Ep. 31: Niall Connolly — There's So Much More to See: Music, Loss, Hope & the Power of Community

Irish singer-songwriter **Niall Connolly** joins host **Dean Balsamini** on Episode 31 of **Deep Threads** for a heartfelt, funny and thought-provoking conversation about songwriting, friendship, grief, the changing music industry and the power of bringing people together through music. Fresh off a European tour, the Cork-born, New York-based musician discusses his tenth studio album, *There's So Much More to See*, a deeply personal collection of songs exploring loss, resilience, political division and finding hope in difficult times. Connolly opens up about the deaths of his childhood friend Dave O'Mahony and his father, two profound losses that helped shape the album. He explains how his songwriting balances personal grief with compassion, humor and the belief that we can always choose to do better. One of the episode's most moving conversations centers on Connolly's friendship with fellow Irish musician Glen Hansard. Niall shares personal stories about Hansard's generosity, encouragement and support, including their performances together and Hansard's role in championing Connolly's early career in New York. He also recounts the remarkable story behind "A Song for James Connolly," his tribute to the Irish revolutionary, and an unforgettable encounter with James Connolly's great-grandson. As founder of the Big City Folk Collective, Connolly has spent nearly two decades fostering a supportive community for independent musicians in New York City. He discusses why collaboration matters more than competition and recalls a memorable Leonard Cohen tribute night attended by a young performer who would eventually become Lana Del Rey. The conversation also takes listeners back to Connolly's musical beginnings in Cork, Ireland, exploring influences including Leonard Cohen, Pixies, R.E.M., Nick Drake and John Martyn. He shares stories about leaving his job at Cork City Library to pursue music full-time, meeting his future wife on that very day, and the night Prince unexpectedly appeared at a Greenwich Village music venue. Throughout the episode, Dean and Niall explore the evolution of songwriting, the importance of album sequencing, the challenges facing independent musicians and the role of music in an increasingly divided world. At its heart, Episode 31 is about friendship, creativity, resilience and remembering that even during difficult times, there's still so much more to see. ## In This Episode - Niall Connolly's tenth album, There's So Much More to See - The personal losses that inspired his new music - His friendship and performances with Glen Hansard - The story behind "A Song for James Connolly" - The Big City Folk Collective and NYC's indie music scene - Lana Del Rey's early appearance at a Big City Folk event - The night Prince appeared at a Greenwich Village venue - Growing up in Cork and the Irish music scene - Influences including Leonard Cohen, Pixies and R.E.M. - Leaving Cork City Library to pursue music - Songwriting, album sequencing and the streaming era - Finding hope and kindness in a divided world ## About Niall Connolly Niall Connolly is an Irish singer-songwriter from Cork, Ireland, now based in New York City. With ten studio albums, Connolly has built a career around emotionally honest songwriting, sharp observations, humor and a deep commitment to independent music. He is also the founder of the Big City Folk Collective, a community of musicians and songwriters supporting independent artists for nearly two decades. ## Watch Episode 31 Watch Niall Connolly on Deep Threads ## Support Deep Threads If you've listened to Deep Threads, you've probably noticed Dean Balsamini's signature Huega House hat. We're proud to partner with Huega House, a brand whose philosophy of slowing down, being intentional, and creating meaningful moments perfectly complements the conversations we have on this show. Support Deep Threads through our affiliate partner: Shop Huega House Thank you for supporting the companies that support independent podcasts. ## Credits **Host:** Dean Balsamini **Produced & Engineered by:** Dave Fletcher **Recorded at:** Cedar Bean's Coffee Joint, 575 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, New Jersey