The advice Sinéad O’Connor gave to young aspiring musicians
Sinéad O’Connor never aspired to be an ordinary pop singer. Over the course of her decades-long career, O’Connor fearlessly collaborated with various backing tracks, blending alternative, folk, and electronica genres into her music.
In contrast to other alternative vocalists of her era, O’Connor’s distinctive, gravelly tone added a unique depth to her performances. Whether she was delivering a heartfelt ballad or fearlessly tackling intense instrumentation, her unwavering self-assurance shone through every time she sang.
Beyond her music, O’Connor was perhaps best known for her outspoken activism and unwavering commitment to social justice causes. Throughout her career, she fearlessly tackled issues such as women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and religious oppression, using her platform to amplify marginalised voices and challenge the status quo.
Even more captivating was her ability to challenge conventional stereotypes surrounding female vocalists. Rather than adhering to established norms, O’Connor’s steadfast commitment to her convictions and musical vision earned her widespread respect across the rock spectrum.
Although O’Connor’s impact on the music industry is undeniable, the singer didn’t necessarily encourage others to follow in her footsteps. In fact, she would advise against it. During an episode of The Roarcast podcast, the host asked O’Connor what she would say to aspiring singers wanting to break into the music industry.
“I’d say don’t,” she laughed. “Get a different job, or at least be prepared to get a different job.”
Continuing, she added: “You’ve got to be slightly mental to get into the music business. If you’re mental enough to handle it, and you’re in love with music enough to handle it…the business end of it is what can be soul destroying, so you’ve got the be really sure. It’s a bit of a deal with the devil. You’ve got to be strong in your faith, and you’ve got to be really fucking mental.”
While O’Connor’s reasons for warning people against the perils of joining the media industry are well-documented, her experience does speak volumes about the progression the industry has yet to achieve before it becomes a much more accepting and safe environment for all. In her eyes, this is also something that artists are responsible for.
As she once explained, “As artists, I believe our function is to express the feelings of the human race–to always speak the truth and never keep it hidden even though we are operating in a world which does not like the sound of the truth.”
