• Interview: Mr. Scruff

    January 14, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of his sold out show at Belfast’s Black Box on Saturday night, the insatiable, inimitable and encyclopedic Andy Carthy AKA Mr. Scruff chats with resident Thin Air Scruff fanboy Aaron Drain about the “necessity” of the arts, his influence (and influences), his legendary stamina for DJ marathons and more. Win tickets to the sold out Belfast show here. You used to work in retail (like me! Separated at birth? Probably.) and made the leap to producing music full-time in the mid 90’s. What gave you that boost of confidence that allowed you to pursue your passion? Was it an easy…

  • Front of House: Brian Collins

    January 15, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of our regular feature, Front of House, photographer Tom McGeehan shoots and talks with Belfast-based sound engineer Brian Collins about his background in the industry, his day-to-day working life and what 2015 holds in store for him. Hi there. Can you tell us about yourself? Hi! My name is Brian Collins and I am a Freelance Sound Engineer. I am originally from Galway but I lived in Donegal for years before settling in Belfast where I am currently based. How did you become a sound engineer and how long have you been involved in it?  I have been involved…

  • Track Record: Contour

    January 14, 2015 - By 

    All throughout 2014 we dotingly pried into the prized record collections of some of our favourite Irish artists via Track Record. Taste abounded from every photo and giddy admission, and all was well in the world. Before delving into all of those (which we’re certain you’ll do so with fervent abandon in due course) dig the latest with Dublin electronic duo Conan Wynne and Anna Doran AKA Contour. Photos by Tara Thomas. Anna Doran Prodigy – Music for the Jilted Generation Nostalgia buzz. I bought this for Conan for his birthday! Underground Resistance – The Final Frontier I only have a…

  • Interview: Sleep Thieves

    January 13, 2015 - By 

    Dublin electro-pop threesome Sleep Thieves have steadily spent establishing their reputation as one of the country’s most alluring and exciting acts. With the moody, hypnotic “disco-noir” of their Minty Fresh-released debut album You Want The Night winning an ever-expanding transatlantic fanbase, Sorcha Brennan, Wayne Fahy and Keith Byrne look set to soundtrack many more nocturnal rambles of the soul in 2015 and beyond. Ahead of their free show at Belfast’s new-fangled Woodworkers this Saturday night, Joe Madsen talks to Sleep Thieves about their colourful journey so far. Your LP You Want the Night marks your debut full-length album with US record label Minty…

  • Q+A: Idlewild

    December 8, 2014 - By 

    Jonny Currie talks to Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones about recording their new album, memories of Belfast, and preparing for the upcoming tour. It’s been five years since the band’s last album Post-Electric Blues – was it easy to pick up where you left off in terms of writing and recording for Idlewild again? Surprisingly so. From about the age of eighteen it’s all we’d ever really known. It never felt like a living because we were so caught up in what we were doing. Although towards the end of the process with the last record it felt like it was like…

  • Interview: The Magic Numbers

    December 2, 2014 - By 

    Currently on the road around Ireland, including tonight’s Cork show at the Half-Moon, indie/pop quartet The Magic Numbers are touring in support of this year’s album ‘Alias’. TTA sat down for a quick chat with bassist/vocalist Michele Stodart to get caught up. TTA: Fourth album ‘Alias’ released this past summer, how have you found the reception to it? Michele: I think the response has been great so far. The proof is at the gigs, where everyone’s singing along to songs from the new album. That’s such a rewarding feeling. Coming back from a long hiatus, and being between a lot…

  • Inbound: Little Hours

    November 26, 2014 - By 

    With their first headlining gig and EP launch to take place this Thursday (November 27) at Dublin’s Sugar Club, Joe Madsen chats with folk duo Ryan McCloskey and John Doherty AKA Little Hours about the rollercoaster ride of a year they’ve been having since their formation back in February. Photos by Isabel Thomas. How long have you guys known each other and how long have you been playing together? Ryan: “For about five or six years.  We’ve played with a lot of different cover bands over the past few years, but the original thing came into formation at the start of this…

  • Inbound: His New Atlas

    November 18, 2014 - By 

    In this latest installment of Inbound – which looks at some of the more promising acts from across the country – we talk to fast-rising Armagh singer-songwriter Eoghan O’Hagan AKA His New Atlas about the power of cathartic release, his very specific approach to songwriting and his big plans for the next few months. Firstly, can you shed a bit of light on how you came to be a singer-songwriter? I started off in a metal band, oddly enough. I left this as I never felt like it was moving at a pace that fast enough for me. So I got a…

  • Interview: Paul Smith

    November 16, 2014 - By 

    Maximo Park frontman Paul Smith talks to Shannon Delores O’Neill about his new, forward-thinking collaboration with Peter Brewis (Field Music) for their Frozen by Sight album, released today. Frozen by Sight has been described as a “playful departure from [both Peter’s and your] previous groups”. Do you agree? Peter and I have known each other for over a decade but we never got to formally work with each other; we’d watched each other’s bands, shared the same musical ideas and always just thought, “Will we ever get to do something?” We were then lucky enough to get commissioned work by the Festival…

  • Cork Heads: Colm McAuliffe and Máire Dineen (Cork Film Festival)

    November 7, 2014 - By 

    In the latest installment of Cork Heads – looking at some of the brightest creative sparks in the Rebel County – photographer Brid O’Donovan shoots and talks to Colm McAuliffe and Máire Dineen of Cork Film Festival, which opens on Friday, November 7 and runs until November 16. Colm is Head of Short Film for the festival. He also writers for the Quietus, Sight & Sound, Film4, Fade to Black and the Skinny. Maire is Head of Live Music and Special Events for the festival. She also works with Body and Soul Event Creations Ltd. How did you both first become…