I completed up touring on the finish of 2024, I used to be taking a while off for my spouse and me to get ourselves prepared for the arrival of our daughter.
We’d performed all of the preparations — the hynobirthing, the antenatal lessons, all of the issues they mentioned we should always do. The time got here round, Ciara went into labour, a 60-hour labour — it was a nervy time.
John Blek in his recording studio house at Bigger River Recording Company., Castletownroche, Co Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins
For it to go on so lengthy was harrowing bodily for Ciara — and regarding. I used to be attempting to be there, do as a lot as I may however, let’s face it, actually having the ability to do little or no. Early on November 28, Daisy arrived. It was a tough battle for Ciara however a ravishing end result.
Ciara recollects me shouting “she’s here, she’s here!” Just the thrill! She was put in my arms — unusual, this new particular person with the filter of all of the matriarchal faces I’d seen in my very own and in Ciara’s household. Hints of all these different faces on this face.
John Blek: ‘This album took me abruptly.’ Picture: Larry Cummins
It was the latest factor I’d skilled in 38 years of dwelling, an unbelievable factor. For the primary time in my life I used to be doing one thing the place I’d no thought what I used to be doing. I’ve been a musician for 20 years, I understand how to try this. I understand how our home and our lives work … there’s a routine to it.
This was a model new scenario, swiftly the cart thrown up within the air.
I knew nothing was going to be the identical. This unbelievable feeling of pleasure was the overriding factor — and as time went on, this minor sense of mourning for the particular person I was, the freedoms we’d had — even informal issues like popping as much as Cork metropolis from our house in Castletownroche for a drive or a drink with pals. The independence we’d identified, gone eternally, indelibly gone.
My massive concern was skilled. The job I do could be very a lot a vocation, one thing I am keen on, it’s not simply my job however an enormous a part of who I’m. I may see I must change the way in which I’d labored for the final decade, travelling away from house for 2 to a few weeks at a time, round Europe and the UK. It’s onerous work however satisfying too. I knew these days had been gone — it’d should be a lot shorter stints now.
I felt overwhelmed at discovering a brand new manner — a extra delicate strategy so I might be at house extra, but in addition nonetheless make a dwelling and preserve the touring life I’d been creating.
John Blek: ‘I used to be slowly writing and utilizing the songs to attempt to get to know the brand new studio house.’ Picture: Larry Cummins
Ciara and I, we’re an excellent workforce, we work nicely collectively. We sat down, had a dialog, tried to determine finest apply for the life we wanted to assemble now round this new little girl. It sounds fairly formal nevertheless it wasn’t. It was only a dialog about what we wanted from one another, and what Daisy would wish from us.
It was slowly changing into obvious, what parenthood actually entailed. Crazy early mornings, sleepless nights, feeding and bottle routines — it was full-time, no break, not a part-time expertise.
We had been forming an thought of how we’d give Daisy the whole lot and extra, but in addition preserve each our working lives. Ciara’s work as a lecturer is well-defined when it comes to hours. For me, self-employed, my time’s rather more versatile, which has advantages but in addition brings little hurdles. I can generally neglect to place an emphasis by myself work.
A quote I’d heard from an writer was coming to thoughts: “There’s no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hallway.” I used to be attempting to handle that by way of sheer inventive hard-headedness — persevering with to place my head down, write the music, report the songs, collaborate with new folks, discover a new path.
John Blek: ‘All of a sudden I realised I used to be a brand new report.’ Picture: Larry Cummins
SO MUCH pleasure in life comes from household, however self-actualisation, my creative course of, provides me a lot pleasure. To lose any factor of that I wouldn’t be who I’m in any respect.
I really feel the previous yr flew, since Daisy got here, however I’ve lived each second of it. In a method just like the blink of an eye fixed — in one other, we’ve lived each second 10 occasions.
I’m fairly pleased with us … Ciara, myself, and our little woman. I’ve a recording studio within the again backyard. Daisy comes with me, crawls round, performs the piano, hits the drums. I’m making her part of that little world on the market, my inventive house within the again backyard — that’s actually vital to our way of life.
John Blek: ‘Have I modified? I don’t assume I’m any extra severe, or higher or worse.’ Picture: Larry Cummins
Work-wise I’m delighted with what I’ve been in a position to do that yr. In a traditional yr I’d most likely do 70 or 80 exhibits. This yr was scaled again however I nonetheless managed to maintain the pinnacle above water, the lights on, the present on the street. I’m joyful about that and that going into 2026 I’ve a brand new album out.
Have I modified? I don’t assume I’m any extra severe, or higher or worse. I’m an everlasting baby — it’s a part of what drew Ciara and me collectively, we’ve an excellent sense of enjoyable. It’s stored us smiling although the primary 12 months and extra. And we’ve discovered our path by strolling it.
John Blek releases his new studio album The Midnight Ache on January 16. First singles ‘747’ and ‘With You’ out now on streaming platforms.
John will play a sequence of gigs round Ireland, together with Coughlan’s, Cork, on February 15. Tickets, extra data: johnblek.com