INTERVIEW
They are one of the best bands in the vibrant Irish rock scene. And they gave us the honor of closing 2020 with a very special interview. These are our 10 questions for Wild Youth:
Sounds European!: Let's begin this interview with a bit about your background. How did you guys meet? When did you decide to get together as a band? And what's behind the name, Wild Youth?
Wild Youth: Around 2016.
Wild Youth came from reading a book on a plane and seeing the two words together in a paragraph and they just jumped out at me. I put them together and it felt right.
Wild Youth came from reading a book on a plane and seeing the two words together in a paragraph and they just jumped out at me. I put them together and it felt right.
SE!: Your career started off with a bang: your debut single, "All or nothing", reached #1 in the Irish Spotify rankings (and was also our song of the week, back in September 2017). How was it, for you, to see such an instantaneous success?
WY: Well thank you for that. It was crazy. We never really expected a song written in the middle of the night to do crazy things like this for us.
SE!: Still speaking about success, your single "Can't move on" was the most aired song in Irish radios in 2018. What would you say is the key to your success? How do you deal with success, and seeing so many people enjoying your work? And what would you still dream to achieve with your music?
WY: Hard work, and being honest with our music. We're always grateful for anybody who listens to our music or comes to our shows. Without them we have nothing. We dream to tour and play cities all over the world.
SE!: Your music is, for us, very varied regarding its genre. How would you define your own music style? What genres does it comprise? What do you want your audience to feel when listening to your songs?
WY: To feel connected lyrically but also to feel relief and escape from how scary the world is.
SE!: Let's talk a bit about the lyrics of your songs. For us, they stand out due to their easy relatability. How is the songwriting process for you? What do you have in mind when composing lyrics? Where do you look for influences when composing?
WY: It always has to come from an honest place, and from personal experience. The more honest you are the more relatable it is.
"We're always grateful for anybody who listens to our music or comes to our shows. Without them we have nothing"
(Picture: Nicholas O'Donnell)
SE!: Now focusing on "Through the phone", your latest single. You've commented it deals with the separation we've felt throughout this year. What can you tell us about the song, both lyrically and musically? And how has the COVID-19 situation affected your work?
WY: It's about being separated from somebody you love and promising to love them in any way that you can everyday until you can see them again.
SE!: Your live performances are very well acclaimed. What do you guys feel when you are on stage? What can you say about your concerts? And how are you planning (or how do you imagine) your upcoming live shows to be, within this new sanitary situation?
WY: Oh thank you. We love performing. It's our happy place. Where we feel we are ourselves. Expect a lot of colour.
SE!: You've released two singles during 2020. Can we expect a longer work (EP or even an album) on the way? What can you tell us about your plans for the near future? What can your fans expect from you and your music in 2021?
WY: Ye we've got lots of music coming. More singles, an EP. Maybe an album. Who knows!
SE!: We know you have already worked with several other acts, both from Ireland and abroad. What can you tell us about those experiences? And, looking into the future, if you could choose anyone, who would be some Irish and international artists you would like to collaborate with?
WY: It's been amazing to be exposed to artists we really respect so that in turn they can lend advice. We love collaborating, collaboration is such a special feeling creatively when it's right. We would love to work with Tyler, The Creator, Tame Impala, Billie Eilish.
SE!: We would like to finish this interview with a song of yours. What is your favorite song by Wild Youth, and why?
WY: Right now it's "Through the phone" or "Next to you" or "Can't move on". There that's three. :)
