Following on from his much-loved comeback single 'New Wave Vaudeville' earlier this year, Irish artist Skinner is back on the grind once again to deliver his explosive new effort 'Tell My Ma'.
Lifted from his forthcoming new EP 'Geek Love', which is out on the 10th October via Faction Records, 'Tell My Ma' sees him returning in blistering form throughout. Honing more of that ferocious self-described "no-wave" aesthetic he is known for, we can't wait to hear what this new EP has in store for us as well.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The guitar. My sister got a guitar for Christmas when I was 6. She played with it for about a week then it was just left sitting in the corner. One day I just picked it up and it made sense to me so I started teaching myself how to play. It’s my main vehicle for songwriting although I try to write on other instruments these days to keep feeling fresh.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
From ages 12 – 17 I pretty much only listened to Americana and folk music. I think folk music is the best way to learn songwriting because it’s usually just the singer and a single instrument. It’s storytelling in its truest form with no wild keyboard solo or string section to come in and save you from boring the audience. It’s just you and what you’ve got to say and that’s powerful. I loved Woodie Guthrie, Roscoe Holcomb, Lead Belly, Joan Baez, the Clancy Brothers, Dave Van Ronk and Hank Williams.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I remember owning Bob Dylan's first self titled album “Bob Dylan” and “American Idiot” by Green Day.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Probably “I’m so Lonesome I could Cry” by Hank Williams. It’s so simple and haunting and I think it’s a work of art that’s stood the test of time.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
No. My main thing is to break habits and rituals when it comes to song writing because you just end up repeating yourself otherwise. It’s more important to think about what you’re going to do next and come up with new methods and ways of creating things. It all becomes very boring if you don’t and you feel trapped.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I really like “The Fall” and Beat Happening at the moment. Ireland’s got some crazy good bands at the moment too and I find myself listening to them rather than anything else. Spit, Sharkschool, I dreamed I dream, Crying Loser, Powpig, these are all bands I think people should be listening to right now.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Morphine. Great band.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Getting to scream and shout your head off every night on stage and not get arrested afterwards.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The way the industry bids everyone against each other all fighting for a tiny slice of a very slimey pie. The constant repetition of whatever sells being shelled to everyone at the expense of all the other bands doing something new and interesting. The fact that so many people who work in the music industry are not artists or musicians. In short, the politics.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Be nice to the support band. Don’t be a dick and let them use your backline. If someone does something nice for you then thank them and pay it forward to the next band you see.
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Skinner's new single 'Tell My Ma' is available to stream now. Watch the new video for it in the player below.