Next up in our GazeFest interview series is Blue Slate. Sometimes the internet is a hive for the wretched, the vapid and the hate filled. Other times, it presents you with exciting new music, this was the case with Blue Slate. Having been presented with their profile as one I might be interested (posting a lot of posts #shoegaze will likely help the algorithm steer all things gaze your way). I checked out their Decay EP, a mix of grunge, gaze and indie influences spilled out of my headphones. In a strange twist of fate they happened to be playing Belfast, so I got to go check them out and watch them fill the American Bar will fuzz and feedback. It was a visceral show and I was hooked.
Since then the band released a stand alone single 'Wipers' that seemed to take large steps forward in songwriting, production and sound. They were a must for the GazeFest line up.
Meet Blue Slate..
Can you tell me what first inspired you to make music, what made you pick up a guitar, write songs and join a band?
All of us have been raised to have a passion for music and art in general , listening to the bands that influenced us from youth until adulthood gave us the inspiration to create a sound of our own.
You released your debut EP ‘Decay’ last year, that seemed to draw on a really wide range of influences, grunge, shoegaze, indie and even some metal in there. Can you tell me about how the EP came together, song writing process, where it was recorded and mixed and any particular influences you might have had for the record.
The inspiration for the EP happened during the early stages of the bands creation , it sprung from an urge to get the songs we had been working on during the early days out into the world , we worked with Clodagh Bergin in Sun Studios over a couple of days and the results were Decay . In terms of influences for the project , we really were trying to find our sound as a band and incorporated the work of some of our favourite bands such as Bad Brains , Manic Street Preachers and Diiv to name a few.
Can you tell us lyrically what your approach is, where do you take inspiration from or how do you approach lyrics for the tracks.
Lyrically, it comes from a love for poetry and songwriting, drawing from the work of Emily Dickinson, Richie Edwards and Anton Newcombe.
Your newest single ‘Wipers’ came out in March and seem to take massive strides towards a more expansive shoegaze sound as opposed to the EP, especially in the vocals. Is this indicative of a new approach to the Blue Slate sound akin to Narrowhead or Nothing? Can you tell us about the production and subject matter of the single?
Wipers was produced by our lead guitarist Pierce Devine , in terms of our direction , we wanted to create a song that paid homage to our influence and love of shoegaze , however we are keen to not be labelled into one genre as we take influence from all art and work to create a unique and refreshing collaboration of a wide range of genres.
The scene both north and south seems to be stronger than ever, is there anyone you’d want to shout out to?
We love the work of our friends Wifeswap, Ten Hail Marys, Fulvetta and Stratford Rise along with many others. Overall we think the Irish music scene has so much to offer and people don't pay enough attention to it .
And finally in the vein of Rob Gordon. What are your Top 5 favourite records.
Our top 5 favourite records have to be:
The Holy Bible - Manic Street Preachers
Deceiver - Diiv
Turn on the bright lights - Interpol
Thank god for mental illness - The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Cop and Speeder - Heatmiser
Find Blue Slate:
See them August 26th at GazeFest Belfast
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