Jean-Michel Cavallo, Christian Montagne, Ciaran O'Shea, Declan O'Shea, and Nono Presta became Cyclefly in 1995, and six years later are one of the hottest new bands to enter the music scene, coming complete with charisma, talent, and energy. I sat down with frontman Declan O'Shea to see if he was just full of, well, icing, and by the end of the interview, I felt my sweet tooth growing with excitement.
Backstage at the New York City club was ultimately a downstairs alcove that felt damper than the the subway tunnels in July. I sprawled out on a makeshift chair and watched as the Raggedy-Ann-dreaded Irishman sat down against a pipe about a foot away from me. It is always a little nervewrecking starting an interview and fumbling with which questions to ask first. But since Declan already demonstrated his immense singing talent an hour before, I opted to go the vanity route and discuss his unique style. I have to ask you how you got your hair like that, said me as Mr.O'Shea looked at me in shock. As he batted his eyelashes and twisted his head, he told me that he acquired the locks of passion that make both his male and female fans melt, two years ago at an "African place where they braided his hair really tight and bleached it purple."
After breaking the ice and assuming that the frontman of my new favorite band thought I was shallow, I moved forward and began the plunge into the SHAG hole---the time when I ask the dreaded personal questions [that suck the interview subjects in and spit them out]. But all that you need to know that will not get me in trouble is that this cool character who dresses flamboyantly both on and off-stage, loves clothes, shopping, women, and Guinness, because it "tastes like ice cream."
You might be wondering how in less than a year, a band from Cork, Ireland has already toured with Live, Iggy Pop, and Bush, secured a place in Tower Records' Top 10 Singles List, and recieved plentiful radio and press exposure. Let's start by explaining that name----Cyclefly, which is derived from a painting O'Shea did. "Everyone goes through cycles and at the end we wind up where we began. People follow desire." The red-dreaded one, as I like to call him, who has been on tour for the past year, says he never anticipated the band getting this far, but he has wanted to do music his entire life.
Generation Sap, Cyclefly's mesmerizing debut, took two months to record and the band got the opportunity to work with Sylvia Massey of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Tool fame. The band sent her demos and Massey liked what she heard and came to London to see Cyclefly play. Days later, Cyclefly were in the studio with Massey.
The first release was "Violet High," after radio stations and Cyclefly's record company could not decide which track to release that would best introduce Cyclefly to the world. All Cyclefly songs adhere to a self, socially, politically, and emotionally-conscious level that O'Shea likes to pen during the actual moments events are happening. On occasion, Ciaran, the other O'Shea, gives brother Declan a tape of music to listen to and then Declan comes up with a subject. "The best songs come from actual instances where you can look inward and outward."
Cyclefly, who have been compared to everyone from the Stooges to Placebo to Nine Inch Nails to David Bowie, do not mind the comparisons because of their adoration for all of the aforementioned artists. Nonetheless, if O'Shea were a journalist (I would have some stiff competition), he says he would only compare Cyclefly to, whom else, Cyclefly! "People cannot figure out who we sound like!"
Dubbed the 'bastard son of Iggy Pop and Scary Spice' by England's New Musical Express, O'Shea admits that it is definitely amusing that the press is interested in him, but that it is much more based on his appearance than his persona. The model rock star, and I say that emphatically as he so looks the part without acting it offstage, admits that he reads some press about himself, but he does not consider himself a sex symbol. "Anyone who considers themselves a sex symbol is an idiot!" says O'Shea biting his nail. "It comes down to complex, doesn't it? Besides, I am just too shy." Does that mean shy individuals are not sex symbols? I wonder if Kajagoogoo (remember them?) wrote "Too Shy" to push their sex symbol status to the side. Um, oh, wait, I just looked at a picture of them. . . .no, I think they just wrote this song for fun, not because it applied to them----they do not have to worry about being labelled 'sex symbols'.
I felt like a failure not getting O'Shea to admit that he is indeed a sex symbol---so at that point I just had to say it for him. After all, who can look that good and not realize that they are, in girlspeak, a hottie. But forgetting about my immature longing for a society where all men looked and behaved like Declan. I wanted to know how O'Shea has been handling his newfound fame. Has rock star status affected his life? Does he feel like he has gained power from his success? "Not really. I am just more content. When we are travelling there are a lot of hassles, and, we are still at an early level. I can only imagine what it is like when someone becomes massive!" says O"Shea with the diplomacy of a peace negotiator and the maturity of a successful business tycoon.
