Flame On
He’s been away, now he’s back. Straight outta Dundalk, Stewart Agnew returns with plans to give his competition a run for their money.
Craig Fitzpatrick, 11 Oct 2011
Upon meeting Stewart Agnew, an Irish singer-songwriter of note for a decade, you immediately find a man of quiet confidence. Reflective, considered and content, he’s preparing to re-enter the fray with Hello Bright Spark, his first outing in seven years.
“My third album is a long time coming,” he acknowledges. “But for me, it’s my best writing to date. I put everything into this record. I’m pretty much in debt over it. But I really wanted to give it everything.”
His belief in this true labour of love is borne out of years of experience on the Irish circuit, the proper time, care and attention that went into it, and the wizened vets he worked with.
“I did the Songs From The Gas Station in Toronto with Ron Sexsmith. I had a fantastic time with it but I’d toured the life out of myself. I came away thinking that I wanted to improve. Listening back, there were things I could’ve done differently. So I held those for the third album. That the production was good. That the songs were right. And I didn’t want to rush into it.”
Production came from Roger Bechirian, a man who has everyone from Elvis Costello to Bell X1 on his CV. Then he had the likes of Lou Natkin – an old mate of Brian Wilson, Joan Jett and The Monkees – chiming in.
“I was searching for the right person to produce. Finally I got in touch with Roger. It definitely took it to another level.”
Considering he’d been on the fringes for so long, it all came together remarkably quickly. Decamping to Westmeath in May, they recorded it over an 18-day period.
“Something really special happened down at the Grouse Lodge,” Agnew says. “It’s a beautiful spot. I’d always dreamed about going there. You get away for 18 days, you’re fed, you’re watered…”
By ‘watered’, we guess he means the Guinness on tap…
“Guinness on tap!” he laughs. “The ‘Honesty Bar’ they call it. You go in and mark down how many pints you’ve taken and fix up at the end.”
The perfect place to cajole Lou Natkins into sharing a few old war stories.
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