German-born, London-based singer Sebastian Schub plays Whelan's of Dublin this Saturday, 8 March. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
Sebastian, who trained to be an actor in London, has spent a lot of time busking on Grafton St in Dublin.
His current single, Ruin Me, was produced by Rob Kirwan (Take me to Church by Hozier) and follows previous singles, Sing Like Madonna, and I Can’t Believe We Never Went Out Dancing.
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Speaking about Ruin Me, Sebastian says, "Increasingly I’m finding my way back to writing songs that I enjoy playing live. As an artist it’s so easy to get caught up in trying to please the algorithm.
"It’s nice to make a record that is written for the overcrowded, sweaty Blues clubs that I grew up in. Ruin Me explores this idea of embracing emotional and physical destruction for a brief moment of absolute pleasure.
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
"It’s about disregarding consequence. It’s the same voice that tells you to finish a whole tub of Ben & Jerry’s in one sitting".
Sebastian Schub Live: 8 March - Whelan’s, Dublin. 9 March - Castle Hotel, Manchester. 10 March - The George Tavern, London.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Despite being from Germany and the UK, I have actually lived in Dublin quite a bit busking on Grafton Street. I learned a lot of my craft here. Shoutout to the Zodiac Sessions as well. That was the first place that took me in when I moved here at 18. I originally wanted to be an actor and fell into music more by accident then on purpose.
How would you describe your music?
I guess it’s a little bit like if Jeff Buckley and Hozier had a long-limbed slightly German cousin.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Glen Hansard and Hozier. Obsessed with Angie McMahon and Leif Vollebekk as well. But to be honest I keep discovering new artists that blow my mind every week. Since recently I’ve been listening to Judee Sill. Non-stop. And she’s amazing.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
That was Glen Hansard back in Hamburg. It was the first gig I saved up for. And I’ve seen him play five more times since. Never fails to wreck me.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I think it might have been the Twilight soundtrack.
What’s your favourite song right now?
The Art Teacher by Rufus Wainwright
Favourite lyric of all time?
"Your lips whenever they kiss me feel like a gun against my skin" - Leif Vollebekk - Blood Brother. Amazing song. That’s accompanied me for a long time.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O’Sullivan.
Where can people find your music/more information?
EVERYWHERE on the internet, including my website, apart from Twitter.
Alan Corr
.svg)