Blowtorch Records Podcast

Here at Blowtorch Records we love a deep dive and episode 51 is devoted to the divine sounds of The Swedish Railway Orchestra's new album Once Upon A Time... Rob Smith is the man behind the project and he is our guide as we go through the album track by track and hear the influences and inspirations behind the project as a whole and the tracks individually. The vinyl album is available here ...

Seabass Vinyl is Scotland's first ever, and currently only, vinyl pressing plant. As vinyl is our favourite obsession there's no better subject for the half century of Blowtorch podcasts than Seabass co founder Dave Harvey. Dave and his wife Dominique have setup a state of the art pressing plant 20km from Edinburgh which aims not only to deliver short vinyl runs to up and coming bands (a...

One away from the half century episode and we are chatting to Kyle Thornton, the frontman from Mayo/Galway trio, and contender for loudest band in Ireland, Nerves . Fresh from a triumphant continental debut in Paris and with recent single Empty garnering rave reviews, Kyle is in fine form. He charts the band's trajectory, from meeting drummer Adam aged 12 to adding bass (and flute?) maestro C...

The Savage Hearts is the new project of Evan Walsh, former drummer of The Strypes. Episode 48 finds us chatting with him deep in the Cavan countryside as he casts his mind back to his formative musical experiences and influences; and brings us right up to date with the imminent release of The Savage Hearts' debut vinyl single Gang War/Speed Kills . Evan is passionate, enthusiastic and all abo...

There's a chill in the air as November segues into the advent season. Time to pop your headphones on, pour a glass and cosy up with our review of recent vinyl releases and lookahead to what's coming in 2024. Tracks played: Reggie 2 - Search Results What Is The Point? - Telebox Feel - TV People I Wanna Be Like Pete - WHY BOTHER? Bury Me - OWLS Knuckle Sandwich - Some Remain Links mentione...

Bigmooon Records is an independent record store in Drogheda, Ireland and episode 46 finds me chatting to owner Jason Mahon. From travelling all over Ireland for lockdown record fairs to opening a physical record shop, promoting gigs and helping to kickstart the music scene in the town, we get insights from this super sound independent music obsessive. You can find all Bigmoon Records details on In...

Episode 45 finds us delving deep into Depression Breakfast - the debut EP from Limerick's Japanese Jesus. It features full playback of each track with background on the band, the songs and the influences behind them. Tracks played Insignificant Tension Eamon Dunphy (Is Always Grand) Lactose Depression Breakfast Links mentioned in the podcast Japanese Jesus on Spotify Japanese Jesus on Bandcam...

Episode 44 and we are having the craic with Jamie, Colm & Matthew - unfortunately Leo couldn't make it - and get the Some Remain origin story.  How they got together and started out with their Rumble Studios video, where the name comes from and the music scene in Sligo. We also mention transport links in Ireland; top spots in the town for shooting videos; best independent music shops in G...

Adore are an Irish garage punk trio made up of Lara Minchin on guitar/vocals, Lachlann Ó Fionnáin on bass/vocals and Naoise Jordan Cavanagh on drums. And we are beyond excited to announce they are hooking up with Blowtorch Records. They have no music on streaming platforms, no videos on YouTube and yet there is already a palpable buzz about this outfit. To celebrate I chatted to the band in their...

Andy Marke runs Fuzzed Up and Astromoon Records as a joint venture with Ian McGlynn. He also hosts DJ nights, promotes Dublin gigs and presents a show on Near FM. Himself and Ian have carved out their own psych/garage/Kraut rock/shoegaze infused niche and it's a top place to spend some time with an ace lineup of bands from Ireland and further afield (Canada, Mexico...). They also have a commi...

In the third of the series we talk to the head of Galway's Rusted Rail Records and Loner Deluxe founder Keith Wallace. He reminds us of what Galway and its music scene was like when he started the label in March 2006 and guides us through the story of finding acts on MySpace, and burning and releasing music on mini CDs. The brilliant thing is that he is essentially still doing the same DIY, c...

The big four oh for the Blowtorch Records podcast and we celebrate by chatting to Emmett from Longford electronic outfit OWLS. His mantra is dark tunes you can dance to. He is searingly honest and gives us a fascinating insight into how he opens himself up and manifests his dark side through the OWLS persona into gothic tales of love and brutality. We also get the inside info on the making of the...

