Irish indie-pop-rockers modernlove. have released their new single, ‘Islands’.The Drogheda band have also announced details of their brand new EP, ‘Oh My Mind’ EP which is set for release on July 29th on Akira Records (Phoria, Henry Green, Mt. Wolf, Rosie Carney, Shura). It follows the recent announcement of their debut UK and Ireland headline tour which will take place in November this year, including dates at London’s Camden Assembly and Dublin’s Button Factory.
Filled with earnest lyrics, effervescent synths, glittering guitars and slick basslines, ‘Islands’ is an invigorating display of indie pop. modernlove. take a sweet melody laced in melancholic tones and surround it with vibrant soundscapes to create an infectious tune for listeners to enjoy. However, the track deals with heavy subject matter as the lyrics depict the conflicting pressures and aching emotions caused by torn relationships “I don’t know what to say when my brother says is it his? is it hers? are we moving house?”. modernlove. are such an exciting band to listen to. They are masterful storytellers whose powerfully emotive songwriting is encased in upbeat vibrant instrumentation. The result is catchy tunes that pack a punch both lyrically and musically.
About the new single, the band said, “Islands is a classic coming of age story. Trying to cope with the fallout of a family coming apart due to divorce and one’s own romantic relationship coming to an end at the same time. It tells the story of both, blurring them into one at times.
“The song is about the distances between people in their relationships and how for some, it seems too impossible a task to even try to bridge those gaps.
These people are made into “islands” by the oceans they must travel each day to meet and see each other eye to eye.
“The song explores ways people try to deal with this struggle and this loneliness whether it be drink, drugs or sex but in the end it recognises that they are simply in a painful situation that they must accept and let happen as the song ends with the repeated words: “It’s coming apart and I can’t face it, I don’t wanna break down but I can’t take it”.
modernlove. 2022 November UK & Ireland Tour Dates:
The Backseat Lovers performed their debut Irish show, in The Button Factory last Wednesday night as part of Eastbound Dublin. Their show was completely sold out, following two venue upgrades. The Salt Lake City four-piece have had huge streaming success. They independently released, their debut album ‘When We Were Friends’ which smashed through industry ceilings after its 2019 release with 120m+ Spotify streams for the international phenomenon that is their single ‘Kilby Girl’ along with achieving a sold-out, first-ever 48-date US Tour and a Lollapalooza debut last year.
I spoke to Joshua Harmon (vocals/guitars), Jonas Swanson (vocals/guitars), Juice Welch (drums) and KJ Ward (bass) before their show in The Button Factory.
The Backseat Lovers have become known for their sun-kissed indie rock sound. The guitar in particular is an irresistible factor in this band’s songs. The sweet mellow and nimble guitar melodies weave soothing tones through each song, making every track utterly glorious to the ears.
Joshua: “ I think we look at guitar melodies pretty similar to the vocal melodies. They both guide the song and sometimes either/or will come first, especially with our older stuff, some of those songs will revolve around a riff or it would revolve around the melody and the riff would come later. It’s always sort of different”
Though the songs are laid back and melodious there is enough grit to keep each song interesting. ‘Pool House’, is a fine example of this, the song builds to a shredding guitar-heavy crescendo that is just exhilarating and the band explained to me how they crafted the song.
Joshua: “Well, I started writing that song on a classical acoustic guitar at a party somewhere. I guess it’s the morning after a very bad party and I was in Southern California. So it kind of…came from weird, some sort of beachy energy somehow. When we started playing it as a band, it kept that energy. I remember the moment we were in my parent’s basement, we were jamming it and I hadn’t written the chorus yet. It was once we kind of written that chorus we were just jamming it and I just started singing that “wait outside”, just that melody. It wasn’t even any lyrics yet, it was just singing that melody, and it got heavier as we kept jamming it, so it’s naturally the evolution, having a heavier side once it got to the chorus.”
The Backseat Lovers have an intricate sound. They carefully build the tracks to create catchy, light tunes filled with oodles of passion that is enhanced by delicately placed instrumentation. This creates a mature and lush listening experience. I wondered how the band write their songs and if they approached writing like a jamming session or if each member brings bits they have written to each other to work with.
