whenyoung: Shaping their own destiny
whenyoung: Shaping their own destiny
March 18, 2019
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Aine Cunningham
Irish indie rockers whenyoung have had a bit of a crazy journey. The Dublin-born trio, who now live in London, released their incredible debut singles ‘Actor’ and ‘Silverchair’ in December 2017, and have been working relentlessly since then. From playing for Shane McGowan (The Pogues) for his 60th birthday in January last year, to headlining their own UK tour and breaking in to the American tour market, this unique band is only going up. The band released their stunning debut EP ‘Given Up’ in 2018. We caught up with them to talk aesthetic, touring and staying true to yourself.
Firstly, how would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you guys before?
We are an Irish band that write melodic pop songs with a punk edge.
You seem to have a strong sense of the aesthetic you want to put out in to the world. Have you always had a unique style?
Our aesthetic is really important to us as a band. It's something that we've all bonded over since we first became friends. We've always loved and been inspired by bands and icons not just for their music or art but for their look and fashion also.
Why did you guys decide to make the move to London?
London always seemed to be the place where everything was musically. So many of our favourite bands came out of London. It was this romanticism that drew each of us to the place.
The band’s sound has a sense of nostalgia while still sounding so fresh and unique. Who are your biggest musical influences, and how has your sound developed over the years?
Many of our big influences are musicians and artists from a previous generation. A lot of 70's and 80's New York and London based bands in particular. But we don't try to imitate that. The music we make comes from an organic place. It has taken a few years for us to get to a point where we feel that what we are making is a true representation of the ideas we have in our head.
Your songs seem to produce strong lyrical themes, always with a beautiful melodic attachment. What is the song writing process like?
The melody normally arrives before the lyrical content. We build the song around the vocal melody and then once we get a sense of the emotion or energy of the song then that is when a lyrical theme can start to take shape.
The song ‘Given Up’ has the ironic twist of combining a feeling of emptiness with an up-tempo beat. The lyric “you’re not living you’re just existing” is particularly poignant, especially for those who suffer with mental health issues. What inspired you to write the song, particularly in the way you did?
Quite a few of our songs marry darker lyrics with up-beat music. Our songs tend to be mirrors of what is affecting our lives at a given moment. This particular song was written during a time when we weren't getting anywhere as a band, we were working long hours, rehearsing long hours and partying long hours. It wasn't a particularly good time and this song was like a shake up to say to ourselves "well this is our life and we shape our own destiny so let’s do something about it."
‘Never let go’ seems like a positive answer to ‘Given Up.’ The layers of guitar and chimes enrapture the soul and leave you feeling a little bit more whole. What do you hope people take away after listening to the song?
Never Let Go has a darker side but there is an element of hope, a wish to never let go in the darkest of times. We hope that people firstly enjoy the song but can then read into it more and find hope and comfort in it.
You’ve got some big events coming up this year, including performing in America! What is your favourite part of touring?
Yes, we can't wait for America! When you're touring its like you're in another world where nothing else matters, just getting from A to B and playing the shows. I think that's our favourite part of it, being a nomad for a few weeks. Getting to see new places all the time does the senses good too.
What direction do you see yourselves going in the next few years?
Hard to say, I don't see us swapping the guitars for synths anyway! We know what we like and what we want to be. In saying that though I hope we continue to develop and grow as a band.
There is something so comforting about hearing an Irish accent coming through in a song, what advice would you give to other aspiring musicians in Ireland who are trying to find their place in the industry?
Irish music is in a great place at the moment, hopefully this inspires and strengthens the aspirations of the next generation of musicians. The only thing I'd say is that if you believe in what you are doing, stick with it. Don't pander to trends or advice from others.
‘Given Up’ is available to stream on Spotify. Don’t forget to check out whenyoung’s amazing music videos on Youtube.]
By Aine Cunningham