Somebody’s Child has quickly established himself as a voice at the forefront of the new music scene in Ireland. Early support slots in Dublin with the likes of Kodaline, Primal Scream, and Kaiser Chiefs, as well as national radio play and an appearance on the nation’s beloved Late Late Show all acted as vindication for Cian Godfrey holding back the unveiling of SC until the relatively late age of 23 – he had honed his craft and formulated a clear message ahead of time.
Newly signed to cult label Frenchkiss Records, Godfrey now announces his self-titled debut album out 3rd February 2023 which has its roots in Godfrey’s formative years growing up in Dublin and the experiences that went with that. It was recorded at East London’s Hackney Road Studios with the producer Mikko Gordon (Arcade Fire, The Smile).
With music often said to be a product of its environment, Godfrey is keen to impress upon listeners an image of a modern, progressive Ireland – albeit one with an ongoing housing crisis – and not the stereotypical one often portrayed by foreign media. “We’re not all smoking cigarettes, drinking Guinness around a candle in some pub reading Joyce. We’re a forward thinking group of people who are struggling to afford to live in the place we’re from. This album has been my escape”, Godfrey says.
Following the unapologetically loud track ‘Broken Record’ and ‘Sell out’, he shares new single ‘We Could Start A War’ which had humble beginnings. It was written and recorded in a small rehearsal room in an industrial estate on the banks of Dublin’s Royal Canal.
On the track, Godfrey says “’We Could Start A War’ is a huge track for us. The original version was a demo I wrote in 20 minutes or so and Shea produced in our little makeshift studio in Dublin. We spent 50 quid on artwork and just put it out, now it’s our biggest song. This is now the real version, I guess. The timing is also serendipitous because the video is about where it was written, and the juxtaposition between beauty in tradition, and the ugly face of gentrification – of which both are in abundance. Now I’ve moved to London, partly because of the result of this – not being able to afford life in my hometown.”
The music video features imagery of Ireland’s expansive natural landscapes engulfing Godfrey in their size and scale as he delivers the heartfelt lyrics. This imagery is intercut with scenes from day to day life in the Hibernian Metropolis, with the track’s driving beat tapping into the pulse of the city and its people. The video serves as both a dedication and love letter to the people and places of Dublin, as well as a stark visual representation of the city’s evolution (or devolution) towards urban sterility and gentrification. This is the very force that led him to leave Dublin, as he begins a new chapter of his life in London – however this song will forever be connected to the place it was written, with this video serving as a memento to that fact.
Indeed, the inception of Somebody’s Child had been some years in the making. Growing up in Paris in the late 90s / early 00s, a young Godfrey was pushed into playing piano, with little other exposure to music aside from his father’s small record collection featuring the likes of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. Leaving school, Godfrey attended a music college in Dublin instead (“the lesser of evils”) which ultimately gave him the time he needed to develop an obsession and formulate an idea. It was here where SC first came into fruition. Initially, it was just a vehicle with which to write songs for others – the “vanity” of the entertainment industry being a turn off. Latterly, it evolved into the fully-fledged, public-facing indie rock outfit as we see it today after band members joined one by one and fate put Godfrey and the front and centre of it all.
The notoriety generated by the early releases wasn’t confined to the Emerald Isle – the UK’s interest in particular had been piqued by Godfrey’s way with a chorus, apparent crossover potential and early comparisons to Tame Impala and Arctic Monkeys. The 20-Something EP, released during worldwide lockdown in 2020, was perhaps the best manifestation of this, giving Godfrey his first airplay on stations such as BBC Radio 1 and Radio X, and nods on numerous high-profile Spotify playlists. Never one to rest on his laurels, two EPs followed in quick succession (2021’s Hope, Amongst Other Things and Staying Sane), and when Somebody’s Child was finally able to perform his first headline tour of the UK and Ireland in late 2021, the shows witnessed large crowds of enthusiastic fans and an atmosphere of celebration.
Containing songs old and new, the LP acts as touchstone for where Somebody’s Child is today – looking steadfastly towards the future whilst acknowledging what has got him to this point. Thematically, it’s a melting pot of the band’s influences – ‘80s synth sounds inspired by The Cure and Joy Division and guitar riffs which recall the mid/late 2000s indie rock. “It’s a culmination of a lot of different areas and styles, but comes together under the same sonic heading,” Godfrey explains. “The album is the idea of the ‘80s rolling into the ‘00s in 2022.”
Catchy and life-affirming songs aside, what does it all mean? Godfrey is keen to emphasise it’s all about the listener and what they might take from it. “Most of all, I want my music to help people who are struggling. I struggled with anxiety and panic attacks and music grounded me, so I would like to think my music could help change someone’s life too”.
With dates in the US added including his debut at SXSW, Somebody’s Child will tour the UK, Ireland and Europe in early 2023. Tickets on sale now here.
