Sharon Shannon has been a fixture on the Irish music scene for several decades, but the Galway-based musician is still finding new ways to innovate.

2020 saw her take up the electric guitar during lockdown in a bid to learn a new skill - and it also set the ball rolling on a new album. 'The Reckoning' was composed, written and recorded in its entirety during lockdown, and features over a dozen remote collaborations from locations across the globe.

We chatted to Sharon about her biggest inspirations, her favourite food, her post-gig rituals and much more besides.

1. What’s the music that you listened to growing up, that you still listen to today?
My all-time favourite is an absolutely fantastic and 100% timeless album called 'A Mighty Session' by Tommy Peoples, Matt Molloy and Paul Brady. Another one of my firm favourites is an album by Noel Hill, Tony Linnane and Alec Finn. Also solo albums by both Tommy Peoples and Matt Molloy.

2. In three words, describe the minute before you walk on stage.
Grateful, excited, nervous.

3. How do you wind down after a gig?
After gigs I'm usually busy meeting the audience and getting to know them and having the craic with them. I usually go home to Galway if I can at all after Irish gigs. Thankfully, I have no problem winding down or going to sleep.

4. What’s the one song you wish you’d written or recorded first?
I've never wished that I wrote anybody else's tune, so I'll just list a few of my all time favourites. How amazing must it be for the musicians and songwriters to have taken part in the writing and recording of absolute masterpieces such as 'Fairytale of New York' and 'Hibernian Rhapsody'.

I've only ever written jigs and reels and polkas and slides and waltzes, etc. Then again, the instrumental sections in 'Fairytale of New York' are similar to a fast waltz, so I can dream in for another while. Ha ha!

One of the most beautiful reels that I've ever heard is one called 'Master Séamus' which was written by Charlie Lennon. The first person I ever heard playing it was Tommy Peoples.

As regards a gentle song, one of my favourites of all time is 'Saints and Angels' by Mike Scott from The Waterboys.

5. You can only have three albums on your phone/in your house at any one time - what three would you pick for today?
The same answer as question one.

6. Name one record, one book and one film that everyone should hear / read / see.
Record: 'The Mighty Session'.
Book: 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne.
Film: 'Cowspiracy, the Sustainability Secret'. The film looks at various environmental concerns, including global warming, water use, deforestation and ocean dead zones, and suggests that animal agriculture is the primary source of environmental destruction.

7. Pick the director and lead actor(s) for a biopic about your life.
Actor: Jennifer Saunders.
Director: Myself?

8. You’re ordering take-away, what do you get?
Anything from the fantastic vegan menu at 'LIME' Thai restaurant in Galway or from 'Vegano' vegan deli in Galway or from 'The Gourmet Offensive' vegan restaurant in Galway. If I'm in Dublin, my favourite food destination is 'Cornucopia'.

9. Describe your perfect day off.
Big long walks and swims in the sea with the dogs. And for me, theeeee most relaxing thing in the whole world is lying on the couch by the fire at night time, cuddled up with the dogs and cats watching a movie. Pure heaven.

10. Tell us, in one sentence, why we should come to your next gig (whenever it may be.)
I've been learning how to play tunes on the electric guitar during lockdown and I can't wait to play it on stage eventually. I have loads of brand new material which is all on my new album 'The Reckoning'. So I hope to be playing material from that.

11. Recommend a podcast and tell us why we should subscribe to it.
I'd like to let people know that I have my own podcasts now which are available to listen to on my Patreon page and also on Spotify. In the podcasts, I am telling stories about the recordings of all my various different studio albums, and I'm also telling the stories about the very many amazing and fascinating people that I have been so lucky to collaborate with over the last 30 years.

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'The Reckoning' is out now.