• 15 For ’15: Night Trap

    January 15, 2015 - By 

    Having already featured Alana Henderson, Elastic Sleep, Oh Boland, Sissy, Axis Of, Boyfights, Princess, New Gods and Robocobra Quartet, the next Irish act in our 15 For ’15 feature is Dublin synth-pop duo Night Trap. Make sure to check this and all the rest of the featured acts out in the physical version of our January/February magazine, out soon! Words by Aaron Drain. Photo by Loreana Rushe. Dublin synth-pop duo Night Trap (Ciaran Smith and Jill Daly) are very much doing things their own way. Eschewing the kind of mainstream/house crossover guff that has seen far too many acts regrettably become…

  • Interview: East India Youth

    January 15, 2015 - By 

    Featuring photos by Joe Laverty taken in New York, Mike McGrath Bryan talks to English electronic musician William Doyle AKA East India Youth about his Mercury Prize-nominated debut album, Total Strife Forever, plans for the future and more. The crossover between indie and electronica has always been strong, but with the disparity of genres and tastes these days, was it more difficult to make the transition from Doyle and the Fourfathers than you’d imagined? No, it was quite easy, if a bit gradual. I’d already started recording things by myself at home when I was 14, long before that band – and…

  • The Eternal Folly of The New Year Resolution

    January 15, 2015 - By 

    A solitary ray of sunlight cracks through the curtains, penetrating the dank grime of the post New Year’s Eve party carnage, announcing the dawning of a new age. For dramatic effect, Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt morning suite is playing in the background. You cast off the filth and scrum of the night before (it was a particularly heavy party, we can assume), and you stand before the sun, naked as the day you were born, sreaming in the face of the eternal, “THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT! I AM THE MASTER OF MY OWN DESTINY!”At least, that’s what a lot of us plan to do, anyway.…

  • 15 For ’15: Robocobra Quartet

    January 14, 2015 - By 

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January/February magazine, we continue our 15 For ’15 feature today with Belfast band Robocobra Quartet. Playing both our forthcoming Independent Venue Week and Girl Band shows, the Chris Ryan-fronted foursome are easily one of the country’s most forward-thinking and exciting acts of a generation. Check out our live session with Robocobra Quartet here. Words by Laura Carland, photo by Colm Laverty. The unique spectacle offered by the Belfast based four-piece is energetic, menacing, fast and loose. With influences as varied as 90s era hip hop, ska, jazz, DC Hardcore, rap and…

  • 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…

  • Gigs of the Week: Young Fathers, Mark Lanegan, Come On Live Long & Sleep Thieves

    January 14, 2015 - By 

    OK, so we’re all broke. Big deal. Put that desire to eat to one side for another week in favour of hitting up one of the following. Trust us: you will not be disappointed – just very, very hungry, and possibly dangerously ill. You’re welcome. Out To Lunch: Young Fathers Black Box, Belfast Friday, January 16 An absolute credit to the ever-tasteful foresight of the organisers of the annual Belfast festival, 2014 Mercury Prize winning Edinburgh trio Young Fathers will play this year’s Out To Lunch festival on Friday night. “Where, like? The street?” you ask. Not at all: the Black Box.…

  • 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…

  • 15 For ’15: New Gods

    January 13, 2015 - By 

    Next Wednesday, January 21, we conclude 15 For ’15, our feature looking at fifteen Irish acts we’re certain – convinced, even – are going to make waves in 2015 and beyond. Make sure to check out the full feature in our forthcoming January/February physical magazine. Up today are Dublin punk five-piece New Gods. Photo by Isabel Thomas, words by Will Murphy. When it starts, you can feel it. This invisible touch sliding down your spine like finger of some long forgotten creature. Foot taps and gentle nods turn into body slams and head banging. This is what 1976 must have felt…