An acoustic songtale written and performed by John Vanek on slide guitar, vocals and harmonica.  



Jody Don't Dance

The Language of Songs podcast, featuring in-depth exploration of how language works in songs, how songs cross-connect with literature and poetry and how both genres fertilise each other. Also features interviews with songwriters and spoken-word artists including Amy Goddard and Abby Oliviera.

The Language of Songs

The Language of Songs Episode 2

This is Episode One of John Vanek's The Language of Songs podcast, featuring in-depth exploration of how language works in songs, how songs cross-connect with literature and poetry and how both genres fertilise each other. Also features interviews with songwriters and spoken-word artists including Amy Goddard and Abby Oliviera.

The Language of Songs Episode One (re-mastered)

So good to have Ireland's No. 1 spoken word artist Abby Oliviera on the show.  Abby explains the inspiration and background to some of her classic works such as 'Priestess', 'Apocalips Lil and the Night to Remember' and other tracks from her acclaimed album 'Cast Away Your Compass'

Language of Songs Episode 6 Abby Oliviera Interview Pt 1

The Language of Songs Episode 6 features an interview with Ireland's No. 1 spoken word artist Abby Oliviera. Abby discusses her work and influences and we explore tracks from her spellbinding spoken word album 'Cast Away Your Compass'.

LOS Episode 6 Abby Oliviera Interview Pt 1

Episode 5 features John Vanek being interviewed by Forbes contributor and didgeridoo player Simone Vincenzi.  John covers questions about his music, his love of the arts and passion for mental wellbeing and social inclusion.

The Language Of Songs Episode 5

'Legenderry Sky' is the first collection of songs that contains three numbers recorded in my adopted city of Derry.  The title song Legenderry Sky is my love song to Derry - a city that is sometimes called Derry or Londonderry but more recently has been give the highly appropriate name 'Legenderry'.  

The cover pic shows Vanek busking on the Peace Bridge which joins up the CItyside to the Waterside areas of the city.  The Peace Bridge is a phenomenal structure suspended over the river Foyle.

The collection contains two new songs written here in Derry and a guitar re-working of an older song 'The Great Obsession' which I originally wrote on keyboards.  The songs (apart from 'Slipstream') were recorded at the Audio Booth at the Nerve Centre.  I play guitar, slide guitar, keyboards, melodica, harmonica and vocals.

Thanks to Oran O'Carroll for recording and engineering.