Cian Ducrot is here to stay! With his new album Little Dreaming, the musician stretches every creative muscle, embracing retro grandeur while staying firmly rooted in modern-day vulnerability.

Inspired by the sounds of Elton John, Queen, and Michael Jackson, Little Dreaming shimmers with the drama of the ’70s and ’80s, yet its lyrics speak to universal, deeply human truths: grief, fame, friendship, freedom, and the long road to healing. Collaborating closely with a tight-knit group of trusted creatives, Ducrot found something rare, total artistic liberation.

FAULT Magazine caught up with the ever-candid artist to discuss how grief shaped “My Best Friend”, why letting go led to his most powerful work yet, and how he’s learning to stay grounded in the chaos of fame.

FAULT Magazine: You’ve described Little Dreaming as a life-changing creative experience. What was the moment during the making of the album that made you feel most transformed as an artist?

Cian Ducrot: The end. The last few weeks I spent in a studio, I just let go and I was very creative! It felt amazing, and the music that came was very special.

FAULT Magazine: How did you balance that retro inspiration with maintaining your own contemporary sound?

Cian Ducrot: It’s about choosing the right production and recording methods. A lot of mixing and production choices were very intentional for the sonic, but also everything made today will always sound contemporary, so you don’t have to try too hard. If anything, the difficulty is making things sound timeless — not too old, not too new.

FAULT Magazine: You’ve mentioned this album is about being creatively free. How did that differ from previous projects?

Cian Ducrot: I think it’s easy to be influenced by the outside world and what’s out there and what people think you should do. This process was very internal and came from within. I just wanted to let go of expectations and tried to just create, and then decide after if it was right. You can’t be creative if you already place a box around yourself.

FAULT Magazine: “What About Love” explores the hollowness of success without connection. Do you feel fame has complicated your ability to maintain real intimacy in your life?

Cian Ducrot: I think fame is amazing, but it’s very, very weird. No one understands it at all unless they experience it, and that’s the hardest part. I don’t think we’re designed to be treated as more than just human, so it takes a lot of time to adapt, especially if you’re trying to do it without developing a big ego… it’s a lot harder than you think. It has affected a lot in my life positively and negatively, but mostly I try to just be grateful for the life it has given me!

FAULT Magazine: What inspired the title, Little Dreaming?

Cian Ducrot: I felt the song encompassed the energy of the album a lot.

FAULT Magazine: What is the inspiration behind “My Best Friend”?

Cian Ducrot: It’s about a friend I lost to suicide a few years ago. Sometimes it just hits me, and this time I had a guitar in my hand when it did, so I sat outside and the song fell out. I reminisce on our times together and imagine what it could be like now.

FAULT Magazine: As you prepare to bring Little Dreaming to stages across Europe, what message or feeling do you hope your fans carry with them?

Cian Ducrot: I just hope they have the best time ever and feel all of the emotions of being human at that show! It’s going to be very special, so I’m very excited!

FAULT Magazine: Last time we spoke, your FAULT was being overly sarcastic. Have you picked up any new ones?

Cian Ducrot: I’m FAULTless ;)