Irish psychedelic hip-hop collective Shakalak have released their new single, Change, and play the Beyond The Pale festival in Glendalough in June. We asked Sam and Fin and poet John Cummins, who performs with the band, the BIG questions . . .
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Shakalak's music is built with live electronic beats, synthesisers, electric guitar, and saxophone.
They have performed shows in Whelan's, Workmans Club, Grand Social, Button Factory and many other venues and festivals around Ireland.
Speaking about their new song, they say, "Change is about the daily struggle of working to make a living and living to make your society work. The quality of community relies on people looking after each other, especially through big struggles.
"The music is intended to embody the ceaseless flow of frantic modern life and people forgetting to look out for each other. It's a cycle of us competing instead of encouraging each other, and the closing refrain of 'change for change for change, change.. change…' tells us it's a hard habit to break."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Sam: In the words of Louis Walsh, we’re fun, flirty and Irish.
John Cummins: Father of a daughter and a on. She is 22. He is nine months young. Can't swim, or drive. Love playing pool.
How would you describe your music?
Fin: Psychedelic Hip Hop. When we started, we intended to strike a balance between music and poetry. M.A.P. music.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Sam: A few that come to mind are Massive Attack, The Prodigy, Underworld, My Bloody Valentine, Pink Floyd, Sleaford Mods.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Fin: Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief tour in The Point Depot. Back then, there were huge pillars in the way and the sound was usually poor but the show was inspiring and the crowd were electric.
John: In secondary school, Dublin band The Coletranes came to play. We got stickers. Still have the foolscap covered in them, some first scribbles on its pages.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Fin: Ghetto Superstar. An absolute banger to the ears of an 11-year-old boy in ’98.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Sam: The Big Ship by Brian Eno. It’s just the same four chords repeated for the duration of the song but the way it rises really makes me feel something.
John Cummins: Mise Tusa, Ronan O'Snodaigh and Myles O'Reilly.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Fin: This song comes to mind today as I’ll hopefully see legendary Irish songwriter Jimmy McCarthy live with Nollaig Casey soon. This particular song is set in the 80s and about an Irish immigrant working the building sites in London. Some managed to find a good life and many got swallowed up with the big city, fuelled by addiction and loneliness. My da went to London in the 70s on the ferry, into a van, straight to Camden and given a fake name so he could work the sites. He says it was both an exciting and scary adventure. "Where the summer is fine but the winter’s a fridge, Wrapped up in old cardboard on Charing Cross bridge, And I’ll never go home now because of the shame, Of a misfits reflection in a shop window pane.’ - Missing You by Jimmy McCarthy.
John: "It’s every generation throws a hero up the pop charts, Medicine is magical and magical is art, Thinking of the Boy in the Bubble, And the baby with the baboon heart" - Boy in the Bubble by Paul Simon.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Sam: Juanita: Kiteless: To Dream of Love by Underworld. It's over 16 minutes long so, easy choice.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Our music is on all streaming services. Instagram: @shakalakdublinTikTok: @shakalakdublin.
Alan Corr
