Beginner's pluck: Artist and writer Gethan Dick
Before Gethan was eight years old, she had lived in Belfast, Downpatrick, Sussex, and several locations in Ireland.
'My dad was a doctor. We travelled while he trained, and until he was assigned to a GP practice in Sligo.
'By then, I'd been to six primary schools. I was the eldest of four girls. We had a lot of freedom.'
Originally wanting to work in film, Gethan changed her mind during her degree, and switched to writing.
'After my MA, I wrote performance poetry and some text-based art.
When I met my partner, Myles, we started making art together.
And in 2011 we moved to Marseilles working as visual artists.
All that time, Gethan was thinking about writing a post-apocalyptic novel, including childbirth.
'But until I had children I didn't know how. In first lockdown, we lived in a stone cabin in Provence, with no electricity, running water, toilet, or internet.
'I started thinking how annoying it would be if the world ended before I got around to writing my book.'
With Myles's encouragement, they cleared some weeks, and she wrote a first draft.
'Then I contacted an editor I'd met during my MA, who was now an agent.'
Who is Gethan Dick?
Date/ place of birth: 1980/ Belfast.
Education: Sligo Grammar School; Dublin City University, Communication Studies. Goldsmiths, MA in Creative Writing; Camberwell College of Art.
Home: Marseilles.
Family: Partner Myles, children Kaï, 11, and Zeéleie, 9.
The day job: 'I work as an artist/writer.'
In another life: 'I might have been a marine biologist. I love being out in the world.'
Favourite writers: Kurt Vonnegut; Jean Giono. 'And I love reading popular science.'
Second book: 'Maybe I should write about what happens to my characters next.'
Top tip: 'Myles's advice was, 'stop talking about it and write the fucking book'. And be lucky.'
Website: gethanandmyles.blogspot.com
The debut
Water in the Desert, Fire in the Night
Tramp Press, €16
Famine has left London a morgue. Hearing of sanctuary in the Southern Alps, an underachieving millennial, a retired midwife, and a Rastafarian Dubliner cycle there on a journey fraught with danger.
The verdict: An optimistic debut, this centres on love, motherhood, childbirth, and resilience and it's glorious — funny, thought provoking, and wise.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
28-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Behind the music - Let's Be Frank
Experimental jazz act and Frank Sinatra covers band Let's Be Frank have released their debut single, a cover of Fly Me To The Moon. We asked led singer James Gallen the BIG questions . . . The band was founded in November 2023 by Dublin City University jazz students and they are "on a mission to rekindle the soul of the Rat Pack era, delivering fresh takes on Sinatra classics with youthful energy, and sharp arrangements". "Our goal is to capture the elegance and swagger of Sinatra, but give it a heartbeat that feels relevant today," says James. Tell us three things about yourself . . . I'm a 20-year-old singer/songwriter and Jazz music is my happy place. Great to sing with the band Let's be Frank, we're all Jazz and Contemporary Music students at Dublin City University and we bring a fresh take on classic Sinatra tunes and everything Jazz in between. The band members are Joey Leamy, Theo Johnson, Sean Crehan and Jarlath Byrne and we love what we do! I'm happy to be stepping in to a career in music. We've released the first single from our upcoming first album Let's Be Frank, which we had a privilege of recording with Stu Gray at Jealoustown Studios, with mastering by the great Billy Farrell. How would you describe your music? A modern uplift on the great classics of the 1950s and 60s. Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker and, in terms of vocals, I'm a big fan of Mel Tormè. With this mix, you've got an exceptional baritone, a world-class trumpeter and a distinct voice of velvet that stood out of its time. What was the first gig you ever went to? I'd love to say it was Sinatra, but I wasn't around when he was singing in his prime! I believe Take That at Croke park was my first gig - great melodies but not sure that's my thing (but thanks to parents for the ticket!). What was the first record you ever bought? Frank Sinatra's Watertown album from 1970. Really, this is my favourite album to date. It tells a wonderful story in just ten tracks and, in many ways, is a forgotten masterpiece. If you've any interest in hearing a unique music offering I recommend you give it a listen. What's your favourite song right now? I Would be in Love Anyway from Watertown. Our upcoming first album will include our own interpretation of that song. Favourite lyric of all time? "Can't you see that you're leading me on, But it's just what I want you to do, Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost, Thats why I'm following you" - Misty by the pianist Erroll Garner, 1954. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be? It has got to be Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma (1945), which is an English version of an older French song, Les Feuilles Mortes (The Dead Leaves). It's really the go-to song for anyone with a love of jazz music, and it's such good fun to improvise as a singer. Where can people find your music/more information? You can visit our website or you can visit our Instagram at @_lets_be_frank_band_.