Jonas: “I think that one depends too, a lot of the songs we have out were songs that Josh had written and then brought to us and we all arranged our parts. But as we’ve kept playing together as a band, we’ve started to, write songs more out of just jams or, either me or Josh coming up with a seed of an idea and then bringing that to the band and it growing from there. But there’s lots of different ways. We like to continue to explore new ways too.”
Well crafted and clever lyrical content is an obvious element in each of the band’s songs. Lines such as “Feels like a night to carry a tune, I’ve been carrying yours since you wrecked my room” “So we chase jack with love” from Kilby Girl eloquently express subtle messages and poetic undertones. The band explained to me the effort that goes into coining these lyrical elements and how they don’t feel pressure from outside influences to write poignant lyrical content.
Joshua: ” I feel Jonas and I are the main lyric writers and yeah, we’ve probably spent hours and hours most days churning through lyrics. Sometimes you’re just singing a melody and the lyrics are making their way into the melody in a very natural way in real time and sometimes it’s much more methodical, like trying out different puzzle pieces to fit the rhythm of the song and make a rhyme, and a certain cadence. It’s a combination between the two. It’s really fun, and it’s incredibly frustrating. It’s the best and worst part in my opinion”
Joshua: “ We don’t really feel pressure from outside. I think we have a certain amount of pressure that we create for ourselves. I think, at least for me, when I’m writing a song, it’s so much more.The only reason I’m doing it is to feel like I’m doing something for myself and I’m connecting with myself. When I think of something and it clicks and I’ve been working on it, for a second I feel it click in place. It’s the most satisfying feeling, it’s like Oh, I haven’t done that before, that pushed a little further than I went last time, you know. So that’s where the pressure comes from.”
Jonas: “Sometimes the most satisfying lyrics, feel the most genuine and I feel a connection to, are really simple ones that don’t really have a lot, I guess, super poetic value to it. But because they’re just saying exactly how it is, sometimes that’s even better than something that’s really flowery, I think.”
The Backseat Lovers’ song titles are interesting. They aren’t obvious song titles, they appear random with hints to the lyrics within the song. This adds a new dimension and meaning to the songs. Maple Syrup is a superb example of this. We spoke about what sparked that name for the song.
Joshua: “With the first album there is a strange arrangement of song titles. It’s something that’s fun when you can think of a song.. because naming a song isn’t very fun, generally, in my opinion it’s kind of like the last part, it’s like okaynow we have to name the song. But with those ones, it was really quite fun, because there were certain important backstories behind certain lyrics that only I would know about, that would end up making their way into the song title and Maple Syrup, I wrote about my friend. In the second verse, I’m talking about the purple sweater that he left at my house and he smelled like maple syrup. So that was where that came from.”
The band have been making waves in the music industry independently. With over 120m streams, their UK and Irish run of shows all sold out and they return to the US to support Jack White on his Arena tours. I asked the band if they had any advice for any upcoming independent artists and if we can look forward to their next album soon.
Joshua: “I think, take it with a grain of salt because we don’t know what the hell we are doing. We’ve always understood the reason why we’re making music in the first place. Ask [yourself] that question, then answer it and then act with that as the centre of what you’re doing. If you want to make music to get attention, then you have to know that’s why you’re doing it. But if you’re making music because it fulfils you, and because it’s something that you care about and you want to share it with people and that’s why you’re doing it doesn’t really modify it, essentially, if you’re acting on principles [that are] reasonably good.”
Jonas: “Yeah, we’ve been recording [album] for the last year. We still don’t have a date yet, but it’s getting close.”
Joshua:”Yeah, it’s about done”
The Backseat Lovers are crafting their sound beautifully to create tunes filled with compelling indie rock, wonderful intricate melodies and first-rate musicianship. Their debut album ‘When We Were Friends’ is just a glimpse into the many talents of this band. I’m looking forward to hearing what delicious musical gems they have in store for us with their next release.
SODAPOP has released his new single ‘Kevin’s Famous Chili’. This luscious indie-pop ditty is a glorious example of SODAPOP’s sweet and charming sound. He coats a candied melody in hazy sun-kissed vibes to create a bright atmosphere while a light spritz on guitar injects a dash of zest into the song’s opulent soundscape. The ethereal and dreamy effect SODAPOP’s songs have is mesmerising, he has a talent for creating songs that flood with smooth melodies backed by expressive instrumentation making each release absolute manna to the ears. Filled with bouncy rhythms, smooth vocals and an upbeat atmosphere ‘Kevin’s Famous Chili’ is a magnificent example of this.
