In Conversation: SMO (Interview Transcript)

Amy: Okay, cool. So, how are you?

SMO: I’m good, how are you?

A: Good. I’m good. I’m a bit nervous. So, I just want to start - I love your song, ‘Love Me Too’. 

S: Oh, thank you very much.

A: It’s a beautiful song. 

S: That means a lot. 

A: It actually really feels like a rom-com to me.

S: Ah, nice. 

A: I don’t know if it’s supposed to?

S: Yeah, it is that kind of vibe, you know.

A: Okay, cool. 

S: A sad love song, yeah. 

A: Yeah, it’s really beautiful. I saw you have a new release out today. Do you want to talk about it?

S: Yeah,I just released a song called ‘Celebrate You’. It came out today, which is a bit of fun. We’ve been playing it live as well. It’s also kind of depressing in some ways, but, you know, all my songs are. But, yeah, no, that’s the latest in the line of singles. 

A: Yeah, I had a quick listen to it this morning. 

S: Ah, thank you. So you’re the person who listened to it? 

A: Aw, no, I listened to it about three times.

S: Oh, nice. It’s getting the streams up now. 

A: Yeah. So, I’m a musician too. 

S: Oh, very nice. 

A: And I find it, like, easier to, like, write a song when I’m in the right mood. Like, personally, I like to do it in my bedroom. 

S: I’m the exact same. 

A: Are there any other places you..?

S: Pretty much all in my bedroom. 

A: All in your bedroom, yeah?

S: Just the way it is, I guess. It’s where I feel most comfortable. Yeah, it’s where the emotions come out. 

A: Yeah, yeah, exactly. I guess, what first made you start writing music? I guess that’s quite a hard question. 

S: Tough one, but, you know, that means you’re doing your job - hard hitting questions. I’ve kind of been making kind of songs since I was, like, 15 or 16, but I never really took it seriously until maybe a couple of years ago. Started recording them in Liverpool, and then thought I’d start releasing. And that’s been this year so far. So yeah, it’s been fun. 

A: Yeah, cool.

S: Scary as well. 

A: This is an even tougher question. Do you remember the first song you wrote?

S: Yeah, the first song I wrote was a song called ‘Listen’, which actually came out a few months ago.

A: That’s the first song you wrote?

S: Yeah, yeah. 

A: No way!

S: Well, it kind of changed over the years, but, yeah, the verse of that and the riff, I was just sitting at the piano and I just started playing ‘do do do do do’. 

A: My first song was really embarrassing, so. 

S: Oh, yeah? What’s it about? 

A: Probably a boy. 

S: Oh, well, that’s a good start. 

A: I mean, that’s not what makes it embarrassing, it’s probably the horrendous lyrics that make it embarrassing. 

S: Ah, well. I’ll have to check out your music. 

A: Thank you.

S: Then I can interview you. Swap it around.

A: I’ve only got one song out, so it wouldn’t be very long. My friend wanted me to ask this in the magazine. Is there a piece of art, song, film or book that influenced you or your music? 

S: Wow. That’s another tough one. I could have done with a prep sheet before this. No, I’m just kidding. I don’t know about film, anything. I suppose my music is just inspired by other music. So, you know, The Beatles and U2. Yeah, I’m wearing my Beatles jumper actually handily enough for this. But yeah, a lot of different things. I suppose my parents kind of inspired me. They’re musical, and they were like, yeah, do some music. They forced me to go to piano lessons. I didn’t want to at all, but I’m glad they did because it kind of kept me going all the way through. Wholesome answer I know.

A: So, is there a tradition you have to prepare for the stage? Like is there anything you do before you go on stage?

S: I’ll normally pace around and panic for hours, then ultimately just do it.

A: That was me before the interview so it’s fine.

S: Well yeah, I think I need a tradition as I don’t have one.

A: Shot of tequila maybe?

S: Yeah well, that’s one way to do it, but y’know. I like to listen to music as well before I play it. I should be doing vocal warm ups, but the nerves stop me from doing it. I’m like, nah.

A: You don’t do vocal warm ups?

S: No.

A: Neither do I I’ve got to admit.

S: Okay, very good. It’s all natural.

A: So, you’ve only just got here haven’t you?

S: Yeah, I got here half an hour ago.

A: I was going to ask you what you think about Manchester?

S: I like it. I’ve been here a couple times.

A: I’ve just moved here from Brighton.

S: Ah no way I love Brighton.

A: You love Brighton?

S: Yeah yeah. My Auntie lived in Brighton so we used to go all the time.

A: That’s so cool.

S: Beautiful city, but yeah I like Manchester it’s very cool, lots of big buildings, you don’t really get those in Dublin.

A: I’m planning to go to Dublin in October

S: Oh do, it’s unreal.

A: Is there anything you would recommend there?

S: There’s a lot of pubs, y’know a lot of drinking going on.

A: I love Guinness.

S: You have got to do the Guinness storehouse actually if you’re in Dublin. That’s probably our only tourist attraction.

A: Yeah and that bar, what’s that bar called?

S: Temple Bar?

A: Temple Bar. People say to stay away from it though.

S: Yeah it’s kind of a tourist trap.

A: I am a tourist though.

S: Well maybe you should go then.

A: Okay so, I’ve got a little game for you. It’s this or that with Irish bands.

S: Ah okay cool.

A: So, U2 or The Script?

S: U2.

A: U2 or Fontaines D.C.?

S: U2.

A: U2 or The Academics?

S: U2.

A: It’s going well. U2 or The Cranberries?

S: Ah U2 again I’m sorry. You’ve got me here.

A: U2 or Thin Lizzy?

S: U2.

A: So the winner is U2!

S: That’s just boring though, have I just ruined that whole game for you?

A: No, it's not boring.

S: Well, y’know they’re the best.

A: What’s your favourite U2 song?

S: Tough one. I don’t know. ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’. The big ones are all class.

A: I’m going to be honest, I don't know many U2 songs.

S: Give it a go, it’ll change you.

A: I will. Okay, what do you plan on doing next?

S: Right now, or?

A: Just in life, maybe not right now.

S: In life? I like doing music because at the moment I don’t have to get a real job, but I will at some point, but if I can get away with not getting a real job I will keep doing music.

A: I think you can get away with it.

S: Y’know make an album maybe, maybe release it.

A: An album would be good.

S: That’ll be fun.

A: I would listen to that.

S: Thank you. I think that’s coming next year though, so stay tuned.

A: Yeah I will. Is there a dream collaboration?

S: Oh wow, y’know Inhaler are amazing.

A: I do know Inhaler.

S: No I’m just kidding I would never dream of collaborating with them.

A: Really?S: No, I'd love to. I haven’t really thought about the collaboration aspect of things. I like writing songs with my friends who are in my band.

A: I love collaborating with people, like writing songs with them

S: It’s fun, but I also like working alone. In the dark.

A: In the dark?

S: Yeah.

A: Not even some fairy lights?

S: No with my demons. No, I'm just kidding. 

A: Is there a dream venue?

S: I like the small venues, they’re not as scary. If I was to be doing a massive venue I’d start to get very scared. But, then again it would be freaking awesome.

A: It would be cool.

S: In Dublin I guess you could say the 3Arena or Aviva Stadium. That’s just dreaming crazy big.

A: Wembley?

S: Yeah, Wembley. Y’know sky is the limit really, Amy.

A: Right, last question. Is there anything you’d like to say to people discovering you now?

S: Uh, thanks for discovering me. Hope you enjoy it, if you don’t then y’know listen to something else then I guess. Maybe it’ll shed a bit of light on some of your feelings, just like it has mine. Thanks for listening

A: Thank you very much.