Irish band Kíla are currently celebrating the release of their new live concert film 'Once Upon a Time' on DVD. Band member Colm Ó Snodaigh talks to Taragh Loughrey-Grant about the DVD, the history of the band and their plans for the future.
Taragh Loughrey-Grant: As did many great Irish musicians, you began your musical career, 21 years ago, busking in Dublin. Do you feel that there are still opportunities for musicians playing on the street? What advice would you have for busking musicians today?
Colm Ó Snodaigh: The learning curves on the street are still there - the first busk and learning to overcome the terror. Learning to deal with abusive passers-by. Learning to deal with rejection and praise and learning to deal with a crowd or how to maintain a crowd. Great lessons. Advice? Go and busk and learn from everything that happens on the street to make you a better performer and musician.
TLG: Having formed Kíla while students at Coláiste Eoin in Dublin, you are still great supporters of the Irish language through your songs, work and concerts. How do you think we can increase the use and popularity of Irish? What do you say to those who feel that Irish should become a non-compulsory subject in (secondary) schools?
COS: No idea really to the first part of the question but for the second part I will cite an example. By the age of 18 all people of Luxembourg can speak four languages - Luxembourgish, French, German and English. I would change the educational bias that would ensure that all citizens of this country are bilingual entering into secondary school and thus the argument for compulsory and non-compulsory is void!
TLG: You've played in over 30 countries around the world. How have people reacted to your songs sung as Gaeilge and to your original celtic and pop style?
COS: People love our music wherever we go. We play at a lot of festivals and people are hungry for the style of up-tempo, funky music we make.
TLG: Did you have dreams or hopes for the band when you originally formed in 1987? If so, have you fulfilled them?
COS: I'm not sure our dreams were really fully formed when we started out. Perhaps they morph and change per year and per day. Doing okay - so far realising them.
TLG: Kíla were one of the original Irish boy bands before Dee joined in 1991, following the birth of her daughter. How did her presence and talent change the band and/or music?
COS: Dee brought, and continues to bring, a lightness to the music and an intelligence borne of the fact that both her parents are classical players. She always gets close to the emotion of the music. A remarkably talented musician like all the rest of Kíla. We were recently working with a French composer and he was astounded by her dextrous fingers and brain.
TLG: The majority of Kíla are in their 30's or 40's. Have children and family responsibilities changed things?
COS: They do! And on a daily basis! Babysitting! School runs! I've managed to avoid this so far! Thus I'm able to answer these questions!!
TLG: Why and when did you decide to release the concert film, Lance Hogan’s directorial début 'Once Upon a Time'?
COS: We decided to release it after looking at the footage of the concert and realising that there was enough there for a DVD. And it was going to go straight onto DVD initially but has since had another life as a film being premiered in the Galway Film Fleadh and being shown in the Electric Picnic.
TLG: What's your reaction to the praise received for the film, including the positive feedback from Bono and Neil Jordan?
(Bono, U2 - "Whatever it is... this is it. Kíla are right there at the cusp of it. Somehow you get the feeling they lit the fuse for the big bang." Neil Jordan, Film Director - "Like all the best concert films, it is shot over one night. It catches all the wonderful, shamanistic energy of the amazing Kíla.")
COS: I'm glad people enjoy what we do but it doesn't really matter to me who says what, once they do enjoy it.
TLG: What changes, if any, have you noticed in your audience over the last 20 years?
COS: There have been two shifts to a younger audience. Every 10 or so years a new generation has begun to come to our concerts. Thankfully!
TLG: Finally, this year saw the release of your first concert film, what does the future hold for Kíla?
COS: Aha, the future. We have recently worked with Bruno Coulais (the French composer mentioned above) on a gorgeous animation project called 'The Secret of Kells'. That will be released to the public in January. Also, we have an album of quiet music recorded and hope to release that it February. And we are currently working on new material for another new album! Busy boys and girl!
