Damian McGinty: Mad Hatter Q&A

Who would be the last person you would invite to your birthday party?

Steven Gerrard. (Even though I did meet him with Robbie Keane and he was incredibly nice.)

Who would be the first person you would invite to your birthday party?

Sir Alex Ferguson.

Favourite saying

Things are never as bad as they seem, and things are never as good as they seem.

Favourite record?

Currently January Flower by Mat Kearney.

Favourite book?

The Harry Potter series.

Favourite film?

Happy Gilmore or Click.

Favourite author?

Pam Stucky.

Favourite actor / actress?

Leonardo Di Caprio.

Favourite musician?

Chris Martin.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?

Singing ‘I wish I Was Jessie’s Girl’ on national TV could be hard to beat.

Favourite food/drink/stimulant?

Coffee.

TV programme?

Lost.

Favourite TV personality?

Gary Neville.

Favourite item of clothing?

A cap.

Most desirable date?

Dinner + the cinema. Pretty low key.

Favourite method of relaxation?

I often wake up at 4am on the weekends here in California to watch the football from back home. It’s dark outside, nobody is up and I drink coffee. I find that very therapeutic.

If you weren’t pursuing your present career, what other career might you have chosen?

Something in business or finance. I often feel like singing and acting is my job, but running the brand is my business.

Biggest thrill?

Singing in front of a full house at Madison Square Garden.

Biggest disappointment?

Losing my fantasy football league last week to the last fella I enjoy losing it to.

Your concept of heaven?

Walking into a room of people that make you happy and feel so at home.

Your concept of hell?

The morning after in Vegas.

What would be your dying words?

I hope they’re something like, “I truly squeezed every bit of life out of my life and could not have enjoyed it any more.”

 Greatest ambition?

Longevity.

Period of history you’d most like to have lived in and why?

I think the ’50s or the ’60s. Mainly because the Rat Pack were at their height here and I’d give an arm to be a part of that. I love that type of music and performing.

If you weren’t a human being, which animal would you have chosen to be?

A golden retriever with a funny personality.

If you were told that the world was ending tomorrow morning, how would you react/what would you do?

I’d dance, eat my favourite food, call my closest family and friends and tell them I love them, fix up loose ends with others and then just be present with my wife.

Your nominee for the world’s best-dressed person?

Certainly not me! Honestly my ma dresses pretty well, I’d have to say her.

Favourite term of abuse?

If you fell into the River Foyle, you’d come out with a salmon. (Frequently used to abuse somebody else being incredibly lucky in fantasy football.)

Biggest fear?

Heights.

Humanity’s most useful invention?

Any form of FaceTime, or WhatsApp or connection tool. I would have struggled in a different if I lived away from home the way I do.

Humanity’s most useless invention?

Paper straws. I get the purpose, and I’m on board, but find me a solution for plastic straws that is not paper straws.

• Damian McGinty’s EP Those Were The Days is out now.