About the track SODAPOP said: “This song is a homage to the scene from The Office where Kevin spills his Kevin’s Famous Chili and desperately tries to scoop it back into the pot with loose papers. It’s simultaneously hilarious and depressing, which is how I feel about my life a good portion of the time. A while back I used Spotify’s Listen Alike feature and found me and Kevin’s actor’s listening habits are apparently 85% similar. So I can relate to him in many ways lol. My goal with this song is for Kev to hear it and be like ‘nice.’”
Dublin Producer, Songwriter & Multi-Instrumentalist, Cabin has released his new single ‘Whatever You Have’. The fourth single to be released under Cabin, ‘Whatever You Have’, completes the collection of four tracks conceived and produced within a particular time, that ultimately led to the inception of Cabin as a musical project. Cabin (aka Adam McCabe) began crafting his songwriting and production skills as part of post-punk outfit Brass Phantoms. He has had his music featured on the likes of BBC Radio 6 with Steve Lamacq, Spotify’s Hot New Bands and more.
‘Whatever You Have’ delves deep into Cabin’s expressive psychedelic pop sound. The track is a wonderfully emotive listening experience and doused in pristine soundscapes of twinkling keys, intense electronic pulses and driving rhythms. Soul-infused vocals ripple throughout, gently guiding the listener through the track’s rich instrumental bed before the song dissolves into its powerful psychedelic finale. The track is a joy to listen to and is a mesmerising example of Cabin’s writing and production skills.
On the track, Cabin says; “This is a piece that embodies how I look at and approach creating music as an individual. That we now have the ability to create something far larger than ourselves, we should strive towards that.”
Dublin Four-piece Emily 7 have released their new single and fan favourite from live sets ‘Oh Me Oh My’. I spoke to Kyle and Scott Bellow, Daniel Clarke and Brandon Craig about their new single, songwriting and their energetic stage presence.
The last time I spoke with Emily 7 the band was a two-piece consisting of brothers Kyle and Scott Bellow. At that time we discussed the potential of adding more members to the band and I was intrigued to find out what sparked the decision to welcome Daniel Clarke and Brandon Craig into the Emily 7 family.
Scott:“Well, over lockdown myself and Kyle, we really started to look into the production side of things a bit more, looking at it a bit more carefully and looking at the live sound at the time wasn’t half as, I suppose, good as it could be. We knew both Daniel and Brandon. I knew Brandon through college and we knew Daniel from gigging in the past together and just being on the scene. We always got on, we just made the decision to go from two to four, what was the worst that could have happened you know, and we’re happy we did”
The addition of two new members has given the band the ability to expand and evolve their sound to create rich diverse tunes and dynamic live performances.
Daniel: “Yeah, the sound definitely changed a lot just because it was like the two boys to begin with. So when me and Brandon came in we were like, what else can we do because the songs are already class to begin with. It was just supporting the arrangement bit that was their big thing.”
Brandon: “Yeah broadening the harmonic structure as well along with filling out the sound especially in recording and we looked to adding more instruments as well in the recording.”
Daniel: “Yeah I think in ‘Oh Me Oh My’ we have a piano. We’re changing constantly, seeing what we can do better and what we can add. It is the four brains thinking there and we all have different influences. It’s like, oh, what can I put in.”
Brandon: “We gel it together as well with our own unique styles and it blends you know. “
Daniel: “ It oddly works.”
Writing songs as part of Emily 7 is a collaborative process. Each member brings their strengths and styles into the rehearsal room and the result is a melting pot of shredding guitar, resounding drums, catchy melodies and a plethora of indie rock goodness.
Kyle: “I suppose the four of us would have our own ideas individually. Then we just bring them to the rehearsal and flesh it out from there. The odd time, we could come in with fully formed songs or whatever, but more often than not it’s bringing in the bare-bones structure to see what as a collective piece we can add to the song to make it the type of song we’d be happy to put out.”
