Irish indie rock act RATIOS have released their new single, Take A Stab, and play Whelan's of Dublin on 22 September with support from Pebbledash. We asked them the BIG questions . . .
In September 2021, the band formed as a guitar and drums duo. Dan O'Shaughnessy and Liam Brady entered the studio to release their debut single Yellow Ribbon and later recruited bassist Mike O'Sullivan.
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Since then, RATIOS have played Dublin venues Whelan’s and Fibber Magees. Speaking about Take a Stab, they say, "Lyrically, all three of us can relate to the main sentiment of the song - a feeling of discontent with what’s around us and wanting something more.
"We want the world to present a means of escape from our mundane surroundings and to go on to something bigger. The song evokes a feeling of setting out a challenge - for the world to 'Take a Stab’ at you and see what you can do."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
It’s almost exactly a year since we released our last single. We have an upcoming gig in Whelan’s in Dublin on 22 September. If music doesn’t work out for us, we will threaten to start a podcast.
How would you describe your music?
We play loud and fast - Liam is a punk drummer playing indie rock, so all of our songs take on that energy and volume because of it. Dan’s guitar riffs are often a starting point for a lot of our songs and can be of 2000’s indie. Those riffs are always earworms, and we like to incorporate them with the aggressive rhythms of modern bands like IDLES.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Our shared influences are bands like QOTSA, Nirvana, Viagra Boys, IDLES, Gilla Band, etc. We all tend to gravitate towards different subgenres of rock, whether that be alternative, post-punk, metal, or noise rock.
— R A T I O S (@_RATIOSBAND_) September 18, 2023
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Liam: Green Day in 2009.
Dan: Nickelback at the RDS Simmonscourt with support from Creed.
Mike: Avenged Sevenfold, 3Arena 2014.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Liam: Slipknot - Iowa.
Dan: The Temptations - Greatest Hits.
Mike: Rage Against the Machine - Live at Grand Olympic Auditorium.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Liam: Bad Nerves - Dreaming.
Dan: Viagra Boys - Sports.
Mike: Turnstile - FLY AGAIN.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Dan: "Blame, what’s to blame? It’s an argument no one can win, 'Cause at best, we don't know, and it’s wearing us thin." Stare at The Sun by Mutemath.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Liam: The Scratch - Birdie.
Dan: Viagra Boys - Sports.
Mike: Lankum - The Young People.
Where can people find your music/more information?
We are on Instagram at @ratiosband and our music is available on all streaming platforms.
Alan Corr
