Tracks Of My Years: Hazel O’Connor

In the grooves

ith her teenage years travelling the world to her jaunt through rock stardom, the quiet Wicklow life and back again, Hazel O’Connor has come a long way, baby…

And through it all, a restless spirit has kept her evolving, ever-searching for new sensations, and new ways of reinterpreting old hits.

When young Hazel played The Whale last October, the Irish harpist Cormac de Burca was her co-conspirator. Returning to the scene of the fine time on Friday, May 11th, this time out, Hazel has brought former Belle Star saxophonist Clare Hirst (who also played with The Communards and some lad called David Bowie) and former Eurythmics keyboard player Sarah Fisher.

Just to mix it up, and keep it new, for both the audience and for Hazel.

Currently spending much of her time on the road, we did manage to grab half-an-hour with Ms O’Connor in The Happy Pear last year.

This time out, we thought it would be interesting to find out just what are the songs that can make this tough cookie break down and cry…

Small Faces Itchycoo Park
Really, all the Small Faces tunes were a big influence. When I started to try to write songs, my brother, Neil O’Connor – already an established songwriter – said I should take note of favourite artists and try to emulate not copy them, and The Small Faces wrote the greatest pop songs ever.

Leonard Cohen That’s No Way To Say Goodbye
Again, hard to pick just one Leonard Cohen song. These are songs we sang round campfires, bumming around Europe and Morocco in my early teens. This was first song I learnt to play on guitar – his words were so full of meaning and portent. Leonard Cohan travelled everywhere with me during my hippy years!!

David Bowie Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide
Going to sound like a broken record, but, again, all of Bowie’s music just does it for me. I love his lyrics; how every song evokes an era of my life…

Bob Marley No Woman, No Cry
My favourite tunes to drive to on tour are Bob’s songs…

Lou Reed Men Of Good Fortune
Guess what? Love all of Lou’s songs too! Fell in love with him first when I heard the Velvet Underground in the early ’70s. The most exciting band ever for me, and the grandparents of punk.

Janis Joplin Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart
The most amazing vocalist, and with this song, this woman inspired me to kick ass.

Billie Holiday God Bless The Child
I first found Billie late after the film, Lady Sings The Blues, starring Diana Ross, came out. I bought the soundtrack, then I bought Billie Holiday singing those same songs and understood what I preferred.

Diana sings the blues perfectly too perfectly for my taste; Billie sings with all the pain and emotion, and cracks of a real human being.

A lived-in voice, I want to be like her, I thought!

There are more people and their songs that have inspired me, but I’d best stop here, as these people are my roots…

You can find out more about Hazel O’Connor at The Whale on Friday, May 11th right here.