EQ Music Interview with Ocean Tisdall

In this EQ Music interview with Ocean Tisdall, we talk about his journey from Wicklow, Ireland, to the heart of London’s music scene and how his emotional, story-driven songwriting captures both vulnerability and strength. Ocean opens up about the deeply personal themes behind his latest project, which transforms heartbreak and self-discovery into art, and teases what fans can expect from his upcoming live performance at The Camden Club. With his cinematic style, honest lyricism, and raw emotional delivery, Ocean is an artist who wears his heart proudly on his sleeve.

⁠Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you living? What kind of music do you make?
Hello, my name is Ocean Tisdall. I’m a singer-songwriter from Wicklow, Ireland, where I was born and raised. I moved to London in 2021 to pursue music. I’m now living in Northwest London with three of my best friends, and it’s great.

The type of music I make is quite emotional and expressive—sometimes even a bit cinematic and dramatic, haha—but it’s always centered around the story and the lyrics. Right now, I’m in a more instrument-focused era, so the music is a little more stripped back.

We are very excited to be bringing you back to our New Music Showcase on 24th October at The Camden Club in London, tell us a little bit about what you are going to bring to us on the stage.
I’m super excited to be performing on the 24th. It’ll be my first time performing my new songs live, which is both exciting and nerve-racking. What I’ll bring to the stage, most importantly, is myself—haha—and, of course, some heartbreak songs.

We love your latest singles, especially ‘Sugar In His Tea’ – tell us a little bit about this song/project.
Thank you so much—I’m really glad you’re enjoying the new songs. This project is very concept-focused, and like I’ve been saying, it’s all about the lyrics and the story. It’s really about my journey through different situations in my life, and how I’ve been navigating them. These songs are my outlet, a way of turning some tough emotions and experiences into art.

When it comes to music influences, who are your greatest heroes in the pop music space both legacy and new?
I have so many inspirations in the music industry. A few that come to mind would be Ben Platt—his vocals are incredible—Sam Smith, especially “The Lonely Hour” album, which is insane, Conan Gray for his lyricism, and Troye Sivan. Being a gay artist myself, seeing how other queer artists navigate the industry is always inspiring to me.

The last concert I went to was Genevieve Stokes. Her music has been helping me through some rough patches lately, and I just think she’s amazing.

Any parting words for our EQ Music Blog readers?
Thank you for reading this—and if you’ve listened to the music, thank you for that as well, haha. Hopefully I’ll get to meet a few of you on the 24th.

Don’t miss out on discovering Ocean Tisdall — a rising voice in pop whose emotional storytelling and cinematic flair make him one to watch. His stripped-back yet powerful sound invites listeners into his world of reflection and resilience, offering music that feels both intimate and universal. Stay connected with Ocean and follow his journey on social media at @oceantisdall.