ONE of the most talked about new bands in Ireland, VANN MUSIC return with a bang this May with their new single, Tina. Having appeared on RTÉ’s Other Voices in April, the new single is the follow-up to the Dublin four-piece’s debut EP, Electro Shock Dreams, which topped the Irish iTunes charts last May. We spent ten minutes with frontman Aaron Smyth...
What are you up to right now?
Cleaning up my desktop, I’m trying to find an old demo I wanted to listen back to but all I’ve found of note is a copy of the Rosetta Stone (I was attempting to learn Spanish last year).
Who are your heroes?
Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs, My Dad and Manny Pacquiao.
What’s been the best decade of your life so far and why?
The 1980s, along with the awesome music you had the best toys/superheroes — He-Man, GI-Joe, Michael Jackson (as music I mean, not a superhero).
What record sends a shiver down your spine?
Jon Hopkins — Immunity. I’ve had it on constant repeat. It gets me every time.
What is your favourite place in Ireland?
Inchydoney in West Cork. It’s like the last place on earth, perfect getaway. DeBarras in Clonakilty is nice and close by too. The Guinness is great.
What makes you angry?
Abuse of power and, on a more everyday scale, having to hang up socks.
What book influenced you most?
One Train Later by Andy Summer from The Police. A fantastic read with many twists and turns.
What was the worst moment of your life?
Secondary school pretty much from start to finish.
Which local star in any field should the world outside Ireland know about?
Ger O’Donoghue, the local barista in the Fumbally Cafe on Lower Clanbrassil Street, Dublin. His knowledge on coffee and his skill at making it is unrivalled in Dublin.
If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?
Finishing songs that I am most passionate about before the fire for them dies out.
Can you recommend an interesting website?
What is the best lesson life has taught you?
Life does not owe you a living…
What is your favourite film and why?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I always wondered if I had my mind erased would I still make the same choices. It fascinates me.
What do you believe in?
I believe in showing compassion to one another as humans. We really do not have a lot of time you know.
What trait do others criticise you for?
Not finishing the songs…
'Machu Picchu in Peru is a work of art'Where do you live and what are the best and worst things about that place?
I live in Dublin. Best thing: It’s just home, the hustle and bustle of the city on Friday evenings when you are on the way home or heading into Hogans for a pint. Worst thing: You can’t get fresh fish on Sunday!
On what occasion is it OK to lie?
To children at Christmas time.
What do you consider the greatest work of art?
Machu Picchu in Peru, it’s simply breath-taking, especially early in the morning when the fog is floating through it…
What is your ultimate guilty pleasure?
Anything by Katy Perry.
Who is the love of your life?
I’ve two, my Roland Juno 106 and my gal.
Tina by Vann Music is out now on download via iTunes
See More: Aaron Smyth, Dublin, Vann Music
