We had the pleasure of chatting to Andrew Flood, drummer of "whenyoung", over phone about their upcoming debut album which sees release this Friday. We also spoke about growing up in Limerick, the importance of independent venues and their latest single "The Others".
Growing up in Limerick, was there any particular subculture that you fitted into growing up there? Ie punk or indie etc
I think that’s kinda how we all found each other. There was a HMV in town and there was this one pub that played indie music and we used to always sneak in there and that’s how our group of friends got to know each other.
I remember finding out about punk bands and older bands from the nineties like Pixies and stuff that we all really bonded over and got to share. Experiencing that kind of brought us together and strengthened our bond. It means we all came from a similar place in terms of the music we first found and that we loved.
With so many small independent venues closing down, what memories do you have of venues like that and do you think more needs to be done to stop this happening?
They’re so important because without them there’s not really anywhere to practice. You can sit in your bedroom or in a practice room all you like but until you actually try doing a gig on a stage you don’t really experience any of it and can’t test out any of your songs without having that platform.
When we moved to London, we literally just did a couple rehearsals and then when out and tried to find gigs anywhere we could. It was really important for us, not only could we learn to function as a band but we got to learn to know other bands and know other people. It helps make a community so it’s so important. It is shit when you hear of venues closing down but I do think they’ll always exist and will always open up in another place.
When times are hard that’s sometimes when the best stuff comes out. It’s really sad when places with huge reputations and legacies cease to exist but there will always be a need for them.
What can you tell me about your latest single “The Others” and lyrically what that song was written about?
That song is one of the songs that is quite directly influenced by London. Aoife was working as a gardener in west London on the day of the Grenfell fire. It was just that experience she had of seeing that disaster unfolding before her eyes whilst she was working for a gardening company for these rich safe politicians, quite influential people, who lived two streets away and didn’t want to have anything to do with the people who lived two streets down.
That juxtaposition of those who lived so near but on one side they had no safety or security and on the other side maximum safety and security and that disregard and neglect for certain people in society.
I can hear what you’re saying there and see how it ties so directly into the music video for the song. Did you have quite a big influence upon that video and how it was orchestrated?
Yeah, we co-directed that with Fiona Burgess and we wanted to convey the message but not have to do it too literally and take an artistic approach upon the idea of the song. That’s why we had the studio set up and then the set up of someone in their home. It was like we, the band, were speaking upon behalf of the others. The roses and the flowers in the video were also supposed to commemorate the people who died. It’s one of our proudest videos, we really like the idea.
Moving onto your debut album, "Reasons to Dream". Looking to the opening track of the record, “Pretty Pure”, why did this stand out as the song to open the album?
That was track we released about a year and a half ago. It was our first kind of proper single and so we re-recorded it for the album. The track listing for the album was actually quite head-wrecking, trying to put them all together. We just felt like it was a strong opener. It had a special place in our hearts as it’s the first track that kind of did something for us. It’s a good strong up tempo song to start with.
Throughout the album you have a contrast of slightly downbeat depressing lyricism contrasted against vivid powerful instrumentation, what is it that attracts you to this contrast?
I think that’s just the way we are and I think in life you sometimes have these situations where you have to find hope. The music is quite upbeat, I find the lyrics to be quite poignant and searching. I think you have to delve into the negativity to get anything out of it. They’re sad-happy songs which so many of our favourite songs are. You can dance to it but you’ll be crying to it at the same time.
If the album was to sit on a shelf with three other records which trio would it best stand alongside?
Ooh…. Hold on I’m actually just gonna go take a look at my record shelf to find some inspiration.
“The sound of ANDREW turning to look at his record shelf followed by much deliberation”
Right, I’d put it between Carol King - Tapestry…. The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys…. And the last one would have to be a Blondie album…. Hmmmm, Parallel Lines I think.
"Reasons to Dream" by whenyoung is available on all good and evil streaming services NOW.