New Galway act The Half Room have released their new single, My Love Is In America. We asked Pauline Scanlon of the band the BIG questions . . .
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Although they are relatively new, The Half Room are seasoned singers in their own right. Dingle singer Pauline and singer-songwriter Nicola Joyce are in Galway trio The Whileaways and they are joined by vocalists Eoin Wynne and Fabian Joyce.
Written by Chris Leslie, My Love is in America tells a poignant story of love, loss, and hope amidst unemployment and emigration. It will be followed by the release of the band's debut album on15 November.
The Half Moon play An Taibhdhearc, Galway on 15 November, The Island Music Club, Crusheen, Co Clare, 30 November and The Venue, Kilconly, Co. Galway, 29 December.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I love dogs, we have a 15-year-old giant called Harry who is the soundest man in Ireland. We just got a new eight-week-old Goldendoodle puppy called Annie, she’s a wee moon cat and has the house torn apart. It’s pure joy though!
I have a weird audio sensitivity called Misophonia . It’s a decreased tolerance to specific sounds like eating, whispering, balloon scratching and the like . . . not as uncommon as I once thought though, we are a small but tightly knit group of people you’ll find eating alone in cafeterias or with ear-plugs in.
I am a mature student in the University of Galway in my final year of a Social Science degree. I never did university after school (many moons ago), I went straight into music really, so I decided to give it a go a few years back and I love it.
How would you describe your music
Our music is traditional for the most part, and more folky in spots. It’s full of harmonies and good yarns. The four of us have similar tastes in the band, so it all melts together around our various kitchen tables nicely. We got together a few years back during a long dark winter to share songs a few evenings a month, so when it came to recording we wanted to capture that vibe and keep it honest! It’s mellow and harmony heavy with gentle ornamentation and unified tone and phrasing.
Who are your musical inspirations?
All of us in The Half Room have eclectic musical tastes. We have found ourselves singing a lot of Archie Fischer songs over the years, Stan Rogers, and Sandy Denny also come up a lot. Our biggest influences are probably our pals and the musicians that surround us most regularly. We all live in Headford, Co Galway which is a bit of a musical melting pot and very inspiring to be around. We do a lot of moonlighting with various projects we are all involved in and it’s very inspiring to see how dedicated and talented our friends are.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Hothouse Flowers at the Beat on The Street in 1988 at home in Dingle. I’ll never forget it. Shortly afterwards they came to the CBS Hall in Dingle and that was my second ever gig.
What was the first record you ever bought?
True Blue - Madonna, I reckon. There was a thing called Mini-Pops where kids dressed up as well-known pop stars and covered music of the 80s, I have a vague recollection of it so it may have predated Madonna.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Nicola in the band got a gorgeous song recently called Lover’s Heart from the singing of Colm and Siobhán O’Donnell from Co. Sligo. It was written by the late Andy M. Stewart who wrote some of the most gorgeous songs that have seamlessly been absorbed into the wider tradition in Ireland.
Favourite lyric of all time?
This is a hard one, it changes daily but today’s one is from Ye Rambling Boys of Pleasure. "And I wish I was in Belfast town and my true love along with me, And money in my pocket to keep us in good company, Liquor to be plenty, a flowing glass on every side, Hard fortune would ne’er daunt me for I am young and the world is wide."
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Suzanne - Leonard Cohen. It was my mother’s favourite song and there’s something so calming about the linear nature of the melody. It was almost my favourite lyric of all time too.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Our website has all the links to our new album, which is out on 15 November.
Alan Corr
