Upcoming Dublin-based Indie artist The Exact Same Kid (Alex Conroy) has released his EP, Amateur Hour. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
Initially trying his hand as a folk musician, Alex has performed alongside acts such as The Ghandis, Clara Byrne, Apella, The Blizzards, I Have A Tribe, Cathy Davey and Neil Hannon.
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"I don't think I’m alone in having turned to music for answers at some stage in my life," says Alex, "Amateur Hour is definitely not for that. It’s about saying I might not have the answers, but I have the same questions as you do so you’re not alone. I think there’s comfort there, in being united in our confusion."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Well, I'm a Pisces, third house with Scorpio ascendant. I'm obsessed with making things - some of the instruments you can hear on the EP were ones I made in my shed. I don't believe in astrology
How would you describe your music?
Honest. Lyrically I try and catch that no nonsense attitude of old American folk and blues. Everyone loves a beautifully woven sentence but sometimes it's enough to just say "Walking down the road, feeling bad". Musically there's a bit of everything in there - classic rock, indie, country & western, jazz. I've stolen a lot of bits from a lot of places!
Who are your musical inspirations?
As a kid my parents would play records for us all the time, so they definitely shaped a lot of my early music taste. Queen, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Prince, and Lou Reed all featured on heavy rotation. In terms of who inspires me to make and release music I'd have to give that one to my friends. Seeing them making albums and playing gigs gives me the get up and go to do it and vice versa. We sort of egg each other on whenever it's needed.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I went to see Meat Loaf when I was around 12 or 13. Bat out of Hell was always on in my house so it was a bit of a dream come true to see him live. There were wigs, giant inflatables, skits and I think even a t-shirt cannon. He really knew how to put on a show!
What was the first record you ever bought?
Enema of the State by Blink 182. I got a voucher for Golden Discs for my birthday and got that along with Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish. My tastes have changed a lot since then!!
What’s your favourite song right now?
That's given to change on a daily basis but I've been really into High and Low by Empire of the Sun lately. Specifically, the version they did on Jools Holland. That ending.
Favourite lyric of all time?
It's impossible to choose but I love the Bill Evans/Monica Zetterlund version of Leonard Bernstein's Some Other Time. There's a sort of playful aloofness to it that I think is great. "Where has the time all gone to? Haven't done half the things we want to Oh well, we'll catch up some other time"
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It has to be Baby by Donnie and Joe Emerson. It's a song that me and some friends discovered when we all worked together. When we weren't listening to it on repeat we would break out in a random chorus of "Oooooh babayyyy!" Now when I hear it, I'm brought right back.
Where can people find your music/more information?
You can find me on Instagram @exactsamekid. My EP is out now on all streaming platforms or you can buy it over on Bandcamp!
