Declan J Donovan - 'Pieces'

Essex-based songwriter and musician Declan J Donovan’s current single ‘Pieces’, is a heart-warming declaration of support to a struggling friend.

Critics often associate authenticity in the music industry with an originality that comes from experimentation; left field approaches, bold ideas, exploration of a multitude of genres, pushing beyond what is familiar. While Declan J Donovan is not creating songs that reinvent music, he is a prime example of an artist who follows familiar singer-songwriter formulas yet still stands out as authentic in its most basic definition: genuine. You can explore and reinvent all you want, but if you don’t have heart, you won’t connect with your audience on a fundamentally human level in the ways artists like Donovan makes themselves relatable.

There is an incredible depth to his songwriting which sees Donovan pour emotion into tracks which are deeply personal to him, but in turn become personal to his listeners. In fact, Donovan’s rise to recognition came off the back of ‘Fallen So Young’, the first song he ever wrote which was written and performed at his brother’s wedding in place of a traditional best man’s speech. When Donovan eventually and unassumingly took a DIY approach and uploaded a demo of this very special song, it achieved over a million listens online, all without support from a record label, manager or any promotion.

Which brings me back to my original point. Donovan is authentic. He is authentic not only because he is a very impressive musician and a songwriter with integrity, but because he is familiar and familiarity breeds intimacy, and intimacy encourages connection. Donovan’s new single, ‘Pieces’ is the perfect kind of foot stomping, emotional pop primed for mainstream radio play. Thematically, ‘Pieces’ is born from pain, but the song offers a lifeline and a touching message that we could all do with hearing every once in a while:

 “It’s about letting your friends know that you’re still here”.

Words of Karla Harris