Hiya (Paul Richart) thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
I remember the moment when I decided I wanted to make music, I remember the very exact moment when I stopped dreaming about being a football player, I remember the moment when I thought “alright, yes, I’m going to be a musician, I’m going to be in bands, be a proper rock/pop/whatever genre star cliche”. The year was 1998, a month or so past my birthday.
This is Hardcore by Pulp had been recently released. I was at this record shop with my big brother and when we saw This Is Hardcore on the new releases shelf we immediately grabbed it without knowing anything about that band. Maybe it was the fairly erotic album cover, maybe it was the title of the album, maybe both. We knew nothