Watch Cian Ducrot's LIVE session here - featuring songs from his upcoming album

Virgin Radio

31 Jul 2023, 09:42

Cian Ducrot joined The Graham Norton Show with Waitrose yesterday to play a beautiful set live from West Cork's C103 studios and talk about his debut album, Victory.

Growing up in East Cork, Ireland, Cian Ducrot would dream of being a pop star, always singing Michael Jackson songs around the house and dancing in front of the mirror.

At the age of 13, he learned to play guitar, which led him to start busking. He did this for 10 years until signing a deal with his “dream label”, Darkroom Records.

Now Ducrot is about to release his debut album Victory, and he popped over to C103 Studios in West Cork to talk to Graham Norton and perform some of his most popular hits.

Speaking about the inspiration behind Victory, the singer-songwriter explained: “I write a lot about my past and my childhood.

"I kind of feel like I'm starting to write as much as I can about that, and picking and choosing what parts I want to open up [about] and eventually let people get to know me as much as they can.”

One of the songs that will feature on Ducrot’s first album is his latest single Heaven, which he performed for Norton.

The 25-year-old shared: “It's a song that I wrote for my brother, and [I] just wanted to thank him for everything he's done for me in my life and being there for me when I was younger.

"I wanted to write something that was anthemic for people to sing along to, and I think a lot of people have siblings that they're like, 'Nice one' or whatever for helping me out.”

Before performing a cover of Say Something by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera, Ducrot reflected on his busking career.

He said: "I used to busk at any corner I could get in Cork. You'd be battling for the spots, and you'd have to come in nice and early.

"[I would] busk and then get a sandwich with the money."

The I’ll Be Waiting singer explained that busking is “a very intense business” in Ireland, and he thanked it for helping him make many long-term friendships.

"You'd see someone busking and be like, ‘I've never seen you before, who are you?’ And then you become mates and make a band.” 

Later this year, Ducrot will embark on a 54-date world tour, starting in America and finishing in Ireland.

In November, he will be visiting cities all over the UK, including Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham.

Looking back at his previous live shows, the Heaven singer said: “I remember the first support tour I did was for this American band called LANY, and I just remember being so excited to go on tour and mind blown.

"We played at the Eventim Apollo in London, and it was like 5,000 people [which] blew my mind.

"All I was thinking about is like, ‘One day this will be me’, and now in November, we're playing at the Eventim Apollo which is crazy.”

Victory is out on Friday 4th August 2023. Ducrot’s world tour begins in September. Tickets are available to buy via cianducrot.com/live.

For more great live sessions and interviews, listen to The Graham Norton Radio Show every Saturday AND Sunday from 9.30 am on Virgin Radio or catch up on-demand here.