A DOZEN QUESTIONS - NO: 13 - SPECIAL GUEST BRIGID O'NEILL

A DOZEN QUESTIONS

(13 of however many posts)

The Pivot Questionnaire comprises 10 questions. I have seen it used on the television show Inside The Actor's Studio, presented by James Lipton. Apparently Proust was the original inspiration. The modern questions originated on a French TV show called Bouillon de Culture, hosted by Bernard Pivot. I have expanded the questions to 12.

(For the time being, this idea is restricted to Northern Ireland's creative artists in any field, literature, music, broadcasting, etc. If you are one and are interested in taking part as well as promoting your work, please get in touch via joecushnan@aol.com)

This post’s special guest is Brigid O’Neill (“a great songwriter with a voice that can break your heart at 30 paces” – Ralph McLean, BBC Radio Ulster). Although she has been singing all her life, it was with the release of her debut self-penned EP Arrivals and Departures – and the insistently catchy single ‘Don’t Make me Go to Town’ - that County Down-based singer songwriter Brigid O’Neill began to attract the attention of NI's discerning music scene. They were drawn, no doubt, not only by the delicious dash of jazz that she adds to the sweet recipe of country-folk and blues that has become her trademark ‘sound’, but also by the rapid development of an artist who has just set out on her journey.

In 2017 she released her remarkable new album Touchstone.  Produced in Belfast by critically acclaimed songwriter, Gareth Dunlop, and mastered in Nashville, this album exhibits the full spectrum of her formidable repertoire. 

I blogged about Touchstone and here is the link: https://droppedthemoon.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/new-music-touchstone-brigid-oneill.html

Having won a prestigious Arts Council of Northern Ireland Artist Career Enhancement Award in 2016, she has sold out shows throughout NI, also opening for and singing alongside stars like Eddi Reader, Duke Special, Frances Black and Mary Coughlan.

A regular visitor to Nashville (where she has performed at the world famous Bluebird Café and appeared on the Music City Roots show) Brigid collaborates there on exciting new material with Grammy-winning songwriters.  Brigid acclaimed first album of covers, Inland Sailor (2002), still gets regular airplay today.

Website www.bridgetoneill.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/brigidoneillmusic/

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/6afMvRoDfYHrxzoFzcXeJx

Turn And Face The Sun official music video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqPuCVQD3xM

 BRIGID O’NEILL’S DOZEN ANSWERS

1. What is your favourite word? Spice

2. What is your least favourite word? Vulva (yech!)

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Small venues and beautiful music

4. What turns you off? Being indoors too long

5. What is your favourite song? I Can’t Make You Love Me, Bonnie Raitt version

6. What is your favourite film? Pillow Talk

7. What is your favourite curse word? Feck

8. What sound or noise do you love? Rain on a soft top

9. What sound or noise do you hate? Any sustained high-pitched sound (that usually only myself and the dog can hear!)

10. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Florist

11. What profession would you not like to do? Bus driver

12. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? “Peace, man!”

Brigid O’Neill, thank you for your dozen answers to a dozen questions.

Previous posts:

Singer/songwriter Mandy Bingham – 17 January 2018

Poet Colin Dardis – 18 January 2018

Writer & Independent Researcher Anne-Marie Quigg – 19 January 2018

Broadcaster Gerry Kelly - 20 January 2018

Writer George Larmour – 22 January 2018

Journalist/writer Geoff Hill – 23 January 2018

Singer/Songwriter Janet Henry - 24 January 2018

Broadcaster Lynette Fay - 25 January 2018

Actor Michael Smiley – 26 January 2018

Singer/songwriter Paddy Nash - 27 January 2018

Singer/songwriter Edelle McMahon - 29 January 2018 

Broadcaster Kathy Clugston – 30 January 2018

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