• Frame By Frame #002: September Girls – Green Eyed

    February 10, 2014 - By 

    Following on from a feature on the making of Cliff Richard by Abandcalledboy, Belfast-based photographer and filmmaker and Colm Laverty chats to Jessie from Dublin noise pop band September Girls about her brilliant and thoroughly DIY video for the band’s recent single, ‘Green Eyed’. First off, tell us a little bit about each of your roles on this music video. I’m Jessie and I play the red guitar in the band… and I also directed this video! In a sentence, what sets ‘Green Eyed’ apart from other Irish music videos? It was a very DIY affair, made by the band,…

  • Frame By Frame #001: Abandcalledboy – Cliff Richard

    February 4, 2014 - By 

    In the very first installment of Frame By Frame – a brand new feature looking at the production of music videos by all kinds of  Irish bands and artists – Colm Laverty talks to Ryan Burrowes and Mark Finnegan from Northern Irish alt-rock trio Abandcalledboy about their recent, wonderfully retro tribute to the Peter Pan of pop, Cliff Richard. >Hi guys. First off, tell us a little bit about each of your roles on this music video. Mark (Finnegan, bass): I did a lot of the pre-production (storyboarding, set pieces, locations), it’s something I have a bit of experience in, but…

  • The Record #003: Empty Lungs

    January 14, 2014 - By 

    In the third installment of The Record, Liam Kielt tottered along to Belfast’s Start Together Studio to capture alt-punk band Empty Lungs laying down some new songs for a forthcoming release. Have a gander at those shots and Brian Coney’s interview with Kevin Jones from the band below. And once you’re finished, feel free to check out our in-studio pieces with the equally excellent Bouts and Jape! Hi Kev. Liam captured you guys recording at Start Together studio late last year. What were you guys recording and when can we expect to hear it? We were recording two new tracks…

  • The First Time: Steven McCool (Little Bear)

    December 2, 2013 - By 

    In the latest installment of The First Time, we ask Steven McCool from Derry band Little Bear to divulge the “firsts” of his music listening, loving and making life. Thanks, as ever, to the upstanding and excruciatingly talented Joe Laverty for the wonderful accompanying portrait photo of Steven. Nice, isn’t it? Check out more of Joe’s photography right here. First album you bought? Excluding the dodgy rave tapes that I bought from the local market, I think it might have been Radiohead – Pablo Honey, and/or Gomez – Bring It On.   First single you bought? The Hed Boys – ‘Girls…

  • Track Record: Chris Somers & Ruairi Dale (Elastic Sleep)

    November 21, 2013 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record, photographer Brid O’Donovan captures Chris Somers and Ruairi Dale from Cork-based dream-pop band Elastic Sleep choosing and talking about a selection of their favourite records – everything from Kate Bush to Steely Dan. The band launch their new single ‘You Only Live Twice’ at Cork’s The Pavilion on Saturday, 23. Steam the song and watch the video for the track at the bottom of the feature. Chris | O Emperor – Vitreous “I bought this record at the secret listening party they had in Coughlans during the summer. I stayed up all night listening…

  • Track Record: Michael McKeegan (Therapy?)

    November 15, 2013 - By 

    Ahead of our Belfast Music Week listening party with him on Wednesday, November 13, Therapy? bassist Michael ‘The Evil Priest’ McKeegan gave photographer Liam Kielt exclusive access to his enviable record collection for the latest installment of Track Record. Featuring  acts as diverse Kraftwerk to Iron Maiden, McKeegan talks Liam through some of his most prized records from down the years ahead of the release of his own band’s Gemil Boxset (which you can check out/buy right here). Bad Brains – I Against I It was one of the first punky harcore records I got into. I’d never heard anything like…

  • The First Time: David C Clements

    November 14, 2013 - By 

    Ahead of his appearance at the Belfast Music Week showcase at the Limelight tonight, alt-folk singer-songwriter David C Clements is the latest local artist to allow Belfast-based photographer Joe Laverty (responsible for the wonderful portrait photo above) insight into the “firsts” of their listening, loving and making lives. First album you bought? Bathroom floor by Booley First single you bought? ‘Spaceman’ by Babylon Zoo First live concert/gig? Phantom of the Opera in the Point, but my first actual gig was Stereophonics supported by Turin Brakes. First album you properly loved? Biffy Clyro – Blackened Sky   First artist/band to change your music-listening/making life?…

  • Track Record: Chris Leckey (PigsAsPeople)

    October 24, 2013 - By 

    Ahead of their Idles & Us EP launch tonight (Thursday, October 24) at Belfast’s Radar, Belfast-based photographer and all-round gent Liam Kielt caughtup with bassist and vocalist from Belfast-based hardcore/noise three-piece PigsAsPeople to get the lowdown on some of his favourite ever records, everyone from post-rock pioneers Slint to two records from his much beloved Fugazi. Fugazi – Repeater I first heard this when I was about 14. At that point I was really into things like Billy Talent and Alkaline Trio, who I still love. I came across ‘Waiting Room’ and decided to check them out. I went on Wikipedia,…

  • Under Cover: It Was All A Bit Black & White

    October 25, 2013 - By 

    Hey there! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started? We are a Galway based band called It Was All A Bit Black & White. We have together since the begining of 2011. We are a two piece experimental band that make music based on loop stations primarily. Matt Sutton (me) on guitars/synth and Mosey Byrne on drums. We started jamming when we met in art college four years ago. Why are you called ‘It Was All A Bit Black & White’ and how did it come about? There is 2 answers to this.…

  • Instatour: Enemies

    October 14, 2013 - By 

    Having first played a two-week tour in Japan five years ago supporting none other than toe, Co. Wicklow four-piece Enemies give us a peek into their recent, seemingly very fun tour of Asia in the latest installment of Instatour.