The Dublin musician has just released his debut album

Folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Callum Orr has just released his debut album ‘The Trials of Knowing’.

The Dublin musician writes blunt and confessional folk songs with a strong sense of melody and intricate guitar arrangements, blending folk and indiepop to superb effect. The album, which for our money is one of the best Irish releases of the year, was produced by fellow Irish musician Ailbhe Reddy.

To mark the release of ‘The Trials of Knowing’, we caught up with Callum to learn more.

1. What’s the music that you listened to growing up, that you still listen to today?
Eric Clapton, Panic! at the Disco, Bright Eyes.

2. In three words, describe the minute before you walk on stage.
Oh no! Breathe.

3. How do you wind down after a gig?
Having fun with friends with a pint.

4. What’s the one song (by another artist) you wish you’d written or recorded first?
Declan O'Rourke - 'Marrying the Sea/Til Death Do Us Part'. It's hard to be envious of something so beautiful, but here we are.

5. What is your pet peeve?
The feeling of picking up hot toast when your hand is wet.

6. Name one record, one book and one film that everyone should hear / read / see.
Record: The Man Whom - ‘The Greatest Event’. A perfect folk album by an Irish artist.
Book: Ernest Becker - ‘The Denial of Death’. A very heavy and scary and important book.
Film: ‘The Worst Person in the World’. A clever, emotional masterpiece.

7. Pick the director and lead actor(s) for a biopic about your life.
Sofia Coppola & Paul Mescal. Really moody and emotional, and I'm a hunk with giant muscles in it.

8. You’re ordering take-away, what do you get?
Pizza Max, regrettably. I'm a divil for really rough pizza.

9. Describe your perfect day off.
Up at 9am, coffee and read at my window, gym, shower, walk into town with my wife, pint in Grogan's, walk home, cinema, nightcap, bed at midnight.

10. Tell us, in one sentence, why we should come to your next gig (whenever it may be.)
You should come to my album launch in the Workman's Cellar on July 20th because I'll be playing my best tunes with, for some reason, some of the best session players in the country and a string quartet.

BONUS QUESTION: Recommend a podcast and tell us why we should subscribe to it.  
The Rewatchables. They dig up films that have high rewatch value, which you've probably seen yourself tens of times, and do a deep deep dive on it. They're insanely plugged into the history of pop culture. It's a great comfort listen.

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'The Trials of Knowing' is out now.