Sometimes the best songs emerge fully formed, and that’s particularly true of writers who wear their heart in their songs like the billion-streamed UK and Ireland #1 artist Cian Ducrot. Only a month ago he wrote ‘Something I Can’t Afford’ and soon started posting teasers which captured fans’ imagination, resulting in 6 million views in just two weeks as well as huge demand when he offered a demo of the track. Today he shares the official version of ‘Something I Can’t Afford’, marking a rapid turnaround from writing and recording to virality and release.
The song’s emotions are laid bare for all to see from its very first lyric, with Cian softly singing, “Why are we fighting? You’re all I have, can we just put our troubles to bed and leave it at that?” And the honesty of his words is surely why ‘Something I Can’t Afford’ is striking a chord with fans everywhere. A little conflict with the people we love and spend so much of our time with is only natural… but so too is quickly regretting the argument and realising how pointless it was.
The heightened emotions of ‘Something I Can’t Afford’ are amplified by its sparse arrangement, with little added to the production beyond its lead vocal, acoustic guitar, and layered backing harmonies. The song was entirely written, produced, recorded and mixed by Cian.
Cian says, “‘Something I Can’t Afford’ was written in a moment where I was feeling really down about wasting time when fighting with my partner. I was on a trip to LA and I had a studio at my accommodation so I went in and sat at the back of the studio alone with my head resting on my guitar and I just started singing the song you hear today almost word-for-word, it was written in about five minutes and I didn’t really think much of it but I decided to still record it for some reason.
I often have this fear of wasting time with those you love as life is so short and we don’t get enough time with anyone we love so whenever there’s a silly argument I always feel like it’s a waste of something so precious. That’s what this song is about and it came out of an exact moment of that feeling.”
Having achieved so much with his debut album ‘Victory’ (two Top 20 hits, one certified Platinum and another Gold, and winning the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year), Cian recently took his first step into a fresh era with the single ‘Here It Is’. There will be more news on that soon, but next comes Cian’s biggest year of touring to date.
The days are now ticking down until he plays his biggest headline show so far, a 20,000 capacity homecoming at St. Anne’s Park, Dublin. Ticket sales are also strong for further outdoor headline gigs in Donegal, Cork, Birmingham and Halifax, while his summer schedule is completed with an array of festivals, including TRNSMT. Cian’s previous touring saw him sell-out almost every show in the UK, Ireland and the US in support of the ‘Victory’ album.
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