He might have some big-name fans, including Bob Dylan and U2 (both of whom he has shared a bill with), yet Irish singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey is not about to allow success to alter his world-view.
Having moved from sing-alongs in pubs in north Dublin to various stadiums around the world, Dempsey is one of the biggest names in Irish music.
Dylan and U2 aside, others to have professed a liking for him are Brian Eno, Sinéad O'Connor and Morrissey, who invited Dempsey to support him on a United States tour.
However, the award-winning artist is swapping the big-concert spotlights for the ambience and intimacy of smaller venues.
Following the recent release of It's All Good: The Best of Damien Dempsey, a celebration of his career to date, Dempsey is touring Australia and New Zealand, where he will perform four solo gigs, including at Coronation Hall, Maori Hill, next Friday, March 28.
Dempsey has yet to visit New Zealand. He is buzzing about it, he says via phone from Perth earlier this week.
There is another reason he sounds so upbeat: Ireland won the Six Nations rugby championship last weekend, providing retiring captain Brian O'Driscoll with the perfect send-off.
''It was great to see him go out on a high,'' Dempsey says, his strong Dublin accent requiring strict concentration (''high'' comes out as ''hoy'').
The manner of Dempsey's patter is only raised in the context of his career: having won several prestigious Irish Meteor Awards, including Best Irish Male and Best Traditional Folk Award, his success is built on remaining true to his roots.
In short, there is no affectation and certainly no attempt to adopt any transatlantic vocal stylings.
''I'm not into music for fame or money,'' he says.
''I would rob banks to pay to go on tour. I love it. I feel very lucky to travel all around the world playing music, even if it's just to 10 or 20 people. This is my religion.
''I think it is important for everyone to sing. I hate hearing somebody telling someone that they can't sing. Everyone should sing; it helps you through life. I think it is a spiritual thing.''
Following in the footsteps of The Dubliners and The Pogues, adding elements of reggae, rock and Celtic rap to traditional Irish folk music, Dempsey's debut album in 2000, titled They Don't Teach This Shit in School, announced the arrival of an artist whose lyricism has more to do with barbs than babes.
''I've never been into writing soppy love songs,'' he says.
''When I feel angry about something, if someone has been done wrong, I've always had to write a song about it. It's an itch I have to scratch. Talking about things, discussion, is good.
''When I'm in a conversation, I listen more than I talk. A fella who came before me, [Irish folk music legend] Christy Moore, just took in what was going on and put it to song.
"I'm a disciple of his. You watch everything and take knowledge from everyone.''
In the liner notes of It's All Good, Dempsey states: ''When we sing we give our souls a cuddle.''
Yet it is put to him that a song without strong lyrics might be regarded as a song without a soul. He likes that thought.
''That's very true. That's a great line.
''And when you are playing solo, you can dwell on the lyrics a bit more. At a show with a band, where lots of people are standing and talking, you can't really tell a story.
"It gets lost. The people want to jump around ... but at a solo show people can concentrate more on the lyrics.''
Still, performing without the safety net of several band-mates has its challenges for Dempsey, who acknowledges he used to suffer from ''chronic shyness'' in his younger days.
''I was terribly shy. I still am. I don't know how I get up on stage,'' the 38-year-old said.
''I get nervous, but life is nothing without challenges. You need to do new things. It's good to be afraid sometimes.
"Even if you do something and it's not so successful, at least you have faced your fears and given it a shot.''
Playing
Damien Dempsey performs at Coronation Hall, Maori Hill, on Friday, March 28.
Giveaway
The Otago Daily Times has a Damien Dempsey prize pack to give away, including a double ticket to his show in the Maori Hill Coronation Hall and free drinks and nibbles from 7pm at No 7 Balmac Cafe. To go in the draw email your name, address and daytime contact number to playtime@odt.co.nz by Tuesday, with Damien Dempsey in the subject line.