Emily 7 have released their new single ‘Oh Me Oh My’. It’s a catchy tune that pivots around indie guitar hooks and buoyant rhythms which translate well in the recording. The song depicts the feelings of regret the day after a night out and the lyrics slowly reveal the memories of the protagonist as the song progresses.
Kyle: “That song in particular came very quick. Some songs you can find yourself gruelling over for a long period of time but fortunately that was very quick. From the initial writing of the song compared to the version we released, it’s completely different. When we were in the studio recording it, as Daniel mentioned, there was the four of our brains bouncing off each other. As the lads mentioned, there’s a piano in the final recording which was just one of them spur of the moment ideas and the backing vocals as well because that’s something we’ve never really experimented with before. It was just on the fly in the studio. So, it went through some development, from the initial song to what we came out with but we’re very happy with how it turned out in the end.”
Kyle and Daniel share main vocals on some of Emily 7’s songs providing a refreshing listening experience throughout their tunes. We discussed how they share out the different vocal parts and if they write songs with the other in mind for the vocal.
Daniel: “ It kind of just comes when I write the song. I’m like, oh, I won’t be able to sing this so I’ll ask Kyle to do it, type thing. It’s just something that clicks. I just know Kyle’s voice. So it’s like, oh, he’ll sound like he has more meaning when he’s saying this, as opposed to me.”
Kyle: “Yeah, If I bring the idea of a song in, I’ll end up singing it or vice versa if Daniel brings something in and I suppose just going from there and just figuring out the arrangements and then help to flesh it out and make it into the fully finished song that we’d like. It’s just something that happens naturally.”
“There’s a handful of songs I suppose where Daniel comes in with a song, he’ll sing the verse, I might do the chorus or vice versa and then I suppose thinking about the backing vocals and such but there’s no power struggles.”
Emily 7 exude swagger and energy on stage. From suave guitar poses or standing on the drum stool to effortless banter with the crowd, the band appear to have a tight and flawless stage persona. For a young band, they know how to put on a show and get the crowd moshing in a manic frenzy.
Scott: “To be honest, it is completely on the fly. It really does come from the crowd’s energy. Every gig is different. Every gig is unique. We don’t work off a script or even on some nights we will decide to play a certain song that hasn’t been in our set in a good while. It really does depend on the crowd, the venue and the gig and just really how we’re feeling I suppose. We put more focus into creating good music because that’s really what it’s about at the end of the day it’s not about a swagger really as such. We’re there to create good music and if the swagger comes along with that so be it. If people enjoy it, they enjoy it, if not f*ck off.”
‘Oh Me, Oh My’ is a great track live. I have seen Emily 7 live a few times and this particular song is a hit with their fans and the crowd seem to love bellowing back the lyrics.
Scott: “Yeah, well, for me personally I don’t write many of the lyrics but I see a lot of these tracks when they are just general ideas and we’re bouncing them around in the studio. When you work on something for a long time and then, you notice that other people are getting enjoyment out of it, it’s great. I think it’s the best feeling in the world. You can only keep these things secret for so long and you have to let it out to other people. I think I speak for the rest of the band as well there are some songs that I think we personally don’t even like ourselves. However, other people have gotten enjoyment out of it and I think that really is the main thing, to be honest.”
Daniel: “Yeah for me and Kyle [we] definitely have where it’s like, oh, I wrote this in my bedroom, and you’re like playing the venue and people are enjoying it.”
I wondered if it was the live reaction to the song that made the band release ‘Oh Me, Oh My’ as their next single.
Kyle: “We released a couple of tracks last year and any time we played that song people seemed to like it even if it wasn’t necessarily a gig like if we were in rehearsals, and some of our friends were with us they always seem to like that song so when it got around to recording the next single it was a no brainer really, considering other people liked [it] anytime we played it live. Hopefully, people like the recording as much as they like it live.”
Brandon: “ I’ve seen people singing it live before it was released as well. It wasso easy to catch on to as well, but a lot of people, even that we knew personally as well they would be listening to the song and you’ll hear them singing along in the rehearsal as well.”
The four-piece are a young band making their imprint on the music industry with people like Liam Gallagher giving them a shoutout and brand endorsements from Fred Perry and Dr. Martens as well as playing their own sell-out headline shows in Whelan’s, The Workmans and The Grand Social. From their experience so far the band had some advice for a budding young band trying to make a name for themselves.