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Devastated boyband star shares hospital snap and reveals he will be on crutches for months
RAK-SU star Myles Stephenson has revealed he will be using crutches for months after an excruciating injury. The singer, 33, shared a snap of himself in hospital with his leg completely bandaged up following the sports related nightmare. 6 Myles Stephenson has revealed his frustration today after an injury Credit: Instagram 6 The star was playing football when the injury happened Credit: Instagram 6 (L to R) Jamaal Shurland, Myles and Ashley Fongho of Rak-Su Credit: Getty The devastated star revealed he had been playing football when the accident happened. He said: "Only gone and ruptured my Achilles haven't I?" news had hit him, telling his fans: 'I've realised how stressful the next few months are going to be on crutches. 'Work, family, simple things like tidying/ washing. I am not looking forward to it.' Read More on Rak-Su His son Shiloh, is living with a disability after suffering an unseen stroke as a baby. Myles, who has appeared on I'm A Celebrity and Celebrity MasterChef, spoke about his son's condition in an update to his fans in the summer of last year. It was revealed that Shiloh, three, had Hemiplegic cerebral palsy after the stroke had irreversibly damaged his brain. Most read in Celebrity The condition which has left his right side in partial paralysis means that he's required to wear splits to support his legs and frame. Outside of family life I'm A Celeb's Myles Stephenson issues heartbreaking health update after young son's diagnosis Rak-Su, made up of friends Ashley Fongho, Jamaal Shurlan, and Mustafa Rahimtulla, won the fourteenth series of The X Factor in 2017, with the group becoming the first all-male act to do so. A year later they were dropped by Simon Cowell's record label - leaving them very upset and confused. And in 2020 Rak-Su revealed that But since then they have continued to make and release music - much to the delight of their die-hard fans. 6 Myles was not impressed by his injury Credit: Instagram 6 6 The singer recently released new music with the band Credit: Getty
Irish Examiner
24-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Beginner's pluck: Artist and writer Gethan Dick
Before Gethan was eight years old, she had lived in Belfast, Downpatrick, Sussex, and several locations in Ireland. 'My dad was a doctor. We travelled while he trained, and until he was assigned to a GP practice in Sligo. 'By then, I'd been to six primary schools. I was the eldest of four girls. We had a lot of freedom.' Originally wanting to work in film, Gethan changed her mind during her degree, and switched to writing. 'After my MA, I wrote performance poetry and some text-based art. When I met my partner, Myles, we started making art together. And in 2011 we moved to Marseilles working as visual artists. All that time, Gethan was thinking about writing a post-apocalyptic novel, including childbirth. 'But until I had children I didn't know how. In first lockdown, we lived in a stone cabin in Provence, with no electricity, running water, toilet, or internet. 'I started thinking how annoying it would be if the world ended before I got around to writing my book.' With Myles's encouragement, they cleared some weeks, and she wrote a first draft. 'Then I contacted an editor I'd met during my MA, who was now an agent.' Who is Gethan Dick? Date/ place of birth: 1980/ Belfast. Education: Sligo Grammar School; Dublin City University, Communication Studies. Goldsmiths, MA in Creative Writing; Camberwell College of Art. Home: Marseilles. Family: Partner Myles, children Kaï, 11, and Zeéleie, 9. The day job: 'I work as an artist/writer.' In another life: 'I might have been a marine biologist. I love being out in the world.' Favourite writers: Kurt Vonnegut; Jean Giono. 'And I love reading popular science.' Second book: 'Maybe I should write about what happens to my characters next.' Top tip: 'Myles's advice was, 'stop talking about it and write the fucking book'. And be lucky.' Website: The debut Water in the Desert, Fire in the Night Tramp Press, €16 Famine has left London a morgue. Hearing of sanctuary in the Southern Alps, an underachieving millennial, a retired midwife, and a Rastafarian Dubliner cycle there on a journey fraught with danger. The verdict: An optimistic debut, this centres on love, motherhood, childbirth, and resilience and it's glorious — funny, thought provoking, and wise.
