Fontaines D.C.

Musicians — Dublin

01Profile

A Fontaines D.C. Photo

03Interview

Photo by Daniel Topete

Name, where are you from?
We are Fontaines D.C. and we’re from Dublin.

Describe your style in three words?
Literate, ambitious, Dublin. (LAD)

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Girl Band, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. It was the best because it was a monumental performance in a small bar in the west of Ireland. It was nothing less than an honour to be there.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
The Velvet Underground and The Dubliners. Both bands because of the wealth of music and poetry at their fingers. To sing Kavanagh with The Dubliners and to just talk Reed with Reed.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Various movements from the Celtic Twilight. Yeats’s, Kavanagh’s and MacGowan’s poetry even inspired us to make a couple of small publications of our own before we released music. British punk and post-punk got us sucked into social awareness in music. There is a lack of romance in a lot of those artists’ visions of the bleak future that gets to us.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Brian Clough. I’d ask him about fairies.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Sala Caracol - Madrid. It was an unexpectedly warehouse-like room in the middle of a very grand city. It reminded us of home and the Spanish crowds are brilliant. 

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
The La’s’ Lee Mavers. He was better than any of the bands they inspired. He was puritanic in his dedication to authenticity in music.


Fontaines D.C. were one of the excellent new bands included by Steve Lamacq in his recent playlist for Fred Perry Subculture, describing them as "Edgy, but with quite mesmerising, looping riffs."

Fontaines D.C. released their debut album 'Dogrel' on 12th April 2019. Listen/purchase it at https://fontainesdc.lnk.to/dogrel.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
Since we all started getting into the same bands together a track that really stands out is 'Street Fighting Man' by The Rolling Stones. The simplicity of the arrangement and the revolving chords moved our focus to simplicity in our songwriting.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Sinnerman' by Nina Simone.

One record you would keep forever?
'Transformer' by Lou Reed.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
"A hungry sound came across the breeze,
So I gave the walls a talking."

From 'A Pair of Brown Eyes' by The Pogues

A song you wished you had written?
Curley: 'Rumble' by Link Wray.
Deego: 'I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free' by Nina Simone.
Grian: 'A Rainy Night in Soho' by The Pogues.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Dirt' by The Stooges.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Chet Baker Sings - The whole album.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Fade Into You' by Mazzy Star.

03Interview

Photo by Daniel Topete

Name, where are you from?
We are Fontaines D.C. and we’re from Dublin.

Describe your style in three words?
Literate, ambitious, Dublin. (LAD)

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Girl Band, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. It was the best because it was a monumental performance in a small bar in the west of Ireland. It was nothing less than an honour to be there.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
The Velvet Underground and The Dubliners. Both bands because of the wealth of music and poetry at their fingers. To sing Kavanagh with The Dubliners and to just talk Reed with Reed.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Various movements from the Celtic Twilight. Yeats’s, Kavanagh’s and MacGowan’s poetry even inspired us to make a couple of small publications of our own before we released music. British punk and post-punk got us sucked into social awareness in music. There is a lack of romance in a lot of those artists’ visions of the bleak future that gets to us.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Brian Clough. I’d ask him about fairies.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Sala Caracol - Madrid. It was an unexpectedly warehouse-like room in the middle of a very grand city. It reminded us of home and the Spanish crowds are brilliant. 

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
The La’s’ Lee Mavers. He was better than any of the bands they inspired. He was puritanic in his dedication to authenticity in music.


Fontaines D.C. were one of the excellent new bands included by Steve Lamacq in his recent playlist for Fred Perry Subculture, describing them as "Edgy, but with quite mesmerising, looping riffs."

Fontaines D.C. released their debut album 'Dogrel' on 12th April 2019. Listen/purchase it at https://fontainesdc.lnk.to/dogrel.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
Since we all started getting into the same bands together a track that really stands out is 'Street Fighting Man' by The Rolling Stones. The simplicity of the arrangement and the revolving chords moved our focus to simplicity in our songwriting.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Sinnerman' by Nina Simone.

One record you would keep forever?
'Transformer' by Lou Reed.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
"A hungry sound came across the breeze,
So I gave the walls a talking."

From 'A Pair of Brown Eyes' by The Pogues

A song you wished you had written?
Curley: 'Rumble' by Link Wray.
Deego: 'I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free' by Nina Simone.
Grian: 'A Rainy Night in Soho' by The Pogues.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Dirt' by The Stooges.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Chet Baker Sings - The whole album.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Fade Into You' by Mazzy Star.

 

05Videos

Fontaines D.C. | Roy's Tune (2019)

Fontaines D.C. | Sha Sha Sha (2019)

Fontaines D.C. | Big (2019)

Fontaines D.C. | Too Real (2018)

Fontaines D.C. | Chequeless Reckless (2018)

Fontaines D.C. | Hurricane Laughter (2018)