Scott: “To be honest, getting involved with other people is the main thing anddon’t be too close to yourself. You really need to be willing and open to other ideas, collaborating with other people and communication is the main thing but just work really hard. I think that the decision I made years ago to start playing drums was probably the best decision. I’ve met some friends that I’ll know for the rest of my life. I’ve been in some wacky places and stuff. It’s not a choice that you’d regret. Give it your all and just enjoy what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
“I’ve made the choice now that I’m not going to be a bank manager in a coupleof years. I just enjoy what I’m doing and the only reason someone would say don’t do it or anything they’ve obviously not tried it or experienced it themselves you know. I’m 19 and the stuff that we’ve done so far, I’m very proud of and I don’t think there is a lot of people this age that do stuff like that. I don’t think there’s a lot of people enjoying themselves this much in that sense. I’m really having the time of my life really. I love this band, I love gigging, I love releasing music it’s all great. It all just works out. It’s brilliant.”
Emily 7 have some exciting few months ahead and the quartet told me what is next on their plan for world domination
Scott; “ Well we will start with Dublin then the world. We will be playing This Is It Festival in The Grand Social on June 2nd and we’re also supporting THE K’S in The Workman’s Club on the 21st of May. So yeah we will be releasing more tracks, a collection of tracks, an EP at the end of the year. They’re really good tracks. I think in the past we’ve been patient to say the least in terms of releasing music. Yeah, we’ve been spending a lot of time rehearsing and, writing in the studio and we have a lot of new sounds and new ideas. But until then, you can catch us supporting THE K’S in The Workman’s Club on the 21st of May and playing at This Is It Festival in The Grand Social on June 2nd.”
Emily 7 are a hard-working and dynamic band who lace their songs with effervescent indie rock and oodles of talent. ‘Oh Me, Oh My’ is a fine example of this. The track is filled with jaunty guitars, a bustling bass and drum foundation and warm vocals. ‘Oh Me, Oh My’ is a satisfying new tune to indulge in again and again.
Mark Daly & The Ravens have recently released their new single ‘Gotta Run’. From performing at the MTV EMA Awards with The Voodoos, hitting #1 on the Scottish New Music charts with his Autism Awareness charity solo single ‘Your World’ to his songwriting work with Geoff Tate-led supergroup, Operation: Mindcrime; and recently performing on the Monsters of Rock Cruise 2022 alongside the likes of Alice Cooper, Buckcherry and more, Irish Rock musician Mark Daly’s career has been as varied as it has been exhilarating. His last single, ‘Don’t Look Back’, was the first with a new line-up of like-minded musicians that joined him to create Mark Daly & The Ravens. In the summer of 2021, Mark teamed up with Avantasia guitarist and world-renowned producer Sascha Paeth to begin work on a brand new Hard Rock album called ‘Peace in the Panic’ which is set for a release this year.
‘Gotta Run’ is a fiery, swagger-filled tune that boasts the colossal rock sound of Mark Daly & The Ravens. The band take a brawny drum foundation and douse kinetic guitars, riveting bass lines and blues sprinkled panache on top to create a tune that is a glorious assault on the senses. The song is well crafted as the band blend classic rock elements with earworm melodies to create that big arena rock sing-along before the song unfolds into a swirling frenzy for the manic crescendo. With rasped vocals and dynamic energy pulsing throughout ‘Gotta Run’ is a satisfying rock stomper that displays the magnificent sound of Mark Daly & The Ravens.
RIA RUA has released her new single ‘Boss’. The song is the first single off RIA’s debut EP, ‘chaos/control’ which is being released and promoted by the German indie label MPM. RIA RUA is a modern Irish female electro-grunge singer, songwriter and producer. After spending years as a professional drummer, she decided to take a chance on her own material. Her first three releases received national radio play in Ireland and the UK, and won her the 2021 International Artist of the Year from Nova Radio in the UK. Her last two releases were playlisted on Irish, UK US and German national radio.
It is difficult not to be enthralled by RIA RUA’s music.‘Boss’ is a fine example of this. The artist’s masterful production skills are on full display within the song and highlights just how talented RIA RUA is as a musician. RIA RUA’s mesmerising vocals ooze attitude atop a wonderful concoction of electronic pulses, grunge undertones and alternative embellishments creating an evocative soundscape that is a joy to listen to again and again. RIA RUA’s talent is boundless. The artist creates wholly consuming tunes filled with gloriously emotive soundscapes that showcase a deep understanding of music production even a seasoned musician would be enviable of. ‘Boss’ is an absolute gem.