At least the O'Shea brothers will always have each other to share their excitement with. "The family ties make things bettereven though sometimes we argue. . . it just makes us a lot stronger. If you argue with a friend, you do not know if you will ever be friends again, but Ciaran and me will always be brothers no matter what we scream and kick about," says Declan as his brother enters the room and puts his hands on Declan's leopard-print shoulders. Awwww, that is sweet---this may be the first affectionate, sincere, and talented brother team in music [Remember, Milli Vanilli were not related nor did they actually sing, and Oasis lose points for the affectionate and sincere aspect].
Declan, who during the rare time he has off, enjoys playing video games, says that the simple things make him happy. "I love painting and art because I love people's expressions and it is an escape from the mundane. Music and sex also make me happy, I suppose. I am not really into material things, and even if I was loaded I do not think I would be buying any fancy cars or anything. But maybe some shoes," he says flashing a flirtatious smile.
According to the 27-year-old with the amazing shoes, there has not been a defining moment in his career so far. "Ask me again in a few years," says O'Shea who sees the band still writing and playing in ten years time. The only difference between their shows now and then will be Declan wearing smaller platforms! In music, "when you start, it is hard to finish," warns O'Shea. If only Vanilla Ice and those "Macarena" morons would have realized that. . .
After an hour or so, I started getting nervous because I knew this interview would have to end soon. Rock stars do not like to spend potential party time chatting with journalists. But being that this is SHAG, the magazine where the artists kiss and tell, the questions had to continue in a more private direction, and to my amazement and delight, Declan and I went on to show and tell [well, I actually sat there hoarding more questions in my head and Declan grew more and more into Chatty Pattie]. It was then that Declan showed me how 'real' he was and how much more cake than icing he really was. He could talk for hours, smile without faking it, and sit with an interviewer for so long without smoking, running to the bar, or having a rock star hissy fit. Here are ten things I profoundly saw in Declan during this period.
1. DECLAN IS SKILLED--- He used to be a carpenter. If he was not with Cyclefly, he would be traveling through Thailand with his carpenter partner.
2. DECLAN HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR--- The most embarrassing thing that happened during a gig was when a girl came on stage and pulled down Declan's pants [for the record, it was not me. . . but that would definitely make for a great live photo!].
3. DECLAN HAS TOO MUCH CAFFEINE--- The quite energetic and oh-so- limber one prefers being on tour rather than in the studio because not moving around "does his head in!"
4. DECLAN IS KIND OF ROMANTIC--- If he were stranded on an island, the three things he would want to have with him are a girl, a bar, and a yacht to get the hell off the island!
5. DECLAN IS LITERATE--- His favorite authors are H.L. Taken [Lord Of The Rings] and Irvine Welch [Trainspotting], and his favorite artist is Dali because he "paints like dreams."
6. DECLAN'S TASTE BUDS ARE IN TACT--- Pistachio is his favorite ice cream flavor.
7. DECLAN HAS FEELINGS--- Movies and "stupid things" bring him to tears. "I am not afraid to cry," he admits with the type of honesty that could make me cry.
8. DECLAN IS PLAYFULLY-KINKY--- He likes bondage clubs and PVC/ leather. And he also shyly, of course, confesses that lesbian love scenes turn him on and Michelle Pfeiffer in a catsuit is the most SHAGgable person around.
9. DECLAN IS AMBITIOUS--- He wants Dennis Hopper or Brad Pitt to portray him if there is ever a movie made about his life---but that would be many years from now.
10. DECLAN IS NORMAL--- He is scared of rats, heights [which he refers to as "verticals"]--- but he has gone bungee jumping anyway, and he is turned off by pushy and/or ignorant people.
Declan O'Shea is now a bona fide rock star. He has already met one of his idols [Perry Farrell], he has worn clothes that the Spice Girls and Marilyn Manson [where is he these days?] could never get away with, and he [and the rest of Cyclefly] has created enduring and absolutely spectacular pop songs that will no doubt remain not only on the charts, but in our heads!
After all is said and done, O'Shea, in his trademark chipper, polite [he always says 'please'], and ambitious hopefulness, has a message for you: "I AM DECLAN, AND CYCLEFLY IS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD. AND PLEASE SEND ALL OF YOUR DAUGHTERS TO ME!" Anybody want some cake. . .