Behind the music – Pinhole

Avant-garde Dingle/Cork-based band Pinhole have released their new single, Sweet Spot, and play Crane Lane, Cork on 27 June and Whelan’s Upstairs, Dublin on 30 June. We asked Ciara O’Flynn of the band the BIG questions . . .

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Composed of Ciara, Mark McLoughlin and other transitory musicians, Pinhole’s first EP was titled Babies and the Birds and their music has been used in the RTÉ series Striking Out.

Tell us three things about yourself . . .

We both care deeply about the world. Mark makes human rights documentaries which often leads to interesting conversations that find their way into Pinhole lyrics. I’ve helped plant over 6000 trees because I’m worried about the world. I also keep bees. We both come from visual arts backgrounds.

How would you describe your music?

From the outset, Mark and I were interested in exploring songwriting, how we had both approached it previously and what we brought to the table. We found out quickly that we were both interested in exploring what I describe as a dark art, simply because it’s not visual and when I’m writing, I’m open to whatever the subconscious lets out without wanting to control anything so it’s utterly mysterious. We have both been doing it for decades and it still remains a mystery and unpredictable (a bit like beekeeping). We’re not interested in analysis of the process or hooks or pretty melodies, we’re interested in what comes, so I would describe it as quirky, explorative and musical.

Who are your musical inspirations?

Kate Bush, Björk, Wagner, Leonard Cohen, PJ Harvey and lurking in the back is always Scheer, who left an indelible mark on my teenage brain.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

Blur in the Point Depot. My best friend and I were obsessed.

What was the first record you ever bought?

The Right Stuff – New Kids on the Block!!!! On tape.

What’s your favourite song right now?

We’ve been watching True Detective and I can’t get Billie Eilish’s Bury a Friend out of my head. While I am allergic to “hip-singing”, the imagery and production is brilliant.

Favourite lyric of all time?

It’s often cited as brilliant and I agree: “There is a crack, a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in” – Anthem by Leonard Cohen. It’s just perfect.

If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

That sounds like hell. Pass. Although… I could listen to Mozart’s Concerto for Clarinet in A, K622. That soothes my soul and body like no other piece of music. Either that or early morning birdsong in Ventry, Co. Kerry

Where can people find your music/more information?

Breaking Tunes, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube and to see how spectacularly bad at social media we are, check out Instagram @pinhole_official or Facebook @pinhole_music.

Alan Corr