Following the release of their title track ‘Heart Of A Nation’, Columbia Mills return with their new single ‘Addiction’. The track is taken off the band’s upcoming third album and to celebrate the band has announced an Irish and UK headline tour for October / November 2022. The tour includes a headline show at The Academy, Dublin on 25th November 2022. Columbia Mills are regulars at festivals such as Indiependence, Longitude, and Electric Picnic and have supported world-class acts like Ride, Public Service Broadcasting, and Palace. On top of this, they have also toured Ireland & the UK with a string of headline shows at venues such as Whelans, King Tuts, and Sebright Arms.
Doused in a haze of delicate guitar refrains and ethereal soundscapes, ‘Addiction’ is a glorious new single from Colombia Mills. The song pivots around a driving rhythmic pulse that rushes with adrenaline while a chugging bassline groove’s alongside a chiming guitar to create a light and airy atmosphere. Each subsequent listen reveals the deft musical prowess this band possesses – from catchy refrains to psychedelic undertones the track is a musical treat to the ears and becomes more intricate and layered as it progresses. ‘Addiction’ is a beautifully crafted tune that showcases the emotive songwriting and musical talent of Columbia Mills in all its glory. Enjoy.
Speaking about ‘Addiction’ lead singer Fiachra Treacy said: “In society, there seems to be a lack of sympathy towards addicts, particularly those on the margins of society. The song tells the story of the hopeless cyclical nature of addiction. We have framed the song with a euphoric upbeat sound to try and disguise it as a love song. There is an effort to highlight the strength of addiction and compare it with the helpless feeling of falling in love and losing control- something everyone can sympathise with.”
Corner Boy have returned with their highly anticipated new single ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’. It’s an energetic song brimming with vibrant passionate musicianship while boasting the emotive songwriting of the band. I spoke to frontman Mick D’Arcy about the new single, what we can expect from the band’s upcoming debut album and how they found working with producer Gavin Glass.
“Yeah, so the song was written very differently than any previous song we’d done before because it was during the lockdown. We were writing music separately in different counties, in different locations in Ireland. So, automatically, it was a different kind of writing process that we never really explored before and as a result, the song itself is different from any other songs that we’ve written previously. It was exciting to be working in that way. It was the first result of two years of lockdown. So we felt like it was the right song that would represent us as a first single from the album.”
‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’ builds beautifully with freeing soundscapes and evolving instrumentation and D’Arcy explained to me how that captured a sense of freedom in the song.
“Yeah, what we would have done is, when we were working remotely we’d be sending each other back and forth different sound beds relating to the lyrics of the song as well. We wanted to capture the idea of place and different locations of origin that are actually name-dropped as it were, in the song. We wanted to capture that sonically as well. So we would have sent different sound beds, be it either with more kind of rootsy instruments or with different layers of synth and that’s how we explored and how we found our way in the song. Then we wanted to really let the song grow organically as well. So the addition of different instruments on top of it really drove home the message and the feeling behind the song as well. The intent behind the song was to capture an essence of place with that, that’s how the song kind of formed itself, very naturally in that way.”
Though lockdown and the pandemic brought difficult times to many it did aid the band’s sound and gave them the space, time and ability to create the theme of escapism so beautifully captured in the song.
“Yeah, absolutely. I guess when you’re writing in a room together with musicians, there’s six of us in the band, you know, the process in itself can sometimes be very immediate. So something is decided upon and you might tease it out here and there but it’s copper fast and there in the moment. Initially, we were challenged in that way because it was something that we hadn’t done or explored before. But for us, we just became so happy with the song and how it was progressing and the feeling that we were capturing. So yeah, I guess it was really a testament to the times that we were able to write it in that way and as a result write a new piece of work that’s different from anything that we’d released previously. “
Corner Boy have a wonderful knack for emotive melodies. Their songs are laced in sweet earworm melodies and rich intricate refrains that perfectly capture feelings of joy, passion and sadness.
