Blowtorch Records Podcast

Punching Peaches recently joined Blowtorch Records and so you can get to know the three of them (Naoise, Jack & Conor), their roles in the band and what makes them tick, here's a handy guide all wrapped up in episode 24 of the podcast. It features their two singles to date ( Wristwitch and Maggots ), a track from the previous incarnation of the band Fro ( Stacy ), and some unreleased demo...

The second podcast in our series which rounds up recent releases from Blowtorch Records Opening up with  a short excerpt of Wristwitch , the first single from new signing Punching Peaches , you'll then hear these mighty tracks: Vows - new Belfast shoegaze band Virgins Shallow Minds - Dublin melodic post punk  TV People Haunted By The Night - LA based noise merchants Jagged Baptist Club i&apos...

Something different for episode 22 - no music it's The Talkies only. Our guest is Daniel Fox from Dublin's avant garde art noise makers Girl Band. I talked to Daniel in a Dublin thunderstorm and our chat is shot through with the sound of seagulls, rain and thunder. Also with many thoughtful and insightful views on his influences, how Girl Band come up with their songs and his work as a p...

Dublin's TV People are killing it on all channels at the moment as they announce their new EP (digital August 26, vinyl on pre-order now),  a return to live gigs and inclusion in Ireland's prestigious Music Week in October. So no better time than now to catch up with Paul and Brendan from the band for episode 21 of the podcast. We discuss how they get the signature TV People sound; why p...

For episode 20,  we've started a new strand in the podcast. Rather than chatting to a guest, we have done a review of recent releases on the label. There's some extra inside info chucked in - and a sneak preview of an upcoming release. Each track is played in full too as Eric B and Rakim nearly said. It's short and snappy at 20 minutes - just the right length to get your new music f...

In a first for the Blowtorch podcast, this edition finds me talking to an Emmy winner.  Anthony Wall is a musician, published songwriter, audio engineer and podcaster based in Sligo, Ireland. He was a member of the Emmy Award winning studio crews for NBC's broadcasts of the London 2012 and Sochi 2014 Olympic games. Milk Harbour is his current project which, as Anthony says "is me reclaim...

Episode 18 finds me chatting to Marc Raftery, the frontman from Galway fire starters Slyrydes . Starting out in 2019 Marc, Mark, Eoin (Fuz) and Paul have released a clutch of brilliant singles and built up a rabid following with incendiary live shows. Forthright, funny, passionate and empathetic, Marc delivers his opinions on everything from mental health provision in Ireland, politics and nationa...

It's almost summer so where better to head than to our Celtic cousins in Cornwall? Home of surfing, pasties, tin mines and ferocious yet melodic noise duo WAXX.  They line up as Lee Matthews on vocals & bass/guitar and Bubs Taylor on drums & vocals. They have been described as 'indie rock with a twist of dance and chants’ and 'a supersonic landscape of sound'. Listen fo...

Rather than music, we're on a photography tip for this episode. I had a great chat with award winning Galway photographer Enda Burke who produced his brilliant 'Homebound With My Parents' series during the various lockdowns in Ireland. Originally a street photographer, he was forced by the pandemic to pivot to a more (home) studio-based approach. This fostered his creative, kitsch s...

It's episode 15 folks and to celebrate this milestone we bring you our first podcast recorded in person. Not a Zoom call in sight. Could this be the future? In this edition, we're delighted to be chatting to Galway musician Rory Ryan. Once a purveyor of guitar-based indie rock with Bob Skeleton, he has now returned to his native keyboards and delivered his debut release - EP1. Eschewing...

In this episode, something slightly different as I chat to Peter Jones from Rotator Vinyl in Dublin. Peter is a fascinating character who has lived his life by the DIY ethos of the anarcho punk scene which was spearheaded in the 70s and 80s by bands such as Crass and Zounds. He now runs Rotator Vinyl as a one-stop shop for almost anything merch-related, with a particular penchant for vinyl and dem...

