Foto-© Sebastian Madej

Vor einigen Wochen haben wir schon von ihr berichtet: ROE. Die 20-jährige Nord-Irin hat ein Wahnsinns-Jahr 2018 hinter sich: Support-Shows für Snow Patrol, Auftritte bei großen Festivals wie dem Glastonbury, Primavera oder dem British Summer Time Festival und nebenbei hat sie auch noch den Northern Ireland Music Prize gewonnen. Wie schafft man das mit so jungen Jahren? Woher kommt der Einfluss, die Inspiration und die Liebe zur Musik? Wir haben mal nachgefragt.

We’re starting with some random facts: What should we know and what shouldn’t we know about you?
This is a hard question. I just started wall climbing. I am really, really into that. And I have two rescue dogs. What you shouldn’t know about me – I am a bit clumsy. I can never be anywhere on time or say the right things ever. (laughs) That’s it, I think.

What is your first memory of contact with music?
My dad played a lot of music like Thin Lizzy, U2, Joni Mitchell and stuff like that. So my first actual contact with it was going to a concert with him to see Gloria Estefan. That was my first ever concert. That was amazing! I loved the show and everything. When I saw what she was doing, I wanted to be like that. I wanted to do the same thing.

How old were you when you went to the concert?
I was like 12 or 13 I think.

You grew up in Derry, Northern Ireland, which is well known for its music culture and history, for example, The Undertones or Fergeal Sharkey. Did the city has any impact on your music career?
Definitely! There’ve been a lot of divides between people for example catholics and protestants. But I feel like it’s not as much of an issue in the younger generation that lived there, but I feel like it still impacts us a whole lot, because it’s just a part of our history. So whenever it comes to write songs and things like that, I feel like I just have to tell the truth and be honest about what’s happening, how I am feeling and everything. Yeah, I just feel like the people around me in Derry have shaped me as well.

You call your music Grumpy Electro Pop. What do you mean by that?
It sounds like happy music, but the lyrics behind it are a bit sad. Most of the songs that I write are about hart hitting subjects like maybe losing people, friendships, relationships, also about depression. It tricks you that you’re thinking you’re listening to this all way poppy song, but if you’re actually listening to the lyrics… – they’re a bit heavy.

Which influences did you have to your sound and how did you find these?
In terms of my recorded music, I’ve so many influences: Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan. I love music and I just love all the different genres of music. I feel like whenever I am listening to a certain genre, I want to write like that person.

Girls was your latest single. It’s about not being perfect and that it’s okay to be who you’re and about accepting yourself. But this might be hard – especially for the younger generation– who is surrounded by Social Media and seeing pictures of perfect people all the time. How do you feel growing up in this media world as a young artist and woman & how do you handle those challenges?
Yeah, it’s hard sometimes. I went to secondary school and I was kinda picked on for deciding to cut my hair short and because I was a ginger and I have freckles. I feel like everybody can struggle with their self-image, but it’s important to know, that everybody’s perfect in their way. You don’t need to be like anybody else. I felt like writing that song and growing up in a really supportive family made me realize that I am fine, just the way I am.

This generation needs role models who can teach them how to love themselves for who they’re. Do you have or ever had a role model who taught you this? And what influence did this person had on you?
My mom, she’s a very strong woman. And she’s opinionated in what she likes and what she doesn’t like. I feel like she definitely was a strong role model for me growing up and being the way I am. And I can find it in my own image as well: I used to wear dresses and skirts, but I kinda realized quickly that wasn’t me at all. So she was really supportive of me to define myself as a person.

Do you want to be a role model yourself for these girls?
Yeah, I’d love to! There are actually a couple of girls down the street from me. They’re 15 years, I think. I’ve kinda see them grow up and everything. And they came to me one day and one of them had drawn a picture of me. That was the loveliest moment. I feel like if I can be that person to girls or boys or anybody like that – that’d be a really nice thing because they’re listening to the lyrics and are really into it.

In the last year, you’ve managed to support Snow Patrol on their tour, played your own shows and also joined some big festivals like Glastonbury, Primavera or British Summer Time Festival. And you’ve also won the Northern Ireland Music Prize. How does that feel, and how did your music develop over the last year?
It was crazy. This past year has just been an absolute rollercoaster. It kinda helped me to define my sound. I feel like working with so many different artists and talking to different people helps me to sit down and write exactly what I wanna write. Snow Patrol are massive, massive role models to me as well. They’re just such genuine, lovely guys and it was amazing to be on the road with them. This past year has just been insane. Really. (starts laughing)

What did you learn in 2019 so far?
To take time to chill out and do all the things besides music, so that whenever I come back to the music that I am really, really excited about it and I love it as much as I did it a year ago. Just to take everything as it comes and just not expect anything, because the whole Snow Patrol thing just came out of the water.

We’re all waiting for your debut album. When can we expect some more music?
It’s a big secret. But we’re working on a release in early next year.

The last time you were in Hamburg was in 2017 for the Reeperbahn Festival. Now you’re back. How long are you staying here? Are there any other acts you want to see?
I only stay until Friday. I like that you’re kinda going with the flow and end up where you end up and finding these little jams of musicians. There’re also a few Irish artists that I really wanna see, that I haven’t got the chance to see back home. I think we’re just gonna walk around the festival and see what’s happening.

What do you think about Hamburg and the German music scene so far?
I love it! The people here are so friendly and so nice. It’s a completely different way of life from back home. It’s really cool, it’s really interesting.

As we all know, as an artist you’re on the road a lot. What do miss you most when you’re far away from home for so long?
My own bed! I love my bed. And the dogs, and the family. I think my mom would kill me if I wouldn’t say the family. (starts laughing)

And what’s the first thing you do when you get back home?
A cup of tea. I just drop everything and sit down and think about what just happened.