TBL8 Brass have released their debut EP, Too Bleedin Loud, and play a short Irish tour. We asked them the BIG questions . . .
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Darragh: Two of the band members are married to each other.
We're focusing on setting realistic, achievable goals.
We're struggling to find cheap accommodation in California for the 2026 Grammys.
How would you describe your music?
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Aaron: High-energy, brass-driven fusion. Imagine a New Orleans street-band with the personality of a rock outfit. Our sound is both party-starting and musically rich. It thrives on live energy, audience interaction, and reinterpretation of familiar genres through a distinctly brass lens.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Nathan: We all have many inspirations in the band, but we have taken particular inspiration from New-York based Lucky Chops as well as Irish-based Booka Brass. When we first listened to their music we realised how much potential there was for us in brass.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Nicholas: The first gig I went to was actually the Sunday of Oxegen 2009 with my mum. The line-up for that day alone was crazy and we were lucky enough to catch The Specials playing Ghost Town, one of my mum's favourite songs. But the biggest highlight that made trawling through the mud an afterthought - aside from witnessing mud wrestling for the first time as a nine-year-old - was finishing the night seeing The Killers, one of our favourite bands. It was a great way to end the day, especially as when it was over, everyone sang Mr. Brightside on the way back to the carpark.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Toni: The first album I ever got my hands on was Mika’s Life in Cartoon Motion. As a nine-year-old, I chose it for the bright illustrated cover, not knowing what a great listen I’d be in for. To this day I still love the energy, flamboyant vocal harmonies and orchestral features. Definitely worth listening to the album in full if you haven't already.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Brian: There is so much good music right now, but I got to say, with the unfortunate news, it got to be Send It On by D’Angelo. It was always a song that I could listen to and instantly takes the edge off after a busy day. The warm horn tones and soulful singing is captivating. It’s hard to not have on repeat with your morning coffee.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Simon: My favourite lyrics are from the first verse of Daft Punk’s Touch, capturing that deep longing and introspection: "Touch, I remember touch/Pictures came with touch/A painter in my mind/Tell me what you see/A tourist in a dream/A visitor, it seems/A half-forgotten song/Where do I belong?/Tell me what you see /I need something more." They highlight the gap between humans and AI - touch sparks real memories, emotions, and connections that algorithms can mimic but never feel, especially with AI’s rapid rise. They also mirror the isolation of COVID-19, when we all yearned for that "something more" through physical contact to feel like we belonged again.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Martin: It would have to be Fred Wesley's House Party. I actually read your interview with him and he said that his would be Chameleon by Herbie Hancock, an amazing song but he was wrong! House Party is better! It just grooves so hard and it's fun. The trombone playing is simple but it feels so good, every note is perfectly picked. I have to shout out Mark McCabe's Maniac 2000 too as it’s our most crowd-pleasing cover.
Where can people find your music/more information?
You can find our music on all major streaming platforms - Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, Deezer, and more. For the latest updates, tour dates, and merch you can have a look at TBL8Brass.com.
We have releasing our debut EP, Too Bleedin Loud, digitally and on physical formats (just CDs for now). We also have a little tour coming up. Come see us live and be among the first to grab a copy of the EP!
Alan Corr