“We wouldn’t be prodigious writers by any means. A lot of the time what wedo is we bring different ideas to the practice room and different pieces of music that we would write would capture various emotions or different range of emotions. So I think melodically with ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’ a lot of it was the combination of a few different musical ideas that we felt were able to capture that feeling that we were trying to get across in the message of the song. So I actually think I’m right by saying that the chorus of the song, the melody for it was written maybe three years ago, the verses were written across 2021/ 2022. So we were taking old ideas, old themes, old feelings and matching them with themes that we were writing there and then in the moment. So it was no real A to Z in the moment writing of the song, we very much are a band that kind of move around. We go back and forth. We revisit different ideas, different soundscapes that we’ve had previously that may have worked in some ways, and then just try to find a marriage between them all. So yeah the song itself, for the most part, about 80% of it would have been written in 2020/2021 but we did revisit old themes that can try to drive home the message and the feeling of the song.”
‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’ is an anthemic track that oozes rich musical tones and lush textures. It is the first single to be released from the band’s upcoming debut album. We discussed how the song provides a taste of what is to come from the album.
“Yeah, I would very much say so. I think we were very blessed, we’re all from Wexford. I guess a very notable Irish producer Gavin Glass recently moveddown to Wexford in the last couple of years and lives quite local to us as well. So we’re getting to know him and the way he works and those interesting synergies between both of us and how we see music and the process of songwriting as well. We would have sat with Gavin on a number of pre-production sessions before we even, recorded the first note of the album and through that, we were able to for once in our lives, really sit in a room, sit in a studio space, get to know every instrument in the place and from that create a record that had this collective identity from start to finish. Blackstairs Winter Snow is definitely something that’s indicative of the next singles that are due to come from the album and the album as a whole as well. So having that opportunity to work with somebody like Gavin as well he’s had so much experience across different genres and he’s a wonderful way of being able to filter all of that for us to arrive at that finish point of what we wanted. So it was a long process, but it was something that was just so beneficial for us to have, that unified sound for the album. So we’re super excited.”
Corner Boy have been around releasing music for nearly 10 years, However only now have the band decided to release their debut album. I wondered if this was due to the band finding the right message, songs or just finding time to craft an album.
“We were actually pretty much ready to record the album in 2019. We were putting everything in place and then of course, you know, an extra two years lapsed. In that time, we were able to find moments where we could get in and work with Gavin, like I said we were working remotely. But at the same time we said look, we can’t wait around any longer but for us, I mean, we were lucky enough to be in a position where we toured extensively in Ireland, UK, Europe and elsewhere. Asia ,North America, I guess it was really just years and years of that experience building it up and being on the road and being more comfortable with this sound that we eventually arrived at, that we felt was completely representative of us as a band. But for us, it was really just finding the right collection of songs and from that process of working with Gavin then as well, being able to solidify your sound as a starting point was really important. I guess now that we all understand that now and we understand the expectation and the intention behind how we want to write and release music and all those years of experience being on the road we’re really confident about the record and we really do love the music that we’re going to be releasing “
The band worked with Producer Gavin Glass in Orphan Studios on the album and D’Arcy explained to me the importance of working with Glass and how his approach helped the band refine their sound.
“Yeah we’d worked with producers previously and every producer is different but the biggest compliment that I could probably pay to somebody like Gavin is that he has this unique ability of being your worst enemy and your best friend at the same time. He will sit with you he will tease through different opinions about sometimes even the slightest of things and it’s something that we’ve learned over the years sometimes it’s those slightest of things that really make a record. Gavin will give you his time, his energy, his thoughts to look at something very specific from a couple of different angles. It was really, really important to us and I guess unlike maybe other producers that we worked with in the past, Gavin’s way of working he essentially becomes a member of your band for the time that you work with him and that’s great. Yeah, he just does it in such a seamless way as well, it really makes you enjoy the entire experience of recording also.”
Corner Boy have also released a video for ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’. The video sees D’Arcy travelling the length and breadth of the country for his loved one and the band use clever camera angles and crisp edited shots to narrate the message of the song in a touching manner.
