Columbia Mills
Irish indie rockers Columbia Mills are set to play Dublin’s Button Factory tonight.
The Dublin Joy Division-inspired four-piece released their debut album A Safe Distance to Watch last Friday.
We caught up with vocalist and guitarist Fiachra Treacy ahead of their gig.
The Beat: Tell us about this current tour
Fiachra: We released our debut album last week so it will be great to play the songs to people who have heard the songs on the album. We will be playing a small Irish tour before Christmas and then more dates will be added. Biggest show will be in The Button Factory Friday night with support from Pursued by Dogs.
The Beat: What has been your best gig so far?
Fiachra: We played to a packed tent at Electric Picnic this year on the Gerry Fish stage. Everything went really well, the songs, the crowd, the sound, the lights. It was a perfect set for us.
The Beat: Tell us about your new/ latest record?
Fiachra: We recorded it with an amazing producer Rob Kirwan in Westland Studios. It wears its heart on its sleeve and pulls no punches. It has 10 songs that are all true stories of separation and isolation. It is really fun. You need to check it out.
The Beat: Describe your music in one sentence.
Fiachra: Emotionally driven songs that are laced with reverb soaked guitars and 80s style electronics all sitting on some thumping bass and drums. The Beat: What are you listening to at the moment?
Fiachra: I really love the new LCD Soundsystem record, the National’s new album is really great.
Dua Lipa is making some banging pop tunes. I have been listening to a lot of old songs from The Cure lately too. Really love the new song Lazy by Orchid Collective. That’s a quick look at my Spotify history today. I change what I listen to on an hourly basis.
The Beat: What Irish acts do you rate?
Fiachra: Orchid Collective, Ailbhe Ready, Rusangano Family, Outsider, Cut Once, Le Boom, Jape, Pursued By Dogs, The Cujo Family, King Bones, Katie Kim, El Grey. I really could go on and on. There is no shortage of great music here. I am really impressed by the diversity in the Irish music scene. I don’t think it has ever been so broad and that is so healthy for young music fans to see.
The Beat: What has been your favourite moment as a musician?
Fiachra: I absolutely love to record and create music, so being able to make this record with my friends and a top producer was a dream come true.
The Beat: What’s in store for you for the rest of 2017?
Fiachra: We are in Mike the Pies in Kerry on November 24 supporting the Frank and Walters.
We will be playing Other Voices the first weekend of December. We also have another Dublin show for Pieta House that is yet to be announced (did I just announce it). We are currently writing the next album so any time off over Christmas we will be doing a lot of eating and writing. Columbia Mills ply The Button Factory this coming Friday, November 17, to launch their debut album A Safe Distance To Watch.