Momentum Festival is the new Galway multi-day concert series taking place on May Bank Holiday Monday 4th May in Oranmore and it’s got a doozy of a lineup with The Scratch, Cliffords and Madra Salach playing an all-Irish bill.
Ahead of their appearance at Momentum Festival, Cliffords singer Iona Lynch took time out to chat to Nialler9 about the music she loves right now and it’s heavy on Joshua Burnside, Wednesdays and shout out to upcoming Cork bands.
Hey Iona, easy one to start – what song did you hear this year that you wish you’d written?
I’ve been obsessed with a band called Wednesday recently. Their song ‘Elderberry Wine’ is constantly in my head. Karly as a songwriter is so self assured, she just creates a whole picture so vividly for the listener it’s almost like you’re watching a film. That song is catchy, it’s got depth and it’s so full of character. I’m very jealous of it.
What was the last song to make you cry?
This is going to be a very Joshua Burnside interview – I think his new album [It’s Not Going to be Okay] is a perfect album. I listened to ‘The Last Armchair’ on the train to Belfast and had a cry to myself. He faces grief so head on in that album and song it makes you feel so connected to his music. I think a lot of people shy away from grief and death as if it’s a taboo topic; this song just made me feel so normal for wanting to grieve openly and to talk about loved ones who have died.
A new band you can’t stop listening to and why?
Once again probably Joshua Burnside – there’s just amazing songwriting and great instrumentation on his newest album. I’ve been listening again to a lot of Wednesday. Bleeds is an album with such diversity in sound, I love how you can go from a super heavy grungey song to a heartbreaking country ballad but the songwriting keeps you in the same world. They also just seem super cool, they handmade a lot of their merch and they had an amazing tour poster of a tattoo on someone’s back with all the dates.
What’s a song you’d love to cover from an Irish artist?
‘If I Was A Painter’ by Lisa O’Neill. Lisa is a generational artist and that song is just sensational. I’ve been trying to learn it at home really hoping I can pull it out at a gig sometime but the Lisa version is one of a kind.
What is a song that’s always likely to get played when you grab the AUX cord?
Probably ‘We’re Only Making Plans for Nigel ‘ by XTC. A perfect song in my book.
What was the last great gig you attended and why?
Me and Gav from Cliffords went to Swarm Fest which is a gig for underage bands and fans in Cork. We saw so many bands that blew us away and to see so many teenagers in the audience being in a space to enjoy music was amazing. The bands were Charcoal Greys, Magazine Cowboy, Other Mother and Big Sky – some unreal talent from such young bands.
What’s your favourite track of your own to play right now?
We’ve been writing our album so reallly enjoying all the new ones but ‘Feels Like a Man’ is my all time favourite song to sing. It’s such a release and yet so intimate and I like doing the big note in the second chorus – makes me feel like Celine Dion.
A song you’ve heard in a film or TV show recently that you loved?
It’s an old movie but I watched True Stories which is a film made by David Byrne to promote a Talking Heads album, I believe. I truly can’t recommend it enough. It’s wacky almost David Lynch-esque. Throughout the film they break into musical numbers of Talking Heads songs. So all of them. What a movie. Thank me later.
What is the last song you Shazamed?
I don’t think I’ve ever Shazammed. I usually ask Gavin and he knows. I think the last one he correctly informed me on was ‘Here with Me’ by Dido.
What is a recent album you’ve been recommending to others?
It’s Not Going to be OK by Joshua Burnside. Once again I can’t recommend this album enough. It is sad. You will most likely be very sad listening to it but it’s a very beautiful kind of sadness. I don’t know if I even believe in « perfect albums » but this one is perfect to me – so fair play Joshua.
Cliffords play Momentum Festival in Oranmore, Co. Galway on May Bank Holiday Monday 4th May. The independently produced festival brings four nights of live music to The Crescendo Tent, with a diverse line-up spanning artists including The Scratch, Cliffords and Madra Salach. Tickets from €44.99 + booking fee are on sale now from momentumfestival.ie and ticketmaster.ie.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
