Stray Planets have released their debut single, Down a Hole up a Hill. We asked front man John Butler the BIG questions . . .
Stray Planets is a new collective helmed by songwriter Butler, who's been described as "The Charlie Kaufman of Irish rock".
He has collaborated with Cathy Davey, Daniel Fox, Ger Griffin, Cion O’Callaghan, Kevin Murphy, Pat Daly, Liam Mulvaney, and Sarah Lynch (Paul Brady/Glen Hansard) to name a few.
Stray Planets’ upcoming debut album was arranged and produced by Rian Trench and recorded by Robert "Scan" Watson in the Meadow, Wicklow.
It will feature vocal performances from Dara Kiely of Gilla Band, soul artist Sinead McConville, Trench, as well as Butler himself, who takes vocal duties on Down a Hole up a Hill.
Speaking about the new track, he says: "It’s a simple song about wanting to escape city life, and from people in general."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I am a songwriter with a lot of unreleased music, mostly made with a producer called Liam Mulvaney. I am here to promote a new project called Stray Planets which consists of Rian Trench, Dara Kiely, Sinead McConville, Robert Watson, and myself. I have never played Monopoly and deep down I worry I might not understand it as I don't have a head for business. When I forget to brush my teeth at night, I use an extra big blob of toothpaste in the morning to compensate.
How would you describe your music?
Hard to answer as it varies quite a bit in terms of style and subject matter.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Too many to mention. I suppose starting out, the Beach Boys' Smile bootlegs were a big deal for me. I really connected to songs like Wonderful and Cabinessence.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I can’t remember. The best gig was one in Melbourne, a hotel conference room full of mostly elderly people singing standards accompanied by a man on piano. Their rendition of Blue Skies was haunting and transcendent.
What was the first record you ever bought?
A classical compilation CD called 100% Classics.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Not sure if one stands out. In recent times, I have really enjoyed The Kiss by Judee Sill; Electrosphere by Steve John; Pure Shores by All Saints; How Can I Be Down? by The Yellow Balloon; Highway to Heaven theme by David Rose.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Couldn’t say for sure. I have always loved Hal David’s lyrics on Alfie. But it’s all about how it sits with the tune.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Not a nice thought. You’d probably end up resenting the song. I might go with something classical, maybe Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faun, mainly due to that incredibly beautiful passage that kicks in around the five-and-a-half-minute mark. I would listen once a fortnight, make an occasion of it, drive to the coast, throw on good headphones, look out to sea. I would spend the intervening days plotting to overthrow the government that implemented the controversial one song per person policy.
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It was a policy born of chaos, confusion, and fear. Following the sudden disappearance of the Internet in May 2036, a benign military junta ushered in a cashless economy based on a system of strict rationing. Many complained their carbon-neutral, one-CD-per-person scheme did not have to mean one-song-per-person. "CDs can fit more than one song" went the angry chants outside junta headquarters. "We are in the process of re-learning how to use CD burners" went the official excuse.
But the protests only grew louder. Why did they outlaw the sharing of CDs? Why did we have to keep listening to the same song? Maybe we needed catchier angry chants. The junta remained unmoved. The mass surveillance required to keep people in check seemed grossly disproportionate, unfair, nasty even. It was too late. The bastards were drunk on power.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Instagram, Spotify, YouTube.
Alan Corr
