Belfast act Cloakroom Q have released their new single, Substance. We asked Jared of the band the BIG questions . . .
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Following on from their 2024 song Nail In Your Head, the band decamped to Analogue Catalogue, a residential studio in Raithfriland, to record.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Danny and Dan (drums and bass) are the only members of the band who have been in it since its conception! Con (guitar) didn't own a tuning pedal for his first two years in the band (criminal behaviour). Jared (vocals/guitar) has an irrational fear of Velcro.
How would you describe your music?
The plan is to sound somewhere between Roxy Music and Death Grips. We really don’t sound like either but we give it a good go. At our heart we would call it experimental rock as we love to incorporate harsh noise but our album draws influences from folk and Irish traditional on a couple tracks. One track had a section heavily influenced by choral music.
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Who are your musical inspirations?
A big influence is Tropical F*** Storm. They’re fantastic incorporation if noise as an instrument is just amazing. Using the pedal board as an instrument in itself is fascinating. From a straight up rock influence, it would have to be the Foo Fighters in particular their drums and the massive role they play. The Beatles because of course. They are The Beatles.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I can’t remember what gig we first went too as a full band but the most memorable was when we travelled to Paris together to see Paul McCartney. That was a magical experience, getting to see pop music’s equivalent of Mozart. He still had it too; voice was shaken but the energy was there. We cried a couple times, fantastic.
What was the first record you ever bought?
First record I bought was Demon Days by Gorillaz. Holds up as good now as it did back then.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Domino Line by Casiopea.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"I need you more than want you and I want you for all time" - Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell. It’s hard to pick an all-time favourite lyric but I don’t know one that makes me smile as much.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Guts Theme (slowed and reverb with rain 10 hour loop).
Where can people find your music/more information?
Our Instagram has links to our Bandcamp, streaming and all upcoming gigs. We also have a mailing list where you can get discount tickets and be first to hear about any event or exciting news! We often do silly reels and TikToks to announce events where you can get a sense of our personalities and humour.
Alan Corr
