The Life Of O'Brien

Here's a photo of myself and Conor J O'Brien from Villagers. We met up last Thursday, ahead of his sublime show at The Black Box, when a bunged-out venue received the music from his debut album with the gusto that it deserved. His music is already graven deep into the souls of his fans, although a couple of them spoilt the effect a little by singing every word back to the artist as he performed them. Steady, there.

The interview goes out on tonight's radio show, and we even slipped out a Leonard Cohen song in the middle of proceedings, just because it suited the occasion. I also commended him on not winning the Mercury Prize - he isn't quite the household figure, which may have crushed his budding art - and Conor answered with the style of a real diplomat.