Not renowned for their modesty, most commercial hip-hop artists assign some ethereal majesty to their MTV-bankrolled ‘vocation’. For Rodney Smith Aka Roots Manuva, it’s a base instinct, a subconscious tic “I find it hard to […]
Category: Interviews
You’ve got Mael: An interview with Russell of Sparks
For nearly 50 years Sparks have been one of pop music’s biggest conundrums. If you’re way out of the loop the LA duo are a one-hit wonder, but they’ve had over 20 albums since their […]
Robert Hood interview: ‘You can’t escape your vision’
Robert Hood is an artist who’s always flipping things. He’s a pioneer of austere, minimal techno who releases gospel house as Floorplan; The ‘Minister of Information’ in revolutionary techno act Underground Resistance who now preaches […]
Jeru the Damaja Interview: ‘I thought I could save the world’
For a movement that’s in constant flux there’s still an obsession with marking out hip-hop’s greatest year, and 1994 is a popular choice. The year had some mythical albums – Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die […]
Don Letts interview: ‘Reggae was always there, it was a social community service’
For 40-odd years, Don Letts has been the UK’s chief authority on reggae, and with a lifetime of bass culture echoing round his head he’s trying to squeeze it into a new series of podcasts, […]
Little Steven interview: ‘I’m not nostalgic, I just haven’t left the 60s’
Steve Van Zandt may be one of the most popular side men in pop culture — with an essential spot in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and as Tony Soprano’s chief adviser Silvio, but he’s […]
Moderat interview: ‘Techno saved our lives in a way’
25 years is a long time in techno, especially if you’ve been in the game for two thirds of your life. As a member of both Modeselektor and Moderat, Berliner Gernot Bronsert is at the […]
Limmy interview: ‘I just find psychopaths funny’
Within one minute of chatting to Glasgow comedian Limmy he’s already told me he never visited Ireland before because it’s not a proper holiday spot, and comes out with the line: “I’m not that interested […]
It’s oh so quiet: Interview with Pine ¶he Pilcrow
In a time when bands are squealing out to be heard above the din, Pine ¶he Pilcrow grab your attention with the gentlest of whispers. Dublin-based trio Kevin Murray, Hannah Ryan and Rob Campbell create delicate […]
Sound of the Simmer: Interskalactic interview
If you were walking past Tower Records last Friday you would’ve seen a bigger obstruction on the path than the Luas works, as dozens of people crowded outside the storefront to see Interskalactic launch their […]
‘Touching the music is always a unique feeling’: Some vinyl love from Mihalis Safras
Mihalis Safras must be the only DJ who’s been playing for years to recently win a ‘Best Newcomer’ award — a prize that seems even more bewildering when you consider his own productions and releases […]
Out with the old: Columbia Mills interview
When you hear a band has an ‘80s influence’ your brain can’t help join the dots between breezy synthpop, power ballads and the cliched garish outfits. Columbia Mills have a distinctive 80s sound — but […]
Restore Factory settings: Peter Hook on the Hacienda’s bittersweet legacy
The Hacienda may be one of dance music’s most iconic clubs — but co-founder and owner Peter Hook never thought he’d be celebrating the club 20 years after it shut in a blaze of gang […]
Jean-Michel Jarre interview: ‘Electronic music is a different way of thinking’
History is supposedly written by the winners, but maybe it’s time for a reappraisal of 1976-77 – often credited to punk as a year zero for music. In hindsight, maybe the revolution wasn’t happening as the […]
Jeff Mills interview: ‘Techno feeds a basic human urge’:
The Halloween bank holiday in Dublin is always a big weekend for club gigs, but Jeff Mills is the only techno guy who’ll be turning up to his gig in a tuxedo with his 909 […]
