Off the Record! Abe Soare digs deep for new music

IN SPITE of the celebrations of the night before, Abe Soare are all smiles as they sip on their coffee in a traditional pub in the city’s Georgian quarter.

Between turning 24 and releasing a new single, the singer-songwriter has a lot to celebrate.

Formerly releasing under Abby Butler, the singer-songwriter shared their new single, Oasis, on January 12. As the song received lots of love on social media, they can’t help but feel overwhelmed.

“I suppose I’ve only had one single, Deja Vu, out for a good while. I kept recording away, but then I was afraid to release it. I just felt like I had this little thing in the back pocket, and I was afraid to put it out there. I'm just really proud of it”, they smiled.

After finishing their degree at the University of Limerick, Abe Soare were going through a hard time. Like many, they couldn't help but wonder, ‘What am I going to do with my life?’

“I kind of had that switch where I had to focus on myself and be independent. I’ve never lived away from home or had the trust in myself to put myself out there with music or anything else. Lockdown was bad for my mental health, so I started going to therapy – and that worked a lot,” they said.

That’s when Abe Soare began putting themselves out there. “I was very confused with gender identity and coming out. I always knew there was some part of myself that I kept hidden, and I didn't want to put out. It felt like this box I had put myself in,” they reflected.

Their new single, Oasis, is about breaking out of that box. In a world where it sometimes feels difficult to fit in, Abe believes there’ll always be room for more authenticity.

“I'm not going to be the same person next year as I am now. Everyone is always telling you who you’re meant to be. I’ve grown away from a lot of friends because I’m embracing more of who I am, and there’s a lot of darkness that comes with that.”

Speaking of embracing who they truly are, the artist decided to use a new moniker to reflect the change they went through. Adopted from Romania as a baby to Irish parents, their original name was Ioana Soare, which directly translates to Joan Sun.

“I kind of want to separate Abby Butler from the artist and the music. I was releasing songs and there was just something that wasn't right with Abby Butler, I've changed a lot and I wanted to have a name that reflected that more. Being honest with myself has been a big part of the journey when I came out as non-binary,” they explained.

A more gender-neutral name such as ‘Abe’ makes them feel more comfortable, while also reflecting the trials and tribulations it takes to live an honest life – just “like an honest Abe.”

Funnily enough, they found out that Soare means sun on “a random night out in Dolans.” Quite the fitting name for someone who has become a “light for other people,” through their own dark times.

After moving out of Newcastle West, Abe found genuine connections in the heart of Limerick city. Looking back on last year, they reflected: “It has been mad, it's just been unreal, just actually having the courage to back myself. I was always looking for other people to give me praise, instead of actually finding that within myself first and then putting it out there.”

In Limerick, it’s the people who inspire them. “I’ve made friends with Shane Wixted, from Launchpad. He introduced me to a lot of different people. He inspires me because he connects everyone, he’s the little pin that holds everyone together,” they said.

As an inspiring artist, Abe Soare looked up to Emma Langford. After wondering how they were going to do “this music thing,” they received a few tips from the Irish nu-folk singer - and took lots of notes.

“I was looking at Emma as someone to aspire to, so she said we could meet up for coffee. I brought my little notebook, and I was like, what can I do to get where you are? And she gave me such unreal tips, she was really nice,” they recalled.

A jack of all trades, Abe can play the ukulele, the guitar, the piano and the Irish banjo. Although, their first love is guitar.

“I started playing guitar when I was nine. And then, I just fell in love with it. Ed Sheeran was a big influence for me. I even started singing with an English accent in the whole lot because he was the only person I listened to”, they smiled.

At home, their parents listened to Christie Moore and The Eagles. “I suppose there’s a little bit of country folk in my music that way. Since moving to the city, the genres that I’ve been exposed to there are mad, and I’m still trying to find my sound that I’m happy with.”

All they know is that their happy place is the stage. “I love performing. When I go on stage, I’m always in good form, no matter what. I automatically become happy. ”

In 2023, Abe Soare will release an EP. “I have loads of songs in the back pocket, I want to get a longer set together. And, I really want to play festivals, that’d be unreal - can you image that buzz?”

Until then, they will play in Dolan's Warehouse on February 3. And, all Abe want is for people to chat to them after the gig.
“I always want to have deeper conversations. If I were to play, I want someone to come up and talk to me. I just want to connect with people, so don't ever be afraid to come up and chat to me,” they concluded.