Episode 13 finds lucky me talking to Justin Kelly and David Meagher from Sons of Southern Ulster, premium purveyors of angular, guitar-driven tales of growing up in Bailieboro, Co. Cavan in the 70s & 80s. The pints may have been watered down but life was full and rich for a young one back then, consisting of a marvellously unhealthy diet of Cavan Cola, clatterings, fags and Taytos while imbibi...

Episode 12 - craic agus ceol! Here we go with our latest edition featuring Limerick trio Static Vision.  I have a great laugh with Cian, Tom and Toby from the band and learn about their early history, get some insights as to why their brilliant Faith In The Future EP was unreleased for 2 years and also details on their plans for 2021 and new releases.  And one of the best entrances ever courtesy o...

In this episode I'm thrilled to chat to Blake Stokes, front man with Los Angeles sonic terrorists Jagged Baptist Club .  Recently signed to Blowtorch Records they have a new single Temptation Death House out on all streaming platforms. In a wide ranging chin wag we cover a lot of ground  including the US response to the pandemic, the pitfalls of naming bands, Blake's love of Smashing Pum...

Episode 10! Something slightly different in this edition with a deep dive into the new Turnstiles EP. I chat to Cillian, Colm, Jake and Cal from the band about the writing and recording of the EP; what inspired the music and lyrics; what they were listening to at the time  and the importance of Cillian's shed to the whole process.  We go through the EP track by track so it's a great chan...

What a thrill to kick off our 2021 podcasts with new signing, Nixer. I was blown away when I heard their latest single Relax  and had to talk to them.  We caught up early in the New Year - fast forward a few weeks, here's the podcast and they are now on Blowtorch. Nixer are Seán Keenan and Gearóid Peggs and I caught up with them in lockdown at their home houses in Ireland. They're super...

Our first podcast of 2021 features South Wales' mighty The Rivers, post industrial poets with a fine line in nuanced and dynamic songwriting. Evan, Nathan and Dan talk us through the music scene in South Wales, their influences and what inspires them, and their songwriting. Nathan gets embarrassed as he's nominated as the best musician in the band, we uncover Evan's predilection for...

Welcome loyal listeners to episode 7 of the Blowtorch Records podcast. In this edition I have a natter with Rob Dalton from SCATTERED ASHES. He tells me their story from the inception of this current lineup in January, through the release of debut single 'Love is Not an Option' to their plans for 2021. And of course great music and some of their influences.  As they say 'Taking cues from the likes...

Episode 6 finds me chatting with James McGregor from Galway's snarling post-punk kings of wry observations -  The Clockworks. We hear about their extraordinary journey from local gigs to being signed by Alan McGregor only a few days after moving to London; and their top tips for getting your music heard and played on the radio. James also shares his songwriting techniques and discusses what 2...

Episode 5! In this edition I chat to Michael Smyth, founder and guitarist of Belfast band Paper Tigers. And also possibly the hardest working man in rock 'n' roll - he writes most of their songs, plays the drums, does all the bookings and social media, runs his own promotion company and plays in a tribute band. Oh and has a full time job. We cover all this and more in a wide-ranging chat...

In this edition I chat to guitarist and singer Molly McKernan from Dublin duo Vulpynes. We listen to some of their powerhouse tracks and she tells me about her love of fuzz boxes and foxes. As well as getting the Vulpynes story so far, we also discuss their influences, foxhunting, women in the music industry and the Dalai Lama. Wide ranging stuff!

In this episode I talk to Killian Fox and Dáithí McGloin from Ireland's Undercover Martians. They tell me how Two Door Cinema Club gave them their name, how producer Anthony Wall recorded them with a single microphone and Killian comes clean on his Dead Horse Jive obsession. We'll also have a listen to great tracks including Wandering Eye, Francesca and Angels Call.

In this episode I talk to Canadian musician Keith Mosfet, now resident in Amsterdam. We discuss life in the Netherlands; his musical upbringing including starting on the bagpipes; influences (The Clash! The Smiths!); compare music scenes in Toronto, Amsterdam and Ireland; and of course get to listen to some of Keith's great music.

The first ever Blowtorch Records podcast. Label owner Richard says hello and lets everyone know what to expect. All backed with 'Same Old Stories' by Galway punksters Turnstiles.