From Cahir in County Tipperary, Ireland, to the national airwaves, singer-songwriter Cormac Looby has carved out a unique niche in the indie folk and pop music scene. Cormac seamlessly blends introspective lyricism with catchy melodies, capturing the complexities of life with unflinching honesty. His journey in music began during childhood, evolving from small-town gigs and street performances to the release of his debut single, “I Don’t Need Your Love,” in 2020—a track that garnered over 20,000 streams and earned national recognition in Ireland and the UK.
Now, with his debut album A Perpetual State of Irony, Cormac delves deeper into his personal narrative. Exploring themes of anxiety, grief, and the human tendency to mask vulnerability with humor, the album serves as both an emotional journey and an invitation for listeners to reflect on their own experiences. Inspired by a quote from Irish comedian Tony Cantwell, the album’s title encapsulates Cormac’s realization of living life through a lens of irony—and his determination to transcend it.
In an exclusive interview with InMusic, Cormac shares insights into his creative process, the stories behind his music, and the transformative period leading to his debut album. Looking ahead, the Irish singer-songwriter is preparing for a mini-tour, connecting with audiences in Belfast, Galway, and his hometown of Cahir.
Could you elaborate on your musical journey and the path that led you to where you are today?
I have been playing music since the age of 6, and writing songs since I was 12. In school I played ukulele in a band and we gigged in bars around the local towns. That was a great experience and taught me a lot about performing. From there I busked in Galway and Manchester where I started honing my craft as a songwriter at open mic nights, leading me to release my first single in February 2020.
Your debut single “I Don’t Need Your Love” amassed over 20,000 streams. Did you ever think that your first single would become such a hit?
I really didn’t know what to expect having had no previous experience in releasing music. However, the song got 1,000 streams on its first day and the producer I was working with at the time said that was really good! It then got picked up by national radio in Ireland and the UK, and even though I’ve gone in a different direction musically since then, I am proud of the success that song afforded me.
Can you tell us about your debut album, “A Perpetual State of Irony”?
‘A Perpetual State Of Irony’ is an album that is an introspective journey through themes of anxiety, death, grief and more. The album is all about becoming more self-aware and wondering why I do and say the things I do, why I have always been inclined to steer people away from deeper conversations.
What does the title of the album represent, and why did you choose it?
The title is taken from a quote from Irish comedian Tony Cantwell’s podcast, a quote that was something along the lines of “I lived the first twenty-seven years of my life in a perpetual state of irony” that everything anyone said or did had to be turned into an ironic, piss-take situation. I was twenty-seven myself at the time of listening and I’m not sure anything had ever resonated with me as much as when I heard him say that.
Can you walk us through the themes and stories behind the songs on “A Perpetual State of Irony”?
Anxiety, death, grief, the future – the album explores lots of fun themes! The majority of issues explored in the album were things I was experiencing myself at the time. It was very cathartic to put pen to paper and I’m very grateful to have songwriting as an outlet.
What’s next for Cormac Looby?
Next up we have a mini-tour of Ireland with shows in Belfast Nov 30th, Galway Dec 7th and a full-band album launch gig in my hometown of Cahir, Tipperary on Dec 14th.
What is a message you would like to give through your music and why?
I was going through a particularly transformative period at the time of writing the album and so I hope these songs might encourage people like me, who struggled to take things seriously, to look inward and to have a conversation with themselves as to why that might be the case for them. It’s a difficult thing to do but can be so worthwhile in gaining a better understanding of yourself.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know?
Not really, just to follow along on social media and see where the next year takes me.
Listen to Cormac Looby’s “Lucid Dream,” from his debut album, on our Spotify playlist:
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