What I'm Into... with Alan Daniel Tobin

West Cork artist Alan Daniel Tobin is into Transmissions of All The Goodbyes by Lilium, Shimmer Boy, Nadia Reid, The Walking Dead, Finding Joy and the Red Strand

Jul 27, 2026

What I’m Into… is a weekly series where Irish artists share a snapshot of what they’ve been enjoying lately - music, books, films, places, and whatever else has been sticking with them.

West Cork artist Alan Daniel Tobin released his third album Mountain Common in May 2026 and plays Skibbereen Arts Festival on Wednesday, July 29. He and Pat Carey aka How I Became a Wave are playing The Wind That Round The Fastnet Sweeps: Live Music at the Fastnet Rock. They’ll be playing music aboard Carraig Aonair as it circumnavigates the Fastnet Lighthouse. It leaves Baltimore at 7pm.

Tobin says of Mountain Common: “My music is a timestamp of my life and this album is a diary entry addressing events in my life and in the world over the last few years. The album takes the course of a full day, and at the most personal level is intended to act as a note to my children, so that at any stage in the future they can listen to my voice, read my words and find comfort in the love I have for them.

“I had intended to make the album entirely at home - a simple, unplugged recording, but my love for collaboration took hold and I soon drafted in close friends to help. I have a co-write with London-based Irish artist, Elly O'Keeffe, Ger and Mary Walsh of The Bones Below gave an incredible amount of their musical talent and magic, as did my LOWmountain bandmates, Deirdre Hayes Archbold and Niall O'Driscoll. I feel safe making such personal music with these people.”

Artist/song/album you’ve been listening to a lot lately

Our house is full of music and we turn to so many albums depending on the time of day, mood, and vibe. I love listening to atmospheric, ambient and droning music - my go-to-album is Lilium’s 2000 masterpiece (my opinion), Transmissions of All The Goodbyes. From the first note it takes me back to my first year in college; it has been a constant throughout my life. A project from French musician Pascal Humbert. I’ve also been listening to a lot of music from Bonnie Prince Billy, Gregory Alan Isakov, RY X, Aoife O’Donovan, Phoebe Bridgers, Faithless, and Ólafur Arnalds. With the kids, we love Beastie Boys, Nirvana, Jimmy Eats World, Elvis, and music from Wicked,

Irish act people should know about

Here are only a snippet of all our great homegrown music:

Most recent/best gig

I played at this year’s Galway Folk Festival in June and got to see a beautiful artist from New Zealand, Nadia Reid. We got the opportunity to sit and chat for a bit, which was such a treat. I also met up with Kenan Flannery; check him out, he’s fantastic and a really cool dude as well.

TV/streaming/film

Finally finished The Walking Dead - and I now preparing for the spin-off series!

Book

Finding Joy - Dearbhla Mescal: A beautiful book for poetry
The Museum of Birds and Beasts - Tess Leak & Sharon Whooley
A wonderful collection of stories from the islanders of West Cork

Podcast/radio

I love political and sports podcasts/radio shows.

Radio:

James O’Brien on LBC
RTÉ Radio 1 Arena (Rick O’Shea/the late Seán Rocks)
South Wind Blows Philip King
Rising Time - Lilian Smith

Podcasts:

Hamish & Andy
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
The Rest Is Politics
Stretford Paddock
The Overlap

Play/exhibition/other

Does a musical count? I saw Wicked at the West End last summer - mindblowing.....

A place you love going

The Red Strand

Something you think deserves way more attention

Our politicians and public representatives. I am a huge supporter of Palestinian causes here in Cork. I try to attend as many marches as I can and play fundraising shows. Keep the Mother & Baby Homes at the forefront of our minds and hearts. Housing, the health system - the music industry!!! There are loads of issues that deserve our attention.

What are some of the influences on your latest album Mountain Common?

My biggest influences are my family, the West Cork landscape, and the sea. Mountain Common is a townland where I grew up. The artwork is by the amazing Clonakilty artist Aidan O’Regan. We have worked together on the artwork for my three solo albums. I love collaborating. My music is a diary for my kids, my future grandkids and their kids - a time stamp. It’s very important to be tomorrow’s storytellers. It’s all about creating, every day creating.