EMQs – Callas
21/07/24
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Dom Murphy – Vocals, Guitars, Keys
Ruairi Lynch – Guitars & Production
Callas brings together former members of post-rock group “Ealadha” and electronic artist and producer Ruairi Lynch from “Bantum”. The Band formed in 2023, with a vision to create an avant-garde metal/rock outfit. We spent a little over a year writing and molding songs for our debut EP coming out very soon.
How did you come up with your band name?
We texted the gods and they delivered. Luckily it was succinct, vague enough that we can fit within any genre and most importantly available on Spotify. – Dom
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We hail from Cork City in Ireland. Despite the dwindling music venues (not helped by Covid) the metal and rock scene is vibrant and bursting with creativity with some great bands knocking about – Dom
What is your latest release?
Our debut EP ‘Days’ is out July 26th. The title track from it was released in April 2024.
Who have been your greatest influences?
We are influenced by a diverse range of music and artists such as Anathema, Deftones, Tool, Radiohead to Lorn and many many movie soundtracks – Dom
Yob, Jesu and lockdown beers – Ruairi
What first got you into music?
Hearing Pachelbel’s Canon when I was a kid. – Dom
Princes Batman soundtrack – Ruairi
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Jimmy Chamberlin from The Smashing Pumpkins – Dom
Four Tet – Ruairi
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Roskilde Denmark. Was there many years ago and loved the vibe (and food).
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
A lock of hair…wait a minute, we actually don’t receive any gifts (cut to weeping profusely).
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
“I want you to tell all your friends about me/us” – Batman 1989
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Layne Staley – Dom
Chris Cornell – Ruairi
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
That feeling of excitement when the song really starts to take shape during the creative process and takes on its own unique identity. Lifting heavy gear up ridiculously tiny staircases – Dom
Good. I am endlessly curious about music. Bad. I am endlessly curious about music – Ruairi
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
How the airwaves have been dominated, homogenized and truly decimated by shallow Pop Icons (I’m not going to name names but it should come swiftly to you ahem). The industry needs a serious shakeup – Dom
The Streaming pendulum needs to swing more in the artists direction – Ruairi
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Songs for the Deaf – QOTSA – Ruairi
To quote Alan Partridge I would have to say The Best of The Beatles.
Failing that, Paradise Lost – Icon – Dom
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
While streaming is great in terms of accessibility, nothing can beat that warm fuzzy feeling of having a record in hand. The packaging is literally a piece of art and makes for a great display piece and the process of changing sides forces you to slow down and pause in a breakneck world. I recently picked up a new subwoofer that my neighbors hate me for. – Dom
Vinyl on Doms system – Ruairi
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Vicar Street with Bantum – Ruairi
One of our first ever gigs at Bradleys in Cork city many moons ago – Dom
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
My day job – Ruairi
Also my day job – Dom
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
The Legion of Doom, The Bushwhackers and a referee. – Ruairi
What’s next for the band?
We are excited about the release of the new EP ‘Days’. We are looking to release the track ‘Porous’ as a single and music video sometime in Autumn. – Dom
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
We wouldn’t really know as we are too Irish. A Scone or Blaa (forged in Co. Waterford) – Dom
A scone! – Ruairi
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thanks for having us and go check out our EP ‘Days’ if you can!