Ahead of Nothing Compares: Sinéad O’Connor Special on Newstalk at 8pm tonight, we look back on Sinéad’s 2015 interview with Tom Dunne revealing her pre-gig ritual. 

Speaking a few days before her 2015 Vicar Street performance, Sinéad said she listened to 12 specific songs ahead of any gig to prepare. 

"Once I hear the first note of the first song, then I know it's gig time," she said. 

As someone who never did a soundcheck, Sinéad said her pre-gig playlist is the most important preparation. 

Sinéad O’Connor at the Cambridge Folk Festival, 01-08-2014.

Rasta and reggae music were especially important to Sinéad, as she explained they build up her confidence and spirituality ahead of her performances. 

“Rasta music moves me in a way that it uplifts me,” she said. “I feel like I’m not going to be on my own... they’re always songs about how God is with these people in terrible circumstances. 

“If you're nervous, or you've reason to be frightened, you listen to those tunes. They move you in a way that makes you feel powerful.” 

'The only song I want played at my funeral'

Sinéad Rastafari music included ‘Earth’s Rightful Ruler’ by Peter Tosh, ‘Give Thanks and Praise’ by Bob Marley and ‘Rastafari’ by Buju Banton. 

“The Buju Banton tune is the only song I want played at my funeral, whenever that happens,” she said. 

Sinéad told Tom, if you’re a musician, the song you want played at your funeral is something you plan “for years”. 

“Don’t have more than one tune played at your funeral because you dilute the power of that one tune,” she said. 

“I just want the one tune over and over and over again.” 

2ANWY74 Sinead O'Connor performs live at Hiroshima Mon Amour in Torino, Italy, on January 19th 2020

Spirituality was an essential part of Sinéad’s pre-gig routine as she prepared to connect with her audience. 

“It may sound kind of corny, but I want to be a priest as a musician,” she said. 

“My set of prayers that go along with these records before gigs, that's [how] I'll get to achieve it at the end of the day, that I will have been a priest. 

“Channelling is almost the right word, but it implies that it's not part of you, but it is part of you... you want to channel a particular part of you that isn't necessarily onstage all the time.” 

'Don't take yourself too seriously'

Following a series of songs to uplift Sinéad’s spirit, she said she listened to songs that reminded her to “have fun, enjoy, don’t take yourself too seriously”. 

“It's good to listen to people and watch people that make you want to perform live,” she said. 

Sinead O'Connor at the Grammy Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall, 22/02/1989. Image: AP Photo/Alamy

These energetic songs included ‘Louise’ by blues singer Howlin Wolf and ‘The Dominant’ by Van Morrison. 

“It’s a tune that just makes me want to get up on stage,” she said. 

Tune into Newstalk at 8pm for Nothing Compares: Sinéad O’Connor Special with Tom Dunne to listen to the full 2015 interview.