdrop between his home of Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon and the urban centres from Toronto to Montreal that he frequents.

For over a decade, the Canadian has succeeded in creating stylistically unique fusions of the most diverse of song writing approaches.

Albums with an eccentric richness of ideas like his self-titled debut (2012) or the larger-than-life ‘Broken Sky’ (2017) have made O’Donovan one of the most sought-after musicians in Canada. Comparisons range from Tom Waits to Randy Newman or Harry Nilsson, but of course don’t really do the creative maverick and his unmistakably rough timbre any justice. His new release ‘Get Thee Behind the Wheel’ once again shows that he’s riding a wave of his own, subject to his own transformations.

Was there a certain moment in your life when you knew you wanted to become a musician?

Declan O’Donovan: I started playing pretty young so I suppose I knew early on. Perhaps a more telling question would be which were the moments that made me unsure I wanted to be a musician.

Tell us about your recent single, ‘Get Thee Behind the Wheel’.

The music for this song was written on a purple baby grand piano in a basement filled with spiders on Vancouver Island. The owner of the piano and the house where it lived was an unfettered conspiracy theorist (and hoarder) who would show up regularly and unannounced and inundate me with his theories of the world. He subscribed to all the greatest hits of modern conspiracy thinkers. I have no doubt the setting and mindset of this weird ass time and place informed the strange rhythms and melodies in the song.

Will it be part of an upcoming album?

Sure will, new record coming out early next year.

How do you usually approach songwriting?

Always from the left, speaking softly and making eye contact.

I would love it if you could discuss your 2017 release, ‘Broken Sky’?

That record is killer, go listen now!

I’m honestly very proud of that record. Tried to go places I hadn’t before with the writing and in the studio. I think we succeeded in creating a sort of landscape for those songs. The production and all the performances seemed to build this expanse for the ideas in the songs to inhabit. Made it with a bunch of beauties in Montreal.

As a songwriter, what makes a good song in your opinion?

Honesty and word economy. And a good location.

Are there any other songwriters that you get inspired by?

Boy. I would hope so! Recently I was recently introduced to Angie McMahon. Brilliant Australian songwriter, just fearless and vulnerable.

Then there’s your 2012 album, please share some words about it.

Most of the words to be shared I already put in that record so I’d say… That record is killer, go listen now! Actually that was a long time ago, not even sure that was me on those recordings.

Did you find the recent lockdown musically creative or a nightmare?

Yes.

What are some future plans?

Learn how to make my own shoes and track down a badass jacket I lost a month and a half ago at a gig.

Let’s end this interview with some of your favourite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?

A favourite: ‘Southern Nights,’ Allen Toussaint

A new find: ‘Warm,’ The Spooky Men’s Chorale

Klemen Breznikar

Declan O’Donovan Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube /SoundCloud