Rowan

Name, where are you from?
We are Rowan from Cork, Ireland.

Describe your style in three words?
Vintage, indie, floral.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Big Thief, Vicar St, Dublin. The gig was filled with this raw energy, they didn’t have a setlist or anything, they just played what felt right.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Nirvana - we would’ve loved to have been at an after-party with these lads, it would’ve been amazing craic. The essence of this band is still so prominent in today's world it’s crazy, they sent such a shockwave through the music world with their records and shows. The La’s - to witness the enigma of the first album would be amazing, Lee Mavers is a bloody legend and had such a unique writing style, the tragedy of ‘The Looking Glass’ gets us every time.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
We love everything indie and it’s without a doubt the infatuation that brought us together. The punk scene has definitely been a big influence also, especially the stories of places like CBGB’s in New York and The Roxy in London, they seemed like golden years for these subcultures, the sense of community they had back then seems to be a bit lost nowadays, probably because of socials meds and whatnot.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
David Bowie. He seemed to have an incredibly deep appreciation for art and seemed like a very spiritually conscious man. I remember reading about when Slash was at his lowest point, David Bowie had a good chat with him that helped him toward the road to get clean, he had dealt with similar demons in his own life and it seems, from various stories, they helped him gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate life. I have a great appreciation for anybody who reinvents the wheel, especially with such a bizarre class, which he had.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
The Olympia in Dublin, that venue is steeped in history, so many amazing bands went through there, it creates such a palpable energy being on stage there! We had a great time strolling through the halls before the gig looking at all the gig pictures. There’s something very peaceful about venues before the doors open to the crowds, the anticipation is almost like being in the eye of a storm (this is provided your soundcheck has gone well and you have the time to spare aha).

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Has to be Carol Kaye. Having played on over ten-thousand recordings and nailing it each time, an absolute trailblazer for the bass world. Also to have played on 'Pet Sounds' by the Beach Boys, holy s***. 'God Only Knows' is one of the most beautiful pop songs ever written.

Rowan will release their debut album 'Does It Make You Happy?' on 6th May 2022. Pre-order or pre-save it via linktr.ee/Rowantheband.

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