• The Record #004: Funzo

    The brainchild of Liam McDermott, Dublin hip-hop group Funzo have had a prolific and tireless journey since their inception in 2009. With 250 live shows – including numerous high-profile festival appearances – under their belt, they launch their debut album, The Great Lonesome, at Dublin’s Twisted Pepper on Saturday, May 17. Talking to us for the latest installment of The Record, McDermott fills us in about his songwriting process, the recording of the “concept” album and his very generous plan for its launch. In-studio photos by Shaun Neary. Hi Liam. You recently recorded your new album, The Great Lonesome. First off, can you tell us…

  • Interview: Ginnels

    Mark Chester’s Ginnels – a well-loved and lively part of Dublin’s ever expanding DIY scene – describe themselves modestly as “like your dickhead neighbour drowning out your Byrds and Feelies records with his poorly recorded noise ‘jams’ and his stoned mates. Except actually good.” They’re definitely right about the last part. Chester’s scene credentials are substantial, with the vocalist heavily linked in with Dublin record label Popical Island as well as playing roles in No Monster Club and Grand Pocket Orchestra. He seems able to orchestrate a collection of garage rock albums on a budget that’s too tight to talk of, and…

  • The First Time: Johno Leader (The Radioactive Grandma)

    Not for the last time, it’s the The First Time time. Belfast-based photographer Joe Laverty delivers yet another wonderful portrait shot, this time of Johno Leader from Co. Cavan acoustic indie-rock band The Radioactive Grandma, and gets the musician’s music-buying, making and loving firsts, traversing everyone from Moby, Val Normal, R Kelly and the Prodigy. First album you bought? The very first album I ever bought was purchased with vouchers that I got for my birthday. I was about 15 or 16 years old and that album was 1977 by Ash. It got played about five times before I was introduced to…

  • Inbound/exclusive stream: Nyt Bloomer

    Hailing from Donegal, Conor McNamee AKA Nyt Bloomer is one of the more interesting voices in Ireland’s thriving electronic music scene. I met with him at his April 24 show at the Menagerie with Shammen Delly and Colpey to speak about the inception of Nyt Bloomer, his record label You Can’t Break It Records, and his infatuation with sampling. Ahead of the vinyl release, Old Toys is available for streaming exclusively on The Thin Air, and the cassette can be bought in Belfast’s Sick Records. Hi Conor. Lets start with a little background – where did Nyt Bloomer come from? I…

  • Interview: The Altered Hours

    Ahead of their highly-anticipated return to Belfast on Friday night (May 2, the Menagerie), Brian Coney talks to Cathal Mac Gabhann, frontman of Cork psych-rock trailblazers The Altered Hours about momentum, new material and pushing the boundaries of their sound. Photo by Izabela Szczutkowska. Hi Cathal. It’s been a great twelve months or so for you guys. You’re busier than you’ve ever been and a lot of new fans are getting behind you. How’s it been getting your music out to new ears? Hi Brian. I enjoy making and releasing music and doing shows. I like the whole process so it’s been fine. You recently set…

  • Inbound: Exploding Eyes

    In this installment of Inbound we chat to Robbie, Al and Brian from Dublin based psychedelic rock band Exploding Eyes about their involvement in the Irish music scene over the years, their biggest influences and why getting stranded in Switzerland is not an option again! Hi lads, can you tell us about Exploding Eyes and where you got the name? Robbie: We’re a new band from Dublin playing rock music. name? Well I was hoping to call the band Flaming Lips but that seems to be taken so I just went for the next horrible thing that could happen to a part of…

  • Inbound: Under Tears

    In the latest installment of Inbound, we talk to Berlin-based, Dublin musician Julie Chance (also of Kool Thing) about her current solo project as Under Tears and the emotional inspiration behind it. Exclusive photography featured by Berlin photograhers Wilkosz and Way. Hi Julie. Can you tell us a little bit about Under Tears, how you began and what the name means? After I broke up with my partner and bandmate last summer, I was going through a lot of pain and wrote a few songs about it. That’s basically how it started. You’re also one half of Kool Thing so how does this current…

  • Interview: Old Fang

    Ahead of its official launch at Belfast’s Menagerie on Thursday, May 15, we talk to multi-talented musical visionary of sorts Thomas Camblin, founder of new-fangled (ahem) record label OLD FANG. Endeavouring to “discover, develop, release and promote new and contemporary artists with a progressive vision” the label is already off to a hugely positive start, with various local artists and creative peers of the Camblin extolling what looks set to be an interesting and exciting project for all involved. Hi Thomas. First off, can you tell us how the label came about – has it been in development long and…

  • Inbound: CPNHGN

    Vowels? Where we’re going we don’t need vowels. In the latest installment of Inbound, we chat to Conor Wilkins from Kildare/Dublin rock quartet CPNHGN about their name, formation, debut album and plans for the next coming months. Hey Conor. Can you tell us a bit about CPNHGN and how you guys got together? Myself, Kev and Donal were playing as a three-piece band for a while and then we thought we should get another member in. The first person that came to mind was Ste, not only because of his rugged good looks and charm, but he really was exactly…

  • Inbound: Arborist

    Ahead of the release of their debut album, we talk to Mark McCambridge, frontman and songwriting core of Belfast-based band Arborist about the evolution of the project, the thematic foundations of the release and the many benefits derived from the freedom to experiment in the studio. Photos by Dave Timlin. Hi Mark. Arborist has just finished recording your debut album, Home Burial. Before talking about that, how has the journey been getting to this stage? Arborist began in Christmas 2012 and the goal was always to get to this point. A lot of the songs were already there – they…