Jack O’Rourke was described by Hotpress as “one of Ireland’s most gifted songwriters” in a review for his last collection of songs, Ivory Towers. Wild place, his third album is due for release in November 2021. Hunched around a piano, Jack is a subtle and intense performer - his voice, a rich baritone capable of ethereal falsetto. A Cork man by birth, Jack certainly references the musicality of a Leeside turn of phrase, but his songs explore unique character studies, matters of the heart and are deeply personal, yet universal. Jack first came to prominence with his ode to misunderstood youth and growing up gay, ‘Silence’ - which became a torch song for the Irish Marriage Equality Referendum - He went on to release his debut album Dreamcatcher to massive acclaim, peaking at No. 5 in the Irish album charts and drawing huge critical praise – Tony Clayton Lea calling it “a seriously good album from a seriously good songwriter” in The Ticket and Lauren Murphy describing it as “a highly accomplished debut” in The Sunday Times.
From winning the Nashville-based International Songwriting Award to playing his Dreamcatcher album live with an orchestra at Cork Opera House, Jack’s fledgling career has been conspicuous by its high water marks. Chosen as a 2019 headliner for Other Voices, Jack was featured prominently in the television series (most recently part of the Home special in December, featuring himself. Loah, Villagers and Denise Chaila) and his collaboration, “New Day” with electronic artist, Kormac has nearly 500,000 views for it’s award winning music video. Ivory Towers, a foray into alternative pop produced many radio hits, including the title track and Myth.
Despite his musical adventurous nature, the piano always remains central to what Jack does - particularly on his soon to be released third album, Wild Place. A song-cycle embracing folk, chamber and blues influences, these songs are stories about a changing world, recorded on an old Steinway in The Triskel, an ancient Church in Cork City. A gift for melody and turn of phrase remains intact.
With two singles, Opera On the Top Floor and Patsy Cline already gaining significant radio play and critical acclaim, Wild Place promises an honest and sonically rich album live, where “Jack has always shown a deftness when it comes to dissecting the minutiae of relationships and examining the human condition in a manner worthy of lyrical forebears Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits”, Don Johnston, The Irish Examiner