Interview with Gari Deegan

Bunratty native Gari Deegan is thrilling audiences with his performances on RTE’s hit reality show, The Voice of Ireland on Sunday nights.

For those who are unfamiliar with the show, four coaches (Bressie, Westlife’s Kian Egan, Brian Kennedy and Sharon Corr of the Corrs) each chose 12 acts from thousands of hopeful singers, who were then pitted against each other in a bid to progress to the Live Shows.

Following a nervy and shaky start on the first live show, the 28-year-old heartthrob showed nerves of steel to deliver an impressive performance which saw him sail through to the next show, which will be broadcast live this Sunday, April 1.

Sharon Whelton caught up with the Spin SouthWest DJ ahead of the third live show to discuss his experience so far, his relationship with the four coaches, and what advice he would give to young and aspiring musicians.

“Well, I’ve been singing since I’ve been about ten, and I did my first musical with the Ennis Musical Society,” Gari started. “I actually wasn’t going to apply for the Voice of Ireland. I had done a few reality TV shows, so when I asked to do it (the Voice of Ireland), I was hesitant.

“When I got the call, I was like ‘I don’t know, leave it with me and I’ll think about it’. I was watching the show on American TV and I absolutely loved it, so I kind of said ‘why not’, so I’m obviously delighted I went for it now!” he enthused.

“It’s the first Irish reality show that has gotten any bit of credibility, and ShinAwil have really pumped a lot of money into it. It’s a huge success so far, and I’m so happy I applied.”

So how has the Voice of Ireland experience been for Gari so far? “It’s brilliant!” he beamed. “I love it, but on the other hand, it’s stressful, it’s very tiring, there’s an awful lot of pressure involved, but I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can.

“I take it very seriously because I want to do well on this show, and I’ve been doing well so far. I’ve got a lot of support – people in Clare and Limerick have gotten behind me so much, and it’s just brilliant. There is a real sense of pride and I love it, I just can’t thank people enough.

“I have a team of family and friends from Bunratty and Shannon that have been amazing,” Gari smiled. “When I’m in Dublin, they have meetings and run a campaign for me. They don’t ask for anything in return, and they’re just brilliant. I’m the only one from the southwest, which is great, and the fact that I work with Spin SouthWest also helps!

“I’m so happy that everyone’s gotten behind me, but as far as the show goes, I’m loving it. I’m not good with competition though! I hate the fact that I’m up against people on my own team that I get on with. Pat and I are great friends, and the fact that I’m against him is very tough, but that’s the way it goes I suppose.”

During the recent Battle Stages of the show, Gari was pitted against Dervla, with media speculating that the pair were more than friends. However, he was quick to dismiss these rumours.

“Myself and Dervla just clicked and we got on great,” Gari explained. “But, I didn’t know that Dervla had a boyfriend at the time. We got on brilliantly, and we’ve kept in touch – she actually sent me a card before the first live show. She’s brilliant, lovely, and a brilliant singer too.”

Gari then spoke of the pressure that the first live show brought to both him and the other contestants. “Getting through the first live show was the main thing,” the Bunratty man said. “As I showed on the second live show, I was much more comfortable and it was a much better song, and I’m really getting the feel of it now.”

“My relationship with the coaches is brilliant! I’m so happy I picked Bressie because he’s genuinely in this to make music. He’s on the phone every couple of days, and he’s just so enthusiastic about music. He’s just great craic and a really cool guy.

And what about the other three coaches? “I get on brilliantly with Sharon. She’s lovely and great craic,” Gari continued. “She’s been very encouraging and supportive of me. I get on great with Brian too, he’s very funny.

“I get on great with Kian. A lot of people don’t think we do (get on well) for some reason, but was very supportive and positive to me during the second live show. I’ve had a pint with Kian, and he’s great.”

In terms of what he has learnt so far, Gari has realised that he can get a bit anxious at times, but feels that it’s due to the pressure. “There’s parts where I just feel like exploding with the stress of it all, but I try and put that aside. On the positive side, what I’ve learnt from the show is the power of TV. I do feel that you have to toughen up when you’re on a show like the Voice of Ireland. When you put yourself out there, you’ve got to learn to take the bad with the good.

“I’m not just saying it because I’m on this team, but we really have the strongest team, and even Brian Kennedy has said it,” Gari explained. “I’m up against Pat; I’ve been a fan of Conor’s since day one. I get on great with him and he’s got a great voice. He’s going to be tough to beat.

“I’m getting a lot of positivity and seem to be generating some fans as well, so hopefully I can beat Conor,” he added. “I want to beat Conor, even though he’s very good and I’m a fan. I think no matter what happens on the show, Conor’s going to do well from this, and hopefully I will too.

“From the other groups, I think Richie is very good and a nice guy, but a bit musical theatre for me, Vanessa on Sharon’s team is very good, and Nollaig is good too. From Kian’s team, Liam and Graham are great as well.

“But it’s weird, because I only have to worry about the people on my team until I get to the final, and hopefully I will get to the final. First, I have to concentrate on beating Pat, Conor and Kiera.”

Gari’s highlight and lowlight both relate to performances on the first two live shows, and felt that he didn’t do himself justice when singing ‘Tracks of my Tears’ during the first show.
“I love that song, and I was very disappointed with myself when I hit that horrible bum note at the end,” he revealed. “I came off the stage saying ‘oh my god’ because I sang it better at rehearsals, but I had to let it go.

“I think my highlight was redeeming myself on the following show with ‘Next To Me’, and I felt so much better singing it. The Blind Audition was also a lot of fun for me.”

“Without sounding overconfident, I think I’m improving every week,” Gari stated. “I think there’s room for a male Irish popstar at the moment, and I think I can do that. It’s going to be tough though, and that’s not me sounding cocky or anything, you have to be confident. Otherwise, what’s the point in doing it, if you can’t believe in yourself?”

Finally, what advice would Gari give to young and aspiring musicians that are eager to break into the industry?

“What I say to kids in schools is that when I was younger, I used to sing, but in my room,” he said. “I was afraid to sing. I know I could sing whilst I was in secondary school, but I just wouldn’t. I cared too much about what people thought.

“But if you can sing, or play an instrument, or are anyway musical, just do it and don’t care what anyone thinks. I wish I did it when I was younger. I’m 28 now, but I just think for confidence reasons, just do it and start young, because I wish I had,” Gari finished.

*The Voice of Ireland is broadcast every Sunday night from 6.30pm on RTE One, with the results show at 8.30pm.