Behind the music

New Irish rock duo Thewlis have released their debut single, The Boy Behind Bowie. We asked them the BIG questions . . .

Thewlis, who are Danny McElhinney and Cormac Curtis, have been writing and recording together for 18 months but the two first met when they were respectively the bass player and lead guitarist in Cork band Mahogany Men, who relocated to Dublin in the 1990s.

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The Boy Behind Bowie, their first release, is partly inspired by David Bowie's iconic performance of Starman on the BBC’s Top of The Pops in 1972 and wondering whatever happened to the spellbound young man, dancing in the audience behind him that night.

"But it’s also about trying not to give in to the notion that you have already lived your best days," Danny says.

"It’s about getting up off the canvas after taking life’s hardest punches and going again," Cormac adds.

Danny is also the music columnist with the Irish Mail on Sunday but started playing music professionally in the late eighties.

He says, "Myself and Cormac have been writing together on and off for nearly 30 years, regardless of what we’ve been doing in other jobs but never released anything. We’ll be releasing another song in March and another in June. We’ve waited long enough."

Tell us three things about yourselves?

Danny: Thewlis are named after the great English actor David Thewlis. We first met as buskers in Cork and played in a band called Mahogany Men. We won’t be confused with millennials.

Cormac: I don’t spend enough time playing guitar. I definitely spend too much time watching sci-fi shows. I have a fake knee thanks to a motorbike crash.

How would you describe your music?

Danny: It’s alternative rock music made with passion and heart and plenty of guitars. We want people to feel uplifted when they hear us, to jump around, shout the words out or they might just prefer to sit and listen. Do whatever it makes you feel like doing without hurting anyone!

Cormac Enthusiastic indie rock

Who are your musical inspirations?

Danny: There is so much great music around right now. I have no time for people who say, 'music was better in my day’. I like everyone from Fontaines D.C. and IDLES to Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish right now. But my all-time musical heroes are The Jam, Stiff Little Fingers, The Undertones, The Kinks, The Smiths, R.E.M. and Prince.

Cormac: The glam rock of T-Rex, Bowie, and The Sweet. The early 90s sounds of The Stone Roses, The Happy Mondays, The La’s, and Gomez. The folk sensibilities of Mike Scott at his peak (Fisherman’s Blues). I also like Green Day. Above all: The Beatles.

What was the first gig you ever went to and the first record you ever bought/downloaded?

Danny: Slane Castle Festival 1981 when Thin Lizzy headlined and U2, Rose Tattoo and others played support. The first record I bought was Hell Raiser by The Sweet with 50p of my First Holy Communion money!

Cormac First gig I went to by myself - The Jesus and Mary Chain in Connolly Hall in Cork. First record I bought in Golden Discs on Patrick’s St in Cork - Musical Youth, .Pass The Dutchie.

What’s your favourite song right now?

Danny: Again, so much great stuff. Anything from Wolf Alice or Dry Cleaning’s albums. This week, I really like Sprints’ single Modern Job and Crawl by IDLES.

Cormac: Liquor Store by Remi Wolf.

Favourite lyric of all time?

Danny: "I am angry, I am ill and I’m as ugly as sin" from Song From Under The Floorboards by Magazine.

Cormac: "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make" from The End by The Beatles.

If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Danny: How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths.

Cormac: There She Goes by The La’s.

Where can people find your music/more information?

You can find thewlisband on Twitter and Instagram. Our debut single, The Boy Behind Bowie, is available on all major streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

Behind the music - Thewlis

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