Limerick trio The Personal Vanity Project have released their new single, Callan, from their self-titled debut album which is out on 25 May. We asked frontman Chris Quigley the BIG questions . . .
Combining a love of Suicide, Stereolab, Sonic Youth and shoegaze, The PVP formed in 2021 and comprises drummer/vocalist Brendan McInerney (Bleeding Heart Pigeons), keyboardist James Reidy (His Father's Voice), and guitarist/vocalist Chris Quigley (Cruiser).
The album was produced by Chris Ryan (Robocobra Quartet/Just Mustard/NewDad) and mastered by Shellac’s Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service.
The trio are set to perform across the island (tour dates below) in support of the album, accompanied by a live liquid projection show by artist Catriona Osbourne.
Frontman Chris says: "Callan is about the misgivings older generations have about the younger, with the first verse being from the younger perspective and the second from the older.
"The perspectives feel a bit interchangeable - which is kind of the point. There's a tendency to worry about little things, individual moments, when there's probably bigger things to deal with.
"The chorus is first person nonsense. It's muddled, agreeing to do something it had no intention of ever doing. Classic teenager."
The Personal Vanity Project play 24 May, Pharmacia, Limerick, 27 May - Anseo, Dublin, 1 June - K-Fest, Kerry, 7 June, Dundalk with Danny Carroll, 8 June - Belfast (tbc) with Danny Carroll, 9 June - Clonakilty (tbc).
Tell us three things about yourself
I'm a director of Limerick festival Feile na Greine, I consume an ungodly amount of Gaviscon and I once came 2nd in a grape-eating contest.
How would you describe your music?
Psych'd-out shoegaze at our highest, Gaze'd-out indie rock at our lowest.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I generally find myself appreciating artists that feel aspirational in approach, like they want to do something new. The last few Low records were an example that blew us all away, but lots of other groups like My Bloody Valentine, Suicide, Stereolab, Kraftwerk strike a big chord.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Rodrigo Y Gabriella in the UL Concert Hall with my Dad and my school friend Barry. Not exactly my thing, but for a kid still stuck on a nylon string it was influential.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Nirvana's Greatest Hits, blew the lid off 12-year-old me. I think they're a band that can really get put down in some indie circles, but most bands who proclaim to be influenced by Nirvana don't sound anything like them. I think that's a testament to the writing - you can't just grab a Jag and become Kurt, there's a real artistic voice in there.
What’s your favourite song right now?
It Costs To Be Austere by Crash Course in Science. Untouchably cool synth punk from some true pioneers.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Like everyone else I've a million of them, but I'll quote one that feels relevant from Minutemen's Viet Nam: "Let's say I've got a number, That number's 50,000, That's 10% of 500,000". A quick trip to Genius.com informs us this references the mortality rates of US Troops vs Vietnamese civilians during the Vietnam War.
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What I love is that he's just quoting a statistic. While his position is self-evident, he opens the song by holding a mirror up on our own biases. You can read it as a fairly scathing statement on the futility of the war, or a sickening argument for the success of 'the war effort', but he lets you sit with it for quite a while. For a 90-second song, that's serious economy of language.
You would love to hear what D. Boone would have to say about the current state of the world.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Donkey Healy Rave by Post Punk Podge and Messyng FC. Truth to power!
Alan Corr
