George Houston (singer)
George Houston | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | George Houston |
| Born | 2001 Inishowen, County Donegal |
| Genres | Alternative pop, Folk |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Labels | Independent |
George Houston (born 2001) is an Irish singer-songwriter from Inishowen, County Donegal. He has released four studio albums, and toured internationally with Paul Weller, Hothouse Flowers, and Joshua Burnside.
Early life
[edit]Houston was born in Inishowen, County Donegal. He was named after his grandfather. He recalls falling in love with music after watching the 1986 Jim Henson film Labyrinth and it's star David Bowie, and states that the first song he ever learned to play was "Dr. Fell" by Juliet Turner. Houston's father encouraged him to pursue songwriting when he was thirteen, and recorded his first songs at sixteen when his parents gifted him a day pass to a local studio.[1][2]
Career
[edit]"Boo Fucking Hoo", Houston's first single, was released on 18 September 2020, and he began performing live the following year to support the release of his debut album Cold Toast.
His second studio album, Undesired, was released on 11 November 2022, with his debut Irish tour in support of the album commencing in March 2023.[3][4] His third, Vehicular Suicide, followed on 13 October 2023.[5] In 2024, Houston supported Paul Weller on the Irish and US dates of his tour.
Houston made his television debut on the sixty-sixth series of Later... with Jools Holland, where he performed "Lilith" from his fourth album TODC, which stands for "The Original Death Card", named after the tarot card of the same name.[6] Discussing the album, which was recorded at Weller's Black Barn Studios, Houston explained that “TODC has been an incredible healing experience from start to finish. The death card, in tarot, is not only a symbol of death, but the change and rebirth that comes with it. To have a project that is unapologetically feminine, queer, and Irish, all rolled into one has been a massive step in removing myself from the shame that comes with growing up queer in rural Ireland. Even if I do go to hell, at least I lived honestly.” The album was released on 13 June 2025 and was celebrated with a live show at Kinnegar Brewery in Letterkenny on 19 July.[7]
Sound and influences
[edit]Houston describes his music as "alternative pop", and stated that "what that means to me though is I can take influence from all my favourite genres like folk, rock, synth wave, pop, country (I could go on). My main focus is the lyrics, I want them to be emotive, candid, but not alienating, so when it comes to genre, I go in the direction that fits with the lyrics best."[1] He noted that he seeks to embody a "genre queer" approach to his music, telling BBC News that "I love the idea that music is non-binary and can be whatever it wants to be". When discussing his songwriting, Houston explained "All of my songs come from a place of sadness or anger. That’s the joy of being a singer-songwriter, you’re not trying to imagine what it's like to feel what the songwriter wrote. I’m saying what I’m feeling, and it helps me connect to the music a lot more. It’s a way for me to use music as therapy."[2]
He listed David Bowie, Kate Bush, Leonard Cohen, First Aid Kit, Lana Del Rey, Stevie Nicks, The Waterboys, Connie Converse, Simon & Garfunkel, and Electric Light Orchestra among his influences.[1]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Cold Toast |
|
| Undesired |
|
| Vehicular Suicide |
|
| TODC |
|
Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Class of 2020 |
|
| Creature of the Night |
|
| Pain |
|
| Drag Queen |
|
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Behind the music - George Houston". RTÉ. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ a b Mandeville, Adam (31 August 2024). "From Burt to Brooklyn: Donegal man to support Paul Weller". BBC News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ "Exciting Singer-Songwriter George Houston Releases New Album 'Undesired'". 15 November 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ McLaughlin, Rachel (28 March 2023). "George Houston can't wait to get the show on the road in debut Irish tour". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ "Singer/Songwriter George Houston Releases Third Studio Album 'Vehicular Suicide'". 13 October 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ "BBC Two - Later... with Jools Holland, Series 66, Episode 4".
- ^ "Watch: George Houston's 'hauntingly beautiful' Jools Holland performance out now". Donegal Daily. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.