Can you tell us where you are from and give us a feel for Cavan Moran the artist?
Sure. I’m from one time number one most deprived place to live in Great Britain, which is the Lower Blackley, Harpurhey, Moston area. Lived in around 8 houses here over the years. Had about 15 different groups of friends and a few million tree houses. Never saw it as being that deprived when I was growing up ’cause there wasn’t much to buy.
It was only when I was old enough to start walking into town and hanging out with other kids from other areas that I realised I didn’t have as much money as the other kids and that was only ’cause they were all drinkin’ Southern Comfort and smokin’ Marlboro lights. I’d drink Bells whisky and Napoleon brandy. This one girl had a TV that came up out of a bed. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen! That was until some kids put cigarette burns all over her trampoline.
As an “artist,” I started writing songs, and general writing at around 13 when I got my first guitar after listening to some Stiff Little Fingers and Sham 69 albums that one of my uncles taped for me. I started going backwards and forwards at the same time, listening to different types of music and at that age I couldn’t think of anything else that allowed you to do that so I stayed in the abyss.
I didn’t play my guitar much though. I used to fake phone calls from the school toilet, pretending to be a parent so I could go to my grandad’s house and play the drums. He’s a jazz drummer, only lived round the corner from the school, so that’d give me around an hour for the niccotine patches to make me green and the Vicks in my eyes to start to water, then another 3 to play drums! I played drums in a few punk bands while always writing and stressing over the word “revolution” which each band I played with sang, had a breakdown, then went at it by myself.
There probably isn’t much stuff about me on the internet because questions like this scare the shit out of me. I guess as an “artist” I just write about what’s happened, what’s happening and what I think will probably happen in some way or another.
You sent us a demo of your track “Five Simple Crimes’ which we really like at TVD UK. What is it about and what are your plans for developing/releasing it?
Thanks! I’m not quite sure what that one’s about yet. I like the uncertainty of it. I wrote it in February this year while a friend I was staying with was out being “investigated” by her bosses at some meeting somewhere.
Sobriety hit me after a week and I came to a point of complete realisation of the year before. I wanted to listen to a record but couldn’t get the player working so I picked up her guitar and it came out. I had a person in mind but I don’t think it’s about anybody. It can’t be. There was too many of ’em. But I love the person I see in my head when I sing it. I was just dreamin’ of Spring but dreadin’ its arrival.
What about live, where can people get to see you perform?
Just about wherever I am, kinda thing. I’m goin’ back to Europe in a few days, stickin’ my thumb out and playin’ for drinks. I got some gigs in June though. One in Newcastle Upon Tyne with The Slow Show at The Head of Steam. I’ve got one in Hebden Bridge with JP Cooper and I’ve got one in Manchester with The Mother Black Caps in The Bay Horse.
But yeah, I go/will go everywhere and anywhere if I can, just not Earlstown in the north. Unless you sing about the chippy and drink 1.5 % ale then there’s not really much point in goin’ there… Keep an eye on my Facebook and I’ll tell you where I am there.
Who would you say has influenced the sound of your music the most?
The Ryhthm of The Ballad of Reading Gaul by Oscar Wilde, and Dinah Washington.
Name 3 records you couldn’t live without?
The Smiths, Meat is Murder; Bob Dylan, Blonde on Blonde; and Jeff Buckley, Grace.
What are your plans and hopes for 2012?
Gonna buy a looooong piece of metal, take on the bailiffs, and hope for world peace. Try and get Gemma back through song and hope to God I don’t do that again. Set some fireworks off. That kinda thing.
Sum up Cavan Moran in a sentence?
Down & In.
