Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: There was a lot of variety from the Beatles and Stones, to Brit-pop to Irish folk music. I think that has definitely impacted my songwriting, I like to think there’s a degree of genre-fluidity in our music.
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 “Joe Kelly & The Royal Pharmacy”?
A: We are just on the cusp of releasing our second album ‘Cast Me Down’. So we’ll be getting out and about, performing some release show in the next few months. I guess if you’re joining the party now, we’ve got a lot more to offer than ‘World On Fire’, we’ve been cooking with some different flavours.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: Life is the inspiration. I’m really lucky to live in a place with a rich history, stunning landscapes and lots of character. I could be driving through the hills or eavesdropping on the local bus and that spark will just ignite. I feel like that is a real gift.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Cast Me Down.”?
A: I guess more than anything it’s about the fear of disappointment and how that can ruin your connections, not just to other people but the world around us.
We’ve all been let down in one way or another and every time those walls go up that little bit higher. Cast Me Down came from one of those places, where you just don’t think you can move forward. But we always do, right?
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Hiraeth
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Cast Me Down”?
A: Writing’s always the easiest part for me. If something about the song sticks, it comes pretty quick! The same can be said about the rest of the album, too. It’s been quite a cathartic process.
Half of the album (including Cast Me Down) were initially recorded remotely during the pandemic, so it was a tricky process matching these tracks to the ones that had already been recorded. Our keyboard player and producer Jon Greening had the monstrous task of creating a cohesive record and he’s done a fantastic job.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: That carrying grudges won’t get you very far in life. My main hope and goal is to continue making records with the band and to draw in more friends and guests to collaborate with.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: It’s got to be George Harrison. Not just for his musical ability but also to have that opportunity to hang out. I think we’d have a great time!
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: The ‘industry’ can seem like a cruel and cutthroat place, and that’s because it is. Streaming is ruining grassroots artists, venues are closing at an alarming rate and the vulnerable and naive are preyed upon constantly, all in the name of lining someone else’s pockets while we all work second jobs.
So don’t look to enter an industry. Find yourself a community, where you will be valued and appreciated. You probably won’t be paid very well, at least not to begin with. But you will have some of the best years of your life doing something you love.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself, it’s really never as bad as you think. Oh and don’t start getting sentimental about material possessions. Anything can be replaced, the memory is more important and if you’re not careful, you’ll be up to your neck in porcelain chickens before you know it!