“It was something that we would have all come together as a band about, the feeling we’re trying to capture with the song. We did sit down and talk about the song, what it means and what it represents. The song itself is about exploring the idea that you would go to any lengths for the people that you love. All of the band are from Wexford. So the Blackstairs mountains are kind of the border of Wexford. It’s where, when you’re entering Wexford, from a lot of different counties it’s once you get there, you’re home and it’s the idea of being with the people that you love in your home in a place that feels natural to you. In the song we’ve just been able to traverse different landscapes and different environments and different challenges overcoming them to really capture the essence of what that feeling is. We shot it over two days earlier this year and we had great fun doing that. So that’s obviously an integral part to capture in the song correctly as well. “
“We’re really happy with it. It was all self-produced by the band as well. So all of the editing, all of the shooting, the storyboarding everything was done by us. It was great to just have that sense of control over it and being able to sometimes execute with a creative vision on something is one of the hardest things that you can do. But when you get there in the end and when you’re happy it’s so rewarding.”
Like all musicians, Corner Boy have had to become familiar with social media and do live streams, TikTok videos etc to help promote themselves and reach their fans. We discussed the challenges and advantages of using social media.
“Yeah, as a band we’ve been around for 10 years. So we’ve seen the full spectrum. When we first started out it was very much the occasional, online posts here and there across a few different channels and now it’s a case where most artists really have to be this kind of provider of content, this kind of entertainment channel. So we’re trying to embrace it as much as we can like we’ve done with the video. It’s just trying to have really strong and evocative visuals as well that represent the music well but also showing off the character of the band, we have the bit of craic that you would have on the road and the fun. We’re all really, really close. We’re all really really good friends. So it’s just trying to capture that feeling in the band as well. Camaraderie is a large part of why we’re in a band together and why we pursue it. So you can look at it one or two ways I guess, you can look at it [ social media ] as a challenge or something that takes up a lot of your time or you can also look at it, as a way to explain the narrative and the story of the band and more than anything demonstrate who you are as people because at the end of the day people are really going to connect to your music that bit more when they understand you as people and who you are.“
Corner Boy’s sound surges with hearty melodies and a rich array of instruments that subtly build to create an immense soundscape that rushes with passion. They are a band who have been cultivating their sound to its purest most invigorating form. ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’ is a fine example of this and an exciting glimpse of what we can expect from their upcoming debut album. Corner Boy have some exciting announcements coming up so keep an eye on their social media to keep up to date with new music and live dates.
“Yeah, so we do have some dates booked in for later in the year. Nothing that we can announce officially yet but we will be announcing details on the release of our album later this year so we definitely have a few Irish dates in mind and some dates abroad as well. I would say details of that will definitely be released sometime before the summer in the next month or two so we’re really looking forward to getting back out on the road. We’ve been in the rehearsal room for the last couple of weeks. I guess like many acts we’re just excited to get back into a venue, into a live setting and just feel the buzz off the crowd. It’s going to be a great moment for us. So we’re really excited for it”
Watch the video for ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’ below
Breakout Irish rockers N.O.A.H have released their new single ‘The Way We Are Told’.This new single follows the highly regarded debut EP Echoes of the Night, which features collaborations with the likes of the Irish hip hop duo, Hare Squead as well as New Orleans style brass band Booka Brass. The EP was produced by the Grammy-Winning Ruadhri Cushnan in Camden Studios and mastered by John Davis of Metropolis studios London. With word spreading fast and the ever-growing press, N.O.A.H signed with Natasha Bents’ newly founded Mother Artists Live Agency (Foster The People, Idles, CMAT). The band even made their first TV appearance on RTÉ Six One News to talk about their story and quick rise within the industry.
Laced in passionate melodies and cinematic instrumentation, ‘The Way We Are Told’ boasts the mesmerising sound of N.O.A.H. The band surge warm Americana rock over a bubbling indie backdrop of sharp guitars, rippling drums and 80’s – esque synths to create a gripping listening experience. N.O.A.H’s sonically lush sound is boundless and boasts an array of genres and tantalizing textures for listeners to indulge in. On each subsequent listen the track’s lush soundscape reveals little musical gems throughout from emotive musicianship to compelling songwriting. ‘The Way We Are Told’ is an excellent example of fine musicianship; the production, arrangement, lyrics and vocals all blend together spectacularly. N.O.A.H is an exciting and immensely talented band to keep an eye on.
Stream ‘The Way We Are Told’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
