Only Child
Only
Child make emotional music. 2012's debut EP was a collaboration between Alan
O’Hare (ex-The Trestles) and Laura McKinlay (Bill Ryder-Jones), alongside a
loose collective of Merseyside’s most intuitive musicians. Only Child have
headlined the likes of Leaf, Liverpool Acoustic @View Two and The
Zanzibar, alongside supported the likes of Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff); Steve
Pilgrim (Paul Weller); Michael Weston King (My Darling Clementine); Ian Prowse
(Amsterdam/Pele) and Gemma Hayes. Rave reviews of the EP and live gigs have
followed and O'Hare is about to release the very first Only Child album, via Crosstown
Records, in April 2014.
Reviews
"Musically gifted and beautifully played..." Seven Streets;
"Like throwing crisp autumn leaves into the air..." Audio Apocalypse;
"Beautifully haunting, the band falls away, leaving just strings..." Liverpool Acoustic; "Only Child summarise a feeling felt by many and with a pure Celtic heart..." Liverpool Student Media.
I’m an only child! My previous band had ended and the music I was starting to make was completely different to everything that had come before. I wanted the name to reflect the emotional range of the new songs I was writing and it was also a statement of defiance.
"Musically gifted and beautifully played..." Seven Streets;
"Like throwing crisp autumn leaves into the air..." Audio Apocalypse;
"Beautifully haunting, the band falls away, leaving just strings..." Liverpool Acoustic; "Only Child summarise a feeling felt by many and with a pure Celtic heart..." Liverpool Student Media.
Ten
Questions for Only Child
1
– Where did the name come from?
I’m an only child! My previous band had ended and the music I was starting to make was completely different to everything that had come before. I wanted the name to reflect the emotional range of the new songs I was writing and it was also a statement of defiance.
2
– How did your journey into creating music start?
I
heard Bob Dylan sing! And Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Noel Gallagher and
Michael Stipe. And then I heard Kevin Rowland lead a band… and wanted to do that! The music I made as a younger man
was one dimensional, foot to the floor rock and roll music. It was fun – but
went nowhere. I’d advise anyone starting out to lift their head from the storm
and realise exactly what music you want to make… and then remain true to it.
3
– There’s a beautiful Celtic sound that runs through your music, has this been
a style you’ve always aimed for?
Thank
you. It comes with the apostrophe to be honest! My lyrics have always reflected
that ethereal Celtic spirit, but it’s only since I started Only Child that the
music has revealed that influence. Laura McKinlay, my mate who plays fiddle and
writes string arrangements for the band, brings a boat load of Caledonian soul
down from Denny, in Scotland, too. Between my apostrophe and her small ‘c’,
we’ve got it covered!
4
– What was the experience of recording the album like?
The
best musical one of my life! I made the album at Crosstown Studios, in
Liverpool, with a guy named Jon Lawton. I’ve written in the sleeve notes to the
record that I made an album – but gained a friend. Music is all about
communication and connection – and we’ve got that in abundance on this album.
Jon was the North Star for me during these recordings: someone to guide the
ship by.
5
– You’ve supported lots of experienced musicians, including the wonderful Gemma
Hayes, have you found this has influenced your sound, or the band in another
way?
Certainly.
To be honest, support slots only give you what you take from them. You have to
go out to grab the attention of the crowd and not apologise for being there.
Supporting the likes of Miles Hunt and Ian Prowse has been invaluable for me as
a performer and band leader – you cannot help but learn from such experience.
It’s also a great opportunity to sell CDs and steal fans too!
6
– The Liverpool scene appears to be bursting with fresh talent, how does it
feel to be a part of it and do you find you all support each other rather than
having rivalries?
I
don’t really feel part of it, to be honest. While it’s right to say it’s
bursting with fresh talent at the minute, I think it often is and right now is
not much different to the past. These things come and go in cycles. I know
loads of musicians around the town and have lots of friends who I’ll always
support and go to their gigs etc. I buy a CD at nearly every gig I go to these
days!
7
– What would be your dream venue to play?
Liverpool’s
Philharmonic Hall. The best sounding venue I’ve ever stepped foot in.
8
– Which artist/artists have inspired you most?
There
are many, I inhabit music and spend my days thinking about it. But, if push
comes to shove, I’d have to say Van Morrison. The music is in him – it’s that
simple. I don’t believe in magic, but I believe Van is in touch with whatever
it is that makes the wind blow and the sun shine. His fearlessness continues to
be an inspiration to me – and hopefully always will.
9
– Is there a song that you wish you had written/recorded yourselves?
Great
question… yes, lots! Don’t trust any songwriter who says otherwise either! I
think the thing I go to music for the most… is joy. And the release a well
strummed acoustic guitar melody, of fiddle riff, can bring. So I’d have to say
‘Fisherman’s Blues’ by The Waterboys. In fact, I’m gonna’ go put it on as soon
as I finish this!
10
– What’s next for the band?
A
big album launch gig on Saturday, April 26 at The Zanzibar in Liverpool. We’ll
be joined by the Liva String Quartet on the night and I can’t wait! Before
that, the album (‘From Muddy Water To Higher Ground’) will be released on
iTunes and Google Play etc. and then the physical CDs will be on sale at the
gig. After that, we’re booked in to play the ‘Above The Beaten Track’ festival
at the end of August. In between, I’m hoping we sell enough CDs to get the band
on the road for a couple of gigs further afield! The music we’re making right
now deserves to be heard by as many people as possible.
I’d
like to say a huge thank you to Alan for taking the time to be interviewed for
the blog and hope the launch party is just the start of even bigger things for
Only Child!
Here
is the first promo single from our forthcoming album, the song is called
'Higher Ground'
The
album will be available from the launch gig on CD and is called 'From muddy
water to higher ground'. Before that, it'll be released digitally (iTunes,
Google Play etc.) via Crosstown Records in April.
Links
for Only Child
Facebook
- https://www.facebook.com/onlychildmusic
Twitter
- https://twitter.com/onlychildmusic
Soundcloud
- https://soundcloud.com/onlychildmusic
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