Sam Girling is an artist, producer and DJ from Bedford in the UK. He has just released his 13 track Attacca mixtape digitally and it will be available on Blowtorch vinyl in Jan 2023. We chatted with Sam to find out more about him, how he makes his music and in particular this continuous 20 minute mix. He is literally a bedroom producer and it's a fascinating insight into the world of the DIY...

In the second of the series we talk to ex Turnstiles' bassist and Galway's Free House promoter Jake Tiernan. He guides us through his journey from basic bassist to touring with Turnstiles and how the lack of a place to play prompted him to start Free House. Which I should point out does not mean it is always free to get in. Now working with Luke Mulliez, his rhythm partner in Turnstiles...

In the first of a new series we talk to Galway music promoter John O'Connor who runs the city's A Modern Movement. The aim of the series is to shine a light on the heroes in the shadows. Those who host the small scale shows and events which encourage and develop upcoming bands and where you might see your next new musical love. Although Galway-based, the themes apply to any such place wi...

We're back! After a summer break we return with a bang, albeit one with loads of fuzz and reverb on it, as Richard talks to Michael Smyth from Belfast's Virgins about their upcoming shoegaze EP Transmit A Little Heaven . He gives us some great background on the band and the recording of the  EP, and goes through each of the 5 tracks with a sneak preview of each. The first release from th...

Back to the chats for this episode as I catch up with Francis Watters - the frontman from Dundalk's alt-fi foursome Future West . They have a new 9 track album Who Will Forgive All My Sins  out August 19 digitally and on Blowtorch vinyl and we discuss all aspects of the band and how they got to this exciting point of having an album ready to release.   The band has been through several iterat...

Episode 33 finds me chatting with Dublin DJ Rob Smith about his electronic project The Swedish Railway Orchestra . With a new album Dance To The Drum Machine due for release in July and lead single The Ballhaus dropping on April 13, it's the perfect time to catch up with Rob. We find out the origin of that great project name; his views on collaboration and DJ botherers; tracks to rescue a dan...

Episode 31  and we welcome Arthur Murray and Tadhg O'Keeffe from Cork alt-rock trio Ash Red Hot on the heels of their recently released third single Downtown, we chat about the formation of the band, evolution to the current line up and future plans. We also get a deep psychological insight into their minds via our either/or section (this may not be entirely accurate!). If you were wondering...

Episode 30 - our pearl anniversary and what an auspicious edition, as for the first time we welcome back a previous guest. To celebrate the release of People Feel from their upcoming six track EP, say hello again to Nixer. They've been quiet of late and now we know why. Peggs and Seán have been busy beavering away in their South London studio, brewing up this enchanting elixir of an EP. Now w...

Happy New Year listeners and welcome to our first podcast of 2022 and the latest in our series which rounds up Blowtorch Records' recent releases. It was a busy end to 2021 and 2022 is shaping up to be even busier. There's loads of quality new music coming this year along with exciting vinyl releases. For your listening pleasure in this episode we have: last last nite - Future West.  Ins...

In the last edition of 2021, we welcome Wyse to the podcast and to Blowtorch Records. Hailing from Portsmouth in the UK, Wyse is a singer, songwriter and producer with a live band of the same name. She is driven by a need to express difficult truths; by a visceral need to communicate the life she lives in the time in which she finds herself.  Her music showcases poignant, compelling lyrics pitched...

Keeley, the band, are fronted by Keeley Moss and describe their sound as a blissful buffet of dreampop and psychedelic rock. She describes herself as 'A sonic sorcerer like no other. True crime. True music.' Well there is nothing in this podcast to disabuse us of this and all the better for it.  It's an indie-inspired, contrarians' conversation about why she prefers to be on th...

The third podcast in our series which rounds up recent releases from Blowtorch Records . Opening up with the title track from the brilliant new Jagged Baptist Club album Temptation Death House we continue with these singles: Half Cut - South Wales four piece The Rivers Blue Light Trails - Belfast alt-rockers Paper Tigers Billy? - new experimental punk band from Galway Punching Peaches I've Got...

A quarter century of podcasts! And no better way to celebrate than with our queen of European electronica Liana Forte. Liana is  a word, sound and expression artist living in Finland but originally from Kazakhstan. Since unlocking her creativity earlier this year, and inspired by her muse Kate Bush, she has crafted nine unique slabs of poetry set to an electronic backing. We hear how she had no ch...