• Melting Songs: Seán Mac Erlaine interviewed

    July 3, 2018 - By 

    Woodwind specialist and experimental composer Seán Mac Erlaine creates deeply cerebral and alluringly unclassifiable music. Long celebrated for his own swirling, phantasmal compositions as well as his work with Swedish/Irish folk group , This is How We Fly, May saw the release of his latest solo album, the divine Music for Empty Ears. The album was recorded in collaboration with Norwegian luminaries, innovative live sampler Jan Bang and guitarist Eivind Aarset and also features the sumptuous wraith like vocals of Galway singer Sadhbh Ní Dhálaighhe. The dizzying array of talents on record combines to create one of the most seductive releases in Mac…

  • Lost in the Forest: An Interview With James Holden

    June 21, 2018 - By 

    Few artists have taken such a personal journey as James Holden. The electronic artist’s transformation is not subtle; Holden, now a practised bandleader, ties together jazz, folk, psychedelia and world music with an ideology rooted in trance. The Animal Spirits, one of 2017’s most interesting and colourful releases, threw these experiments loudly in the face of the listener with an unrivalled fervent energy. As a result of the critical acclaim, Holden is now in the thick of a cross-continental festival trek, including an appearance at Ireland’s very own Body & Soul this weekend. Despite this, Dom Edge had the pleasure of…

  • Noise Canvas: Olan Monk interviewed

    June 21, 2018 - By 

    Porto-based, west of Ireland raised artist and musician Olan Monk‘s two EPs INIS and ANAM come paired with a single lyric each. They aren’t sung. In fact, they’re not heard at all. Nonetheless, he says, they’re the lyrics. They read as follows… ANAM extend ourselves through rifts in place multiple outcomes of wet decisions delusions made and loves we lost on distant shores breathing, being, mind less Wanderer INIS nobody enters the second zone there are always enough others to exist you drift hopelessly through other people the love they give is more than a geographic boundary a feeling extends…

  • In Season: An Interview with The Mad Dalton

    June 7, 2018 - By 

    Ahead of the launch of his debut album, Open Season, at Belfast’s Black Box on Thursday, June 14, Belfast-based musician and songwriter Peter Sumadh AKA The Mad Dalton talks to us about process, influence, the imprint of literature on his work, how his Scots/Canadian heritage frames his craft, the musicians that have helped bring his music to life and more. Go here to buy tickets to the launch of Open Season. Your debut album, Open Season, is set for release on June 15. You’re releasing it via a successful pledge campaign. Were you hesitant to do this and how was…

  • No Fading: An Interview with Duellists

    May 29, 2018 - By 

    As everyone knows (or should know) Northern Ireland’s alt-rock lineage is both proud and incredibly diverse. Comprised of stalwarts of the scene as it looked several years ago, Duellists are a new-fangled three-piece promising aggression, abrasion and intensity. Ahead of their forthcoming debut album, the Belfast-based band talk to us about influence, almost ripping off Fugazi, the John Carpenter-conjuring video for their debut ‘Into the Fade’, the state of NI music and more. You founded in 2015 and comprise ex-members of NI bands Element and Throat. How does Duellists differ from those two acts, and do you think your previous incarnations works to…

  • Fever Dreaming: An Interview with Everything Everything

    May 25, 2018 - By 

    Manchester-based four-piece Everything Everything are one of Britain’s finest bands. Since forming at Salford University in 2007, they’ve released four critically successful albums, the latest of which, A Fever Dream, secured two Ivor Novello nominations, their fourth overall. Released in August last year, it’s their best release to date: eclectic, intelligent and emotional yet still accessible and eminently danceable, it made long-standing comparisons to art-rock forebearers like Radiohead seem more accurate than ever. Caolan Coleman spoke to frontman Jonathan Higgs as the band prepare to set on a summer tour including dates at Sea Sessions in Bundoran, Cork’s Indiependence and…

  • Pragmatic Endeavour: An Interview with Ben Folds

    April 24, 2018 - By 

    Ahead of his sold-out Belfast show at the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and Dublin’s Vicar Street – musician, photographer, talent-show judge, music therapy advocate, and soon-to-be author Ben Folds speaks to Jonny Currie about managing song requests, making the case for arts funding, and balancing artistic instincts without becoming a snob. You’ve performed in Dublin a number of times, but this is your first visit to Belfast. Is there anywhere else in the world you’d still like to play? That’s a big one. I just recently played New Zealand. I’ve played Australia over and over again but just never got to…

  • Political Partying: An Interview with Room For Rebellion

    March 8, 2018 - By 

    Ahead of its next takeover in London, Belfast and Dublin on March 23, we talk awareness, action and momentum with Jess Brien, Anna Cafolla, Isis O’Regan, Hollie Boston and Cait Fahey of Room For Rebellion, a “political party” who host synchronised events in aid of Abortion Support Network. Go here to buy tickets for Room for Rebellion Hi guys. Take us back to the roots of Room for Rebellion. When and how did it come about? Room For Rebellion was first set up by Isis who felt implored to do something about the state of women’s healthcare in Ireland. Anna and…

  • Phil Kieran on Soundtracking EdgeFest: East Belfast Boy

    March 1, 2018 - By 

    We grab a few words with Belfast DJ, producer and jack of all trades Phil Kieran about his experience soundtracking East Belfast Boy – an EdgeFest production currently on at Belfast’s the MAC – his forthcoming EP, Polyrhythmic, and more. Hi Phil. You’ve written the music for East Belfast Boy as part of this year’s EdgeFest. How did the collaboration come about and what attracted you to the project? I was approached by Emma Jordan who is the director of the play, we have been friends for years. I mentioned to her last year I would love to have a go at…

  • Interview & Label Mixtape: Exploding In Sound Records

    February 7, 2018 - By 

    Formed in 2011, and based in New York City, Exploding In Sound Records is a tapestry of idiosyncrasy. Pile, for example, are regularly cited as the world’s greatest rock band. Big Ups’ Before A Million Universes was very possibly 2016’s finest noise rock record. The bubbling, emotional cacophony of Ovlov’s 2013 Am has developed its own posthumous devoted cult following, leading to the band reuniting for a second album; not to mention the label’s ability to function as an early outlet and jumping point for Speedy Ortiz, Porches, LVL UP and Palehound. It’s a community. Bands share members, shows and tours together, and there’s a very genuine…