Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: My name is Shane, I’m the producer and the lead singer of Dunluvly. I grew up in Firhouse, Dublin 24, and studied Music Technology at Maynooth University. I guess my mother would have been the driving force behind my musical abilities for many of the earlier years. Her side of the family has always been good for bringing out instruments at a gathering. She got me playing fiddle and piano quite young and then I picked up the guitar as a teenager.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Dunluvly”?
A: We are playing our first International shows in Berlin and London this summer and we’ve edged our way into a few festivals this past year. So hopefully a bit more of that. I would say that you should come to a live show to see our newest arrangement, Aisling Fitzgerald on the fiddle has brought us up a level or two.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: Probably Adrianne Lenker. Her multiple projects and multiple albums of beautiful music make our project feel very small. I find inspiration in other players a lot. I always find jamming and writing very cathartic when you can’t shake an idea, good or bad.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “The Spire.”?
A: The Spire is about a few things, In ways it’s about Dublin City today. The song describes returning home to live amidst its current chaos after many years spent living away from its haunting shadow. It’s also about missing someone when you’re out on the road. Or when times get tough and circumstance keeps you and the people you love apart.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Chilled
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “The Spire”?
A: It was difficult deciding to leave the track relatively bare. I spent a long time stripping away new parts and trying to work out a reverb for the verse that worked. After about a year of deliberation, I settled with a close mic dry vocal and it brought a nice contrast into the different sections.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: The overarching message of Dunluvly is that we could all live a little slower and find a creative process. I think it’s really important to have something that you can find expression through.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Tom Misch or Little Simz
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Enter the industry with lasting motives. Trying to be a star is endlessly disappointing. If a love for music is your motive, you will meet amazing like-minded people, you’ll always have great stories to tell and you’ll find endless fulfillment.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Don’t lose faith in compounding experience. Slow growth is more valuable than going viral, and it means you’re constantly developing new skills.
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