10 questions with Steve Garrigan from Kodaline

Here Bressie chat’s with Dubliner, songwriter (Steve wrote the phenomenally beautiful song High Hopes) and lead singer of Irish rock band Kodaline Steve Garrigan on yoga, eating well, anxiety, panic attacks, the joy of performing, song writing, positive thinking, following your dreams, pre-gig routines and what’s next for Kodaline…

1. With touring, the pressure of writing and being in the public eye, how do you look after your headspace?

I actually use a super app called Headspace which is great for mindfulness. It helps me chill out and de-stress. I’ve also recently gotten into yoga, particularly Bikram yoga, as I like to break a sweat. I occasionally try meditation too but yoga and meditation kind of go hand in hand.

2. Being on the road can put a lot of pressure on your mental and physical health. Have you any active wellness routines to stay on top of your body?

I try to eat well on the road but it can be difficult. I work out whenever I can and do a lot of running and yoga. On my last tour I brought my friend Peter Desay along who is a personal trainer so it was amazing to have him there.

3. We all get dark, tougher days. Have you any things you like to do if you feel a little on edge or down?

If I feel on edge I try to focus on my breathing as I find it helps ease the anxiety. I also listen to podcasts. Two good ones are ‘the meditation podcast’ and ‘the anxiety coaches podcast’.

4. Many people see Kodaline as a band that exploded on the scene, but I know you guys took the scenic route and worked and developed your craft to become world class song writers over many years. What would you say to any young people out there looking to follow their passions and dreams?

I think the most important things are self-belief and determination. If you can nurture these traits within yourself, then you’re half way there. Also don’t be afraid to fail. I’ve failed so many times I’ve lost count. The important thing is to learn from it. My girlfriend recently wrote a book called ‘The Pursuit of Awesome’. It’s a great read for anybody who is chasing their dream and it’s available in all good bookstores.

5. Getting on stage in front of tens of thousands of people can be anxiety and stress inducing. Have you a pre-gig routine to keep yourself calm?

I never tend to get nervous on stage. I’d almost go as far as to say I’m more relaxed when I’m performing, performing is therapeutic for me. I do however have a pre-show ritual. I’ll drink loads of honey, lemon and ginger for my voice, do a vocal warm up and then a few stretches.

6. Kodaline have a massive youth following. This generation is growing up in a society where it’s becoming much more acceptable and promoted to look for help if not feeling okay. You guys have the ears of many young people who are influenced by your music. What would you say to anyone who might be struggling?

I’d say that it’s okay not to feel okay and it’s definitely okay to ask for help. Talk to someone you trust and don’t be ashamed of how you feel. I’ve dealt with anxiety and panic attacks for years. I kept quiet about them because I was afraid of what people might think. I suppose I’d put that down to the stigma that surrounds mental health but it’s refreshing to see that that mentality is slowly changing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

7. You seem to get great solace from your song writing and it’s often illustrated in your lyrics. Do you find song writing is almost like a form of therapy that allows you express often repressed feelings?

Without song writing I’d be an anxious mess. It’s my escapism, my therapy and yes I probably am subconsciously writing about repressed feelings. I wrote High Hopes when I was going through a particularly bad time with anxiety. Sometimes it’s very difficult to do but I believe positive thinking is one of the most powerful things in the world and that’s basically what the song is about.

8. Although Kodaline are a world-wide successful act, you seem quite humble and reserved. Although music is your true passion, do you sometimes find it hard to always be on, when it comes to your job?

I’m a very shy guy and success hasn’t really changed me. I think the four of us are very grounded and down to earth. We appreciate everything as it took us over ten years to get where we are today and we’ve gone from busking on the streets to selling out arenas. We’ll never forget where we started. Sometimes it can be difficult to always be on but when I start to get stressed I’ll usually use the headspace app or do some yoga.

9. Sleep is hugely important for a healthy body and mind. With all your travel and schedule, do you have any issues sleeping, and if so, do you have a routine to help you get to sleep?

I sleep for about 9 hours a night on average. I always find a powernap during the day is also great. I usually have a half an hour powernap before a gig. I listen to the meditation podcast at night, there’s a really good guided sleeping meditation that helps me sleep.

10. What’s next for Kodaline?

Well we’re working on our third album but we’re playing a good few festivals around Europe. We’ve also got our biggest headline show to date in July in Marley Park. We’ll be playing to almost 40 thousand people which is unbelievable! We’re excited!