Post-funk and alt-punk band Def Nettle have released their new single ‘Architecture’. I caught up with frontman Glen Brady to chat about the band’s sound, their support slot for Scattered Ashes and how he crafted the new track.

‘Architecture’ is a fantastic tune that showcases diverse musical treats within its soundscape. From intricate rhythms to beautiful guitar refrains and wonderfully rich textures the track is a joy to listen to.

“I started a lot of the music myself before bringing in other musicians. That’s usually how it’s been so far with this project. Over the last few years I’ve been working as a producer, engineer and writer for a long time and so on this one I actually had some bass sounds, a basic rhythm and I had written the main guitar it’s, I guess you’d call it the lead line that comes in over some beats, and [ I ] wrote the lyrics and the vocals based off of that. Then a guitarist named Joe Donegan, who I worked with came in, and he added a lot of the riffs that go throughout the track, then the higher, more melodic parts, another artist named ABoyInCords, he does some solo stuff, Graeme [Slattery] he came in at the last minute and added a few of those lighter touches but most of the guitar was played by Joe Donegan, even though I had done the main line myself at first”

” So, yeah, the track was one of the slower ones to come together in a way because sometimes they really come together quickly in a day or two. That one the vocal line, and the rhythm section came together first, and that main guitar lead, and the rest of it came together over a series of months. Jay Oglesby, a friend of mine added the live drums and then a guy who’s in our live band now, Ely Siegel added the baseline right at the end, because we’d been using a synth bass for most of the time. I just started working with Ely. In fact, that was the first thing we did together and that came together just before I finished the track so it was a nice way to end it and to start my working relationship with him.“

“The vocals are very similar to the first day I wrote them. However, the song had been a little more electronic in the beginning and when Joe came in, he’s a brilliant guitarist, and he really had his own vision for the sound. Sometimes I’m reluctant to trust other musicians and I had been working with Joe on a live basis for a while. I really trusted him actually, which is unlike me, but I really trusted him with it and you know what, I was really glad I did.”

“We almost struggled to get it right for a while. I live in Wexford. He lives in Dublin. So he had to come down a few times and thankfully he did…and I decided to just trust him because he’s so good and trust the process. So I definitely, allowed his place in the track but the track itself and the general vibe is very much led by the vocal and that first lead guitar line, which was in the more electronic version. So although it’s definitely more rocky than I would have done it in the beginning I’m super glad that he came in.”

” Also Graeme, he does ABoyInCords he really added some beautiful guitar touches right at the end that gave it a really nice retro feel along with that rock and roll feeling. I think his guitar really worked with the dark retro feel of the vocal and gave the track an almost light feeling on top of that.”

The melody in ‘Architecture’ is irresistible. This is something Brady has a knack for and the frantic pace of the vocal melody in his previous release ‘The Pills’ gives a teaser to the style of the vocal in ‘Architecture’. 

“I’ve been making music for a long time under lots of different names and with lots of different people but ‘The Pills’ was maybe the first or second track where I was like, Oh, this could be an act. You know, this might turn into a band. I might want to front a band with this sound and they’re definitely related. The sound of the band is very much influenced by the songs of my teenage years and punk, post-punk and kind of gothy and the early indie alternative stuff. So they’re definitely all related.”

” I think ‘The Pills’ was more influenced by a lot of skate rock and a little bit of hip hop in a sense like you said, the frantic flow. So there was a little bit more hip-hop influence on the vocal, and like I said, it was one of the first songs with this act. So as I’ve gone deeper into this act, I’ve got maybe a little more confidence in the vocal and I’ve been able to explore a bit more of where I’m going with it. I did a number of cover songs, in the beginning, to explore the vocal sound. I covered a Tom Waits song, PJ Harvey song, a Billy Bragg song, and by doing that I found where I wanted to go with the vocal. So ‘The Pills’ was in a very early version of that. So it’s definitely an evolution from there but still influenced by that important period in my life.”

Def Nettle is Brady’s first project as lead vocalist. I wondered if he was nervous about taking on the vocalist role.

“I definitely wasn’t confident and I’m still not. But, I have to say that the first thing I ever did musically in my late teens or early 20s was a very similar band to this before I ever became a DJ and a producer and had a career. Before I did that, one of the first things I ever did was something that touched on something I’m doing now, and then I never really did it again. I did some vocals about maybe 10/15 years ago, on a few songs, but I’ve always been in the background. So somewhere in my mind, I definitely always knew that I was gonna come back to it. I just didn’t know when and there was all sorts of other stuff going on. I was working with people who are more established, as vocalists and I learned a lot from them along the way. I learned a lot about myself and what I wanted to express.”

” So when I made ‘The Pills’, I liked the idea of maybe one day doing it, but I didn’t see myself doing it live and now it’s happening and it’s part of my life. So I’ve almost had to just bury the nerves or the lack of confidence and, I think a lot of that is related a little bit to I gave up alcohol a few years ago, and I think doing this act I have to be sober, you know, and that’s why I’m not as nervous because the stories are real. There’s honesty there. I’m not trying to cover anything up. I’m not trying to get pissed and, perform and use that to cover my fear. If I did that people would see through it in a live element and it would look fake and I think because I’m sober, what I’m doing is me and so I don’t have anything to fear because I’ve come through that if that makes sense.”

