Irish duo Ispini Na hEireann play the Sláinte Sessions in Jameson Distillery Bow St in Dublin tonight as part of Culture Night. We asked Tomás of the band the BIG questions . . .
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This event marks the launch of Sláinte Sessions, a new series at Jameson Distillery Bow St. celebrating Irish culture in all its forms from music and performance to storytelling. It promises to bring together the best of Ireland's creative spirit.
Admission is free.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
When I was a kid I wanted to be a palaeontologist.
I got kicked out of school and qualified as a teacher 11 years later.
My partner got over cancer recently (for the third time!) and I feel like the luckiest man in the world.
How would you describe your music?
That's a good question, because I feel it's evolving even now. I feel trad wouldn't be a suitable term for it, as while we are influenced by tradition and we play a lot of tunes, the very fact that we write our own stuff conflicts with that as a label.
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I've seen folk/punk and I suppose there's accuracy in that. When we're in the height of a banger I often think to myself this is f***in’ dance music here.
Who are your musical inspirations?
The Pogues, The Rubberbandits, Christy Moore, Nirvana, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Micil Ned Quinn, The Rwd Hot Chilli Peppers, Bob Marley, Planxty, The Dubliners, Richard Thompson, B*witched, Metallica, Simon McBride
What was the first record you ever bought?
I used to get the Dustin Christmas album every year. My sisters and I split the Britney Spears album Lucky.
When I was 11 after Wrestlemania 17, I bought Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish in the Hotdog Flavoured Water and my ma came in during my first listen and took it off me and returned it.
What’s your favourite song right now?
If I Needed You by Townes Van Zandt.
Favourite lyric of all time?
I find this quite hard to answer, so off the top of my head, the last line of Rainy Night In Soho by The Pogues: "You're the measure of my dreams, the measure of my dreams",
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Right now, I'd say Baba O'Rielly by The Who, but ask me a different day and I'll have a different answer
Where can people find your music/more information?
One place you can definitely find our music is anywhere we're playing. You'll hear old music and new. You'll also hear music not yet released as it develops.
Other than that, ispini.org is our fantastic website that can direct you towards our available music on all platforms.
Alan Corr
