Apella have released their debut album 1963. We asked main man Dara Quilty the BIG questions . . .
100% of the proceeds from the sale of the album are going directly to The Marie Keating Foundation, specifically to help fund the support services they provide to women affected by Breast Cancer.
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Named after the birth year of his mother, 1963 is an incredibly personal record for Quilty, and speaking about the album, he says, "Releasing this album doesn't scare me in the way that I thought it would. I am more daunted by the vulnerability of opening up about it but not opening up contradicts what I stand for.
"My Mother lives with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. We live and fight together. Cancer has been part of my life for 10 years and I have learned a lot. The biggest learning being that outside of science, support matters more than anything.
"1963 is for the woman who faces diagnosis today, for the woman who is sitting in that chemotherapy chair for the first time today, for the woman who has just reached her five years remission today and all in between.
"At every single point, even when the doctors give you positive news, you’re not obliged to feel okay and relieved. Help is available, please use it."
Tell us three things about yourself?
I moved to New York City in 2019.
The first song I learned to play was Zombie by The Cranberries.
I love all of god's creatures, except cockroaches. Please remove them from the earth.
How would you describe your music?
Contemporary rock. We love live drums and guitars with soaring melody and harmony. This is abundant on this record. Play hard, sing beautifully!
Who are your musical inspirations?
The Killers, John Mayer, Blink 182, Green Day, Foo Fighters, The Police, The Cure. I also am a lover of "the song" rather than the artist quite often but I grew up listening to the above so without a doubt an influence on my style of writing and producing.
How did you occupy yourself during the coronavirus lockdown?
Started a podcast (WOW, VERY ORIGINAL!) but it's going down great. It's called Dara Quilty's Different and I have had the pleasure of interviewing some incredible New Yorkers like Mark Normand, Joe List, Maddy Smith, Brendan from Wheatus, Theo Katzman from Vulfpeck, alongside some wonderful Irish people. Oh! And Dougie from McFly! That was a great episode.
What’s your favourite song right now?
It came out in 2018 but it's John Mayer’s New Light. It's a perfect song. The tempo, groove, rhythm, melody. Perfection. If you are having a bad day, this turns it around.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"It goes like this: the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift" - Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. So simple yet so genius. Musicians will understand what it means.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life what would it be?
Probably rely on my old friend John Mayer's New Light. I presume I'd be really sad if I could only listen to one song for the rest of my life. I'm sure by listen 20 I'd have already lost my mind.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My website - everything is there!