” I definitely feel I owe it to myself, to the people that are hiring me to do gigs and to the material to do it in my right mind and through doing that, that’s how I fight the nerves and that’s what makes me more confident and less nervous about it. I’m not doubting myself because it’s actually me. It’s not a version of me that’s covering it by being drunk or something, you know.”

The lyrics within  ‘Architecture’ are stark and honest with vivid imagery. Brady sings ”When It rains in Dublin. You can hug the buildings. Go where you want. Like when we were children” over ominous bass lines and eerie soundscapes. 

“That one definitely came in a burst. I think I wrote the whole thing in an hour or so here at my studio. All the songs are usually about one person when they start and then I add a load of other people that might have something in common with them and I make it seem like it’s all about one person and maybe ‘Architecture’ is a little different because it’s very personal. I’m definitely thinking about a certain period in my life, a post-adolescent kind of period, where I’m unsure of myself. You know, there’s definitely a feeling of being lost or heartbroken, that early 20s not being quite so sure of where your life is at, being broke especially, it’s based in Dublin in the 90s. It’s very grey and autumnal and there’s definitely that image of myself in my late teens in the city, looking for friends or somewhere to go and being lost in the rain that kind of idea and the lyrics talked about the main theme of architecture you know, using the buildings in the city and the structures to shield myself from the weather and from that forlorn feeling.”

The single is accompanied by an atmospheric video that portrays Dublin in bleak rainy weather and dull filters. Brady explained to me how he created the video. 

“I started by going on YouTube and looking for the actual streets where I had these experiences as a young version of myself and I found myself looking at tour guide videos of Dublin. Then I found tour guide videos of Dublin in the rain and I thought, Oh, that’s really interesting. I contacted the people, the tour guides, who made those videos, and I said, Hey, I’m in a band, can I use some of your footage? And I made the video myself. I tried to then effect the video. There’s a lot of emotional turmoil and difficult past and difficult history and some levels of insanity and very, very dark and abusive relationships that I had had before that or grew up in. I wanted to show them and I think the black and white in the reverse was a really nice way of showing the insanity of that time. Then I set up the camera myself at home I did the entire thing myself.”

Brady has worked at the top of his field in every aspect of music production, performance, and DJing for almost three decades, making music with the likes of R.E.M., Dominique Keegan (The Glass, Plant Records ), the California State Symphony and has toured as a member of DARK with Andy Rourke ( The Smiths) and, the late Dolores O’Riordan as well as having mixed their album, Science Agrees. We discussed how all these experiences shaped the sound of Def Nettle.

“Well, you know, people who have been successful that I’ve worked with, some of them have been very awe-inspiring in terms of their performances that I might have witnessed, so I don’t really feel on the level of some of the artists that I’ve worked with. I feel like technically I’ve learned a lot by being very dedicated to learning music. I learned music late. I didn’t learn music as a child. I came to music in my late teens and early 20s. So I always felt like I had to make up ground. So I’ve been very studious in my life and in terms of learning music I’ve been pretty obsessive. I think musically that came from a more personal place.”

I asked Brady from his experience within the music industry what advice he would give to an aspiring musician.

“Never stop at all. We all have to pay our dues and some people get what they need right away or within a couple of years and some people, it takes 30 years, so it really doesn’t matter. The process is what’s important and being able to express yourself. I think if I had to give some advice to myself, back then it would be practice instruments and don’t drink so much.

It took me this long to come to the point where I’m happy with what I’m doing and perhaps that’s why I’m able to do it now because of all of those experiences. I surely write a lot about the people and places and trials and tribulations that occurred during all that so there’s definitely a lot to write about because of mistakes I’ve made and lifestyles I’ve led in the past.”

Def Nettle had a show supporting Scattered Ashes at The Workman’s Club on 18th November. Brady told me about the band’s upcoming plans and how fans can catch them again live. 

“This is our third single and the Scattered Ashes show is our first show with the full band. We did a Fanning at Whelans. It’s going to be on Virgin Media one in a couple of weeks. We did another thing for  RTÉ 2XM Sessions from Oblivion, that’s going to be on in January or February. So you know, we’re really just getting out there. So I don’t have any plans as of now. I’d like to, but I don’t think we’ve developed our business that well, not enough people know us yet, I feel. I’m hoping that this one is going to help with that and I’m sure doing the Fanning Live at Whelan’s should help. 

We’re also doing a show in Fibbers [Fibber Magees] in February, supporting one of our favourite punk bands, The Nilz, that we’re really looking forward to. So yeah, I’m really hoping there’s gonna be a lot more shows, especially in 2023. We’re ready to do that. Definitely.”

Def Nettle creates a tight and utterly compelling sound with earnest lyrical content at the core of each song. Showcasing refined production, thought-provoking lyrics and first-rate musicianship, Def Nettle are making their mark as a band to keep an eye on.

Stream ‘Architecture’ below 

Author: Danu