Downpatrick alt-rock band the thing is . . . have released their new single, I Would Rather. We asked them the BIG questions . . .
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Formed by three school friends in Downpatrick, the five-piece have played the Mandela Hall and Belfast Empire and shows in Liverpool and Birmingham.
Tell us three things about yourself…
Eva: Myself, Bella and Edward all went to school in Downpatrick but never spoke until connecting through music, and a shared desire to create and re-tell local tales. Where we're from is so rich in folklore and gritty history, so we're never at a loss for inspiration to write. To this day we still don’t talk much, just communicate through noises and lyric bites. We met Mark Beattie through studying at Queen’s University, Belfast, where our sound then deepened into more electrifying levels of despair.
The phrase "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" comes to mind with the evolution of my writing style. It’s an unfortunately common arc to realise the lengths people can go to for access to and control over you as a young woman. Our songs are certainly growing in bitterness and righteous anger. The music is kind of just a by-product of what we experience.
How would you describe your music?
Beattie: We’ve changed a lot in terms of sound over the last few years, I’d say. Currently, I think our consensus is that we’re putting out and playing mainly alt-rock type music (as per our last two records), but the next two tracks we have ready are quite ballady and probably don’t fit neatly into that bracket. Genres are stupid. We’re just writing what Eva and the rest of us are feeling at the time, and that’s given us a great range in our discography, from heavier and grungier sounds to more progressive and ethereal narrative songs.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Bella: As a band, we draw a lot of inspiration from Wolf Alice and The Last Dinner Party. It’s great because we all have very different musical preferences, which results in the melting pot that is our sound. Eva and I love to be devastated, we both really like Emma Harner and Annabelle Dinda. Edward is really into stoner rock and metal, with Beattie loving dance and electronic.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Edward: The first 'real' gig I went to was seeing Downpatrick’s own Ash at their 30th anniversary show in the Down Arts Centre. I was still 18 at the time so through a bit of luck, I ended up helping with lights for the band, which meant I got to watch the whole entire show from the stage box. Afterwards, I got to meet Tim and Mark, and they gave me a free T-shirt, it's always stayed with me as a pretty special first gig.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Beattie: The only vinyl I ever bought was for my friend’s birthday. I got her a mis-print that I found of Kettama’s Fallen Angel EP. Not at all a genre of music that influences our band as a whole, but I do love dance music personally and try to incorporate more electronic elements into our writing and live sets.
What's your favourite song right now?
Edward: The past few weeks, I've taken a bit of a break from my usual stoner/psychedelic rock records and found myself listening to more of Air. I keep coming back to Playground Love from The Virgin Suicides soundtrack. It has a nostalgic, melancholic atmosphere with laid-back, hazy instrumentation that has been sticking with me lately.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Eva: "The Queen of Hearts still making tarts And I not making hay. Oh, I loved too much and by such, by such is happiness thrown away" - On Raglan Road, written by Patrick Kavanagh in 1946.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Bella: Always and forever, Disintegration by The Cure, I feel it in my bones every time I listen to it.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Bella: We have a website for more info, and you can sign up to our mailing list, which keeps you posted on our goings on! We’re also on Instagram, Spotify, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube @the_thing_is_band. Stream our new song, I Would Rather.
Alan Corr
