Q: I love your band name! What’s the story behind how the band came together?
Niall Dennehy: “In the mid-nineties, Steely Dan did a tour called The Art Crimes Tour. The band name is a nod to that plus a small joke about how we viewed our early song ideas. Crimes against art. We’re all from the southern part of Ireland. Gary Baus is originally from Baltimore, USA. Around 2011 a bunch of us just started jamming around a table in the back of a pub in our hometown of Cork City every Tuesday night. We had no objectives or a name then, it was just fun. Then we decided by September 2011 to book our first gig at a live showcase night called the KC Sessions. Gary and I are the only two original members from that era but by 2015 we settled on the group we have now. Takes a while to find your tribe I guess, but that’s life, isn’t it?”
Q: The lyrics on “In The Dark Of The Evening” brought out a beautiful depth to the song. Can you walk us through your creative process?
Niall Dennehy: We had a friend in mind who struggled with mental health and so the lyrics were based around the idea of reaching out for help and talking to friends – knowing you are not a burden. The lyrics are almost like a transcript of a conversation Grace had with that friend one night. Once it was written, we were ready to record and the pandemic hit. So that was an unusual occurrence. But we managed to finish it using our separate home studios and the internet.
Q: What were your favorite moments making this track?
Grace McMahon: There have been so many great moments recording this track together. But for me, was the day we all got back into the studio post-COVID and just that moment to be all together again was so emotional and special.
Q: Your music is a great blend of so many genres including jazz, old soul, and more. How would you describe your unique sound?
Stephen Kirby: Diverse is probably the most accurate word to describe our sound. We all come from very different places musically and are very open in the writing process. So, the end product shows this…Oh, and groovy as hell.
Q: What has been one of the most significant moments of your musical journey so far? What have you learned from it?
Gary Baus: “For me every time we get together on stage is significant. I really love the way a good groove takes over an audience when every interlocking part of the band is flowing and it compels a whole room full of people to start dancing. It’s inspiring to see the power of music in action.”
Q: What is coming up next for the band?
Niall Dennehy: We’re on hiatus from live shows for a while this year because our wonderful singer is having a baby soon. So the rest of us will be working away in the recording studio finding out what the next single will be. Stay tuned.
Interviewed by Alina Tran
FOLLOW THE ART CRIMES BAND:
