Irish/French artist Goldbug is among the line-up for A Sliver of Light in Hotel Doolin, County Clare, three days of cutting edge contemporary live music and DJs from Irish and International artists, from 23 to 25 January. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
This is the second year of A Sliver of Light and this year's weekender also features German electronic stars Session Victim (Live), Berlin DJ Nick Hoppner, Icelandic singer JFDR, alongside emerging Irish acts Citrus Fresh, Goldbug, Oceanna, Smithereens, Vatican Jail, with DJ sets from Galway hero P Disconaut, Limerick’s Frankie Downbeat, and Limerick’s Peter Curtin.
RTÉ Lyric Fm will be hosting and broadcasting a special edition of their Ambient Orbit show live from the festival.
Goldbug is the moniker of Danilo Ward, who was raised in rural Provence and is now based in Dublin.
His first two singles, Losing the Swing and Pendulum, were co-produced with Chris W Ryan (NewDad, Chalk, Just Mustard) and mastered by Heba Kadry (Björk, Big Thief, Sufjan Stevens), and "blend art rock, lo-fi electronic textures, and orchestral influences, exploring growth, nostalgia, and the murky beauty of adulthood".
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Last year Goldbug collaborated with Crash Ensemble at the National Concert Hall, Dublin as part of MusicTown, a festival curated by Foggy Notions. Since then, he has played All Together Now, Ireland Music Week, and Other Voices. His debut album is on the way this year.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I think the new year should start at the Spring equinox not in January, Spring is new life, that is how I am going to live it in 2026.
I like keeping spiders and their webs in the house.
I am hoping my upcoming record does well so I can buy myself a vibraphone.
How would you describe your music?
If imagining shapes in clouds was a song, if imagining nightmares in shadows was a song, shifting
Who are your musical inspirations?
Boards of Canada, Yo La Tengo, Slint, Portishead, My Bloody Valentine, Disney Soundtracks, late era Talk Talk, Nick Drake, Massive Attack, RTE Lyric FM.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Coldplay in Toronto.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Mirrored by Battles.
What’s your favourite song right now?
An unreleased song I saw Stella and The Dreaming play in Workmans supporting These New Puritans, something about an overgrown garden.
Favourite lyric of all time?
I can't say, I don't remember lyrics to songs that well, or they feel secondary to me maybe, but right now this phrase in the song Beautiful Ending by caroline is sticking with me: 'Not everything needs to even out'.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Stone In Focus - Aphex Twin.
Where can people find your music/more information?
You can best support me by buying my music on Bandcamp, it means the world to me. You can follow me @ggoldbugg on socials.
Alan Corr
