Only Human: The Spirit Of Niall Galvin And Only Real
Monday, 13 April 2015
Written by Milly McMahon
Being young today is complicated. Coming of age requires the navigation of a precarious pathway, one built upon life-changing, mind-expanding, heart-breaking twists and turns. No one person’s direction is comparable to another's, but we all endeavour to walk the same distance.
Niall Galvin is a chancing skateboarder with spirit. Writing and recording day-by-day with diary-like lyrics - incorporating trivialities into his deepest, darkest loves and losses - the charm of this geezer rap artist is his refreshing, natural honesty. Galvin’s ability to conjure feelings of sunshine-drenched happiness alongside moments of isolation is a gift and the backbone of Only Real.
"My attitude to life all depends how I’m feeling in the moment, I’m so flitty,” he shrugs as he reflects on what influences his songwriting process. “Sometimes, I’m all about the positivity. Sometimes I’m very introspective and melancholy.”
His message for young listeners is to learn about life the hard way or it just won't stick. "Life is definitely very scary and tricky at times but you gotta roll with it and I’m learning that as l get a bit older,” he says. “I got a lot of love."
Downing a coffee and considering working on some beat he's been turning over in head, Galvin is recently returned from the Texan music industry event SXSW. "It was unbelievable, honestly,” he says. “Probably the best week of my life. Such fun. I also felt like it was so good for my music to get heard by new people. I saw Tobias Jesso Jr. play in a church, which was incredible. I saw Freddie Gibbs, which was pretty cool. The vibe felt amazing to me."
Having chosen to work with a production duo on his debut album, ‘Jerk At The End Of The Line’, after shifting from independent imprint Luv, Luv, Luv to a major label, EMI, Only Real has picked up serious speed over the past few months.
"Shifting labels didn’t really affect the control over the direction I took with the debut album,” Galvin says. “In fact, it helped as it meant I could work in Atlanta, recording tracks which were a big part of me achieving Only Real’s direction. I've realised that there are certain things that you sacrifice in terms of control when you sign with such a big label, but then also I hear the same about loads of my friends on indies.
“I think the whole major versus indie debate is blown a bit out of proportion and generally it should just be about finding a good fit, wherever that may be. For my album I’m glad I did it that way."
In Atlanta, Galvin worked intensively from the control room of a corrugated iron shipping container-turned-studio, surrounded by loose chickens. His experiences were formative from day one. Along with producer Ben Allen - who had previously collaborated with Washed Out, Deerhunter and Animal Collective - the state had a big influence on the young writer.
"I haven't had the chance to go back yet. I’m hopefully gonna tour the U.S. when my album gets put out over there in the autumn so I’m gonna try [to] get an Atlanta date for sure,” he says. “I miss so many little things. The food was kind of similar in Texas I found, although I know they're really proud of the differences in the BBQ styles across the south, like the differing ingredients and sweet/sour in the marinades, so they would probably say the food is nothing alike. Common ground is that it’s all very delicious.”
Returning to his close friend Dan Carey, whose resume contains work with Bat for Lashes, Toy, Willy Mason and Mystery Jets, to live only by the night in Brixton, Galvin’s profile has grown organically since his emergence onto the scene. Now, his eyes are on collaborative endeavours.
"Me and Ben definitely partied together a lot, he’s one of my close friends now,” he says. “A lot of the artists that he works with in London are mates and I've done a few things with Boxed In and Childhood before so I’m sure more stuff will happen in the future. Now that I've got my debut album in the bag I’m all about exploring collaborations. I want to start talking to people again rather than sitting on my own writing."
While reflecting on the journey that the lyrical, recording and rendering processes of the album have taken him on, Galvin discovered a passion for production. “Working with a producer is naturally quite a collaborative process,” he says. “I would take a demo into the studio and we would work it out from there. Then there are times when Dan or Ben would totally do their thing and I would take the passenger seat. But for 90% of it it was totally collaborative. The reason I chose those two producers was because, after having some discussion, we realised that we wanted the same things out of my record."
The open, gutsy Can't Get Happy is a standout track from 'Jerk At The Of The Line' - so named after a mate muttered that line to Galvin as he exited the underground one night. "Can't Get Happy is intensely personal, thanks for saying it’s brave,” he says. “I felt it was brave too. It's very exposing. It still gets me a bit choked and performing it in Texas especially hit me hard. The combination of the feelings and the jet lag, you know?"
A typical lad upon first impression, Galvin is a deeply emotional and intelligent thinker too. When the listener glimpses beneath the optimistic, tropical choruses and chiming beats, Only Real means real talk. He doesn’t take things too seriously, but understands the more substantive reasons behind pursuing a passion and learning to feel deeply for another human being. Galvin is an important artist for a generation becoming more engaged with disposable culture and technology. "The spirit of Only Real? Only human, eh?" he laughs before loping off, fixed on enjoying his day and rustling up a bite to eat.
Only Real Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sat April 25 2015 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Think Tank
Sun April 26 2015 - GLASGOW Broadcast
Tue April 28 2015 - NORWICH Waterfront
Wed April 29 2015 - OXFORD Jericho
Thu April 30 2015 - LONDON 100 Club
Sat May 02 2015 - READING Oakford Social Club
Sun May 03 2015 - MANCHESTER Ruby Lounge
Mon May 04 2015 - LEEDS Wardrobe
Wed May 06 2015 - BRIGHTON Hope
Thu May 07 2015 - BRISTOL Louisiana
Fri May 08 2015 - SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
Sat May 09 2015 - BIRMINGHAM Rainbow
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