Cork-based alternative act Sun Merchant have released their debut single, Hold My Sober. We asked them the BIG questions . . .
Sun Merchant is the new project from vocalist and guitarist Aury Livingstone (The Underscore Orkestra), bassist Stephen McGrath (Crow Black Chicken) and drummer Jamie Ryan.
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
They feature oriental and Balkan-style styles with alternative rock framework, prog and grunge. Hold My Sober is taken from the band's soon-to-be-announced debut album
Speaking about the single, Stephen says, "It's about growing up in a society that tries to bring you down to the low levels of addiction and failure, and how easy it is to fall into the trap - because it's almost tattooed on your body that you're going to fail to rise above. So, it's like an anthem of rising above and overcoming the expectation of failure."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Stephen: I’m pretty terrible at every instrument apart from the bass and that’s why I think I was just born to play it!
I grew up on a farm, which was great because we could play punk music all night as teenagers with only the cows to complain.
I have a great memory for faces and useless information, which actually comes in handy in the music world. I’ll remember some musician I haven’t met in 20 years, bump into them, and be able to chat all about their band from back in the day.
How would you describe your music?
Stephen: An eclectic blend of alt-rock, blues, gypsy jazz and Balkan-inspired music. We really like to jump between genres and even instrumentation. Further releases will feature us on oud, double bass and percussion. My own and the public’s listening habits have changed over the last few years, and I think what we’re doing in this project reflects that. It all happened organically, as the gypsy jazz and world music scene in Cork is so vibrant at the moment it’s impossible not to be influenced by it.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Jamie: When I was five years old I wanted to Roger Taylor from Queen. My dad had their greatest hits on tape and he used to play it in the car so that he was my first drumming influence. When I was a young teenager, it was all about Dave Grohl, Tre Cool and Brian Downey. My favourite drummers have always been those that are songwriters. They play the parts differently and just hit the drums better. Brilliant drummers are all technically proficient regardless but the top tier are all amazing songwriters as well. Drummers like Mike Portnoy, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, Roger Taylor, Lars Ulrich, Karen Carpenter and Stewart Copeland have always stood out to me.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Jamie: It was an event called underground sounds. March/April 2007 in Charleville. It was a locally run night all the bands were all our friends and a couple of older more established bands. The first time I performed with a band in front of other people. A great memory for me.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Jamie: First album I bought with my own money was Incesticide by Nirvana when I was 12. The most weird and wonderful point of their discography. It was only years later I found out it wasn't actually a studio release but a collection of B-sides and throwaways. I borrowed my mother car keys told her I was just dropping something off to the car but I couldn't be bother waiting to get home to put it on. Put it on and read through the lighters, the personnel and the all the art work and somehow didn't drain the car battery.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Aury: I’ve been listening to a lot of Oud-centric music, so I would say Dawn - Rag Kirwani/Maqam Nahawand by Simon Shaheen and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Aury: I don’t typically focus much on lyrics, but one song that always brings back good memories is Stevie Wonder’s A Place in the Sun. Any line from that song really: "Like a long, lonely stream, I keep runnin towards a dream, movin’ on, movin’ on". For me, the song is an ode to the human spirit which strives for fulfilment; restless, on the move, enduring.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Aury: To me, that sounds like a form of torture! It would have to be a recording with a lot of space and improvisational in nature. Maybe an oud Taqsim by Munir Bashir in Nahawand or Rast. I had a trial run of this when I went on a gallery tour of the Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman and I sat for hours listening to Bashir recordings in these little sound booths with noise cancelling headphones at one part of the tour. Very cool experience. Would recommend.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Stephen: We’re @sunmerchantmusic on all socials. Check out our debut music video and single, Hold My Sober, on YouTube now. Catch us live this Autumn in Clonmel (26 September), Cork (24 October) and Dublin (1 November) with more dates being added.
Alan Corr
