The Goo 1
MAR '25 we were going to be able to do it and we
shot it like a week before the release date so I think maybe the frenetic chaos around the video and its whole process kind of fitted with the song. The closing track ‘Pool Scene’ is a slight tone shift from the other songs with a lot more of a melodic sound, I noticed this is the same with the tracks ‘Bliss’ and ‘Conditions’ that close out the previous two EP’s. Was this a conscious decision to close out this project with a slightly more melodic sound? Ross: Yeah there was always a female presence as well with a vocalist. My girlfriend sings in ‘Conditions’ at the end and then we had Fears do it on ‘Bliss’ . We originally had that idea again this time round but I found a really cool sample of this ethereal voice so I think we just kind of wanted to step back into that for this project. We always wanted to finish the EP with this feeling of euphoria that’s what we have done for the last two. Your live shows are incredible, high octane and full of energy. How much thought process went into how these songs will translate to a live setting whilst recording the EP? Luke: There are definitely moments we can all say when we are writing and recording when you can think about it being played live. Quite early on when recording a track you can know it will be great live. Ross: There is stuff that we are playing live now that we are thinking could be on the album so we are just happy to go out and try something to see how it feels and then maybe develop it down the line. When watching you guys live it’s hard to take my eyes off Ben, going from the guitar to the synths. Is that as stressful as it looks whilst performing? Ben: It was definitely stressful really early on but because we have done it so much it has become a lot easier. We always knew we were a three piece and we wanted to sound like a way bigger band. I think we are all very dynamic on our instruments even with vocals Ross can do a lot just with his vocal pedal. It makes it easier that we are all feeding off each other when we play live. We have our triangle of noise Your music blends genres with clear influences from Dublin post punk bands and the Belfast techno scene, what is it about these two particular sounds that you find so inspiring when it comes to your own music? Ross: Early on it was very exciting to blend the techno and dance sounds from Belfast with noise rock that was coming from Dublin. The sound has certainly evolved because I feel we are definitely leaning more toward the electronic side whereas Ben would be playing more of a noise synth sound. We are leaning more toward synthesisers and different kinds of samples as well rather than different kinds of riffs and things like that. Luke: The Belfast dance scene and Dublin noise rock is so ingrained in people our age it was hard to avoid people like Fontaines and The Murder Capital, you are just instantly a part of the culture. It was important for us to show we are a Belfast band in a way and have that Belfast identity and that’s where the techno sound comes into it. It was important to have a unique Belfast sound there as well. You guys had a huge 2024 playing shows across Europe and supporting huge bands such as Idles and Sprints, what was it like sharing the stage with these bands? Ben: It was pretty insane. Idles was really a dream come true for us. When we were starting out we kind of thought about who would be the band for us that we would love to support most and it was Idles. We knew about it a good few months before it was happening but it didn’t really feel real until we got closer to the time. Luke: Sprints are great as well. We love those guys. They are really smashing it at the moment. To be able to share the stage with people we really admire and then people who are just genuinely sound as well is a real pleasure. You have a very busy year with a huge European tour on the horizon including a headline show at Whelan’s on the 12th of April and three hometown dates at The Ulster Sports Club that same week. How excited are you guys to get on the road again and perform these new songs for fans? Ross: Really can’t wait because I felt like last year was like our first proper tour and we kind of got a taste for it but I think now we know what to expect and we will also have some friends coming with us to support us along the way. Finally we here at The Goo are all about promoting new Irish acts and I’d love to know who are some of your favourite Irish acts at the moment? Luke: We gotta shout out BBFT, we watched them on the Whelans Ones To Watch livestream they were brilliant. They were so sick. Makeshift Art Bar we really like those guys. Obviously the Gurriers lads, they are smashing it. Ben: I am loving Cruel Sister at the moment. That ‘XOXO’ song is really good. Ross: Adore as well we love those guys. Chalk play Whelans on April 12th. Tickets available from www.whelanslive.ie 33