Interview with Doolin
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
W: It’s a band made out of 2 families.
Some of our parents were into music in a semi pro or hobby kind of way.
Music is my job since I’m old enough to work so I can’t imagine my life any other way even though I remember myself thinking about becoming an English teacher when I was 12.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
W: When we’re not playing music there’s still a lot on our plate with social medias, tour planning, booking opportunities etc…
Personally I love to play chess these days. I find it very challenging and also helpfull for focussing. Some of us like reading, cooking or hiking…
I’d say the inspiration comes more from the travels we do while touring.
How long has your band been around?
W: Our band has been around for 18 years (2005)
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
W: We live in the south of France nearby Toulouse. I don’t know in which way it influenced our music but it did as Irish and American people always told us that we play Folk and Irish music with a French twist. Maybe it’s just the fact that the style of music we play doesn’t belong to the area we live in. It gives it an wider an exotic approach breaking some of its codes.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
W: Doolin is a little village in west Ireland near Galway. We’ve all been there together and separately. There’s a pace of life very similar to the region we’re living in and it’s a real craddle of brilliant Irish musicians.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
W: Gigs abroad have always had a special flavour. I’d say Milwaukee (WI-USA) Irish Fest with our friends of Gaelic Storm (Music from Titanic movie), Merle Fest Folk and Bluegrass festival (NC-USA) with our friend and Label owner Alison Brown (Compass Records) and Ortigueira (Spain) where we played at 4 in the morning in front of 15k people.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
W: Here’s one in France where we had a great time: it’s called La Cigale and it’s one of the most prestigious venues in Paris. Another one is Le Bikini in our home town in Toulouse. Always a blast to play in such a great venue at home.
We would love to play at L’Olympia which the most famous venue in Paris where Piaf, Brel and many other stars played in the old days.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
W: U2, The Pogues, Springsteen, Solas…
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
W: I’d tell any beginner to hold on to their dreams and always keep believing in themselves.
I’d tell my younger self that time is of the essence but everything’s gonna be allright forever anyway.
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
W: Once again, time is of the essence.
Always move forward.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
W: I’d go for Circus Boy as a band point of view because it’s a good mix of all our influences (Folk, Pop and Irish music) and it tells a story close to what we live on the road sometimes with being a family away from our families.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
W: My favorite one to play on stage is our version of Ballad of Hollis Brown (B. Dylan). It requested a lot of work with our friend and producer John Doyle at the time (2016) in Nashville TN but the result was beyond expectations. We’ve been playing it for a while now and I think this version has a very special atmosphere and energy to it.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
W: There are mainly two ways to compose for us. The main one is:
One of us comes out with a song and we work on it together and the second one is:
While we’re on the road we sometimes gather in a room and jam until something comes out.
The inspiration comes mainly from the travels and the going back home mood when a tour is over. There are lots of love, in every shape, inspired songs.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
W: Friendship, love, being here now…
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
W: Of course it happens as some of us have been playing together for more than 30 years. I think we get past them through the good things that happen to the band, the very good gigs, the satisfying recordings…
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
W: We’re preparing a gig in a cool venue in Paris for the national release of our new album and we’re looking forward to be touring in the USA this summer.
How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?
W: To have an overview of all our gigs the best thing to do is to check out our website www.doolin.fr
To have a day to day update you want to check our Facebook page Doolin’ or our Instagram page @doolinband.
Lots of cool stuff (videos, clips…) on our YouTube channel too @doolinband.