INTERVIEW: Other Creatures — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Other Creatures

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DUBLIN newcomers Other Creatures…

have released their debut single, Luxembourg - from their upcoming The First EP. It is a confident song that entices a stunning E.P. I talk to the band about the debut track and what inspired it; what the music scene is like in Dublin – and the bands/albums they are inspired by. I learn more about the dynamics of Luxembourg and the sort of trials they had to overcome when recording the music; what it has been like working with Trout Records – and what kind of sounds we can expect to hear on their debut E.P.

Fionn, who takes most of the answers tips a few acts to watch out for; what their diary looks like over the coming weeks – and how it feels getting praise from some pretty big sources.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Good, thank you. We hope you’re well too...

For those new to your work; can you introduce yourself, please?

We are Other Creatures from Dublin. We’re a three-piece – guitar, bass and drums: Konrad, Fionn and Dave. We’ve been a band for five years - but have known each other, and played music with each other, since school.

Can you tell me the story behind the new single, Luxembourg? Is there a tale attached to the song?

Fionn: It’s one of the earliest songs we have that has survived to this E.P. and, as I remember it, came together pretty quickly. Structurally, it’s cheating as the whole thing just repeats itself – but it makes the song long enough to work.

It opens every show...

It is taken from The First EP. What other songs and sounds can we expect from it? What was it like recording it?

We recorded the songs in a professional studio over three days and everything came back flat and stale. We were debating what to do next and Konrad decided he’d get to work building a home studio in our practice space.

It was only ever an experiment but he started to find the sound we were after and, over about two weeks, we got everything recorded.

Then, in the mixing process, a computer crashed and we lost everything. Third-time-lucky; we recorded everything again; Konrad mixed it himself…and that’s the finished product.

It is released on Trout Records. Are you excited working with them and what is it about the label that attracts you?

It’s a Dublin label with a roster of great bands...

They only take on bands they want to work with and were one of the first to ever approach us - and encourage us about what we were doing. I get the sense melody and physicality are important muses for the band.

Give me an insight into the music you all grew up listening to.

It would be a long list...

For melody: The Beatles, Pavement; Jeff Buckley and Pixies.

For physicality: Led Zeppelin and Nirvana.

You are all friends. Was there a particular moment/spark when you realised you needed to set up Other Creatures?

We got together in Konrad’s (place) one day in the summer and set up the equipment. It was fun so we didn’t stop.

Already, your music is getting into the head and hands of some big publications. Does that give you the boost to keep going and aim high?!

It gives the songs a better chance of being heard – that’s the reward.

Dublin is where the band is based out of. Is the city a great place to record and gig? Give me an insight into the magic and mystery of Dublin…

Dublin has great venues, big and small. You can get from your practice room to a stage in the city pretty quickly.

Dublin will always support live music. It’s relatively small for a capital city as well, so you begin to discover familiar faces.

What tour dates do you chaps have coming up?

Next up, we are playing a Trout Records showcase in the Islington (in London); 14th November with Tandem Felix and Tomorrows.

I can imagine live performances are where your music comes to life strongest. What has the reaction been like so far (on the road) and is gigging where you feel happiest?

We love to play live - and the reaction has been great.

There are tough gigs but we’re a really simple setup - so we can usually just plug in and go. I think that’s part of the appeal of the band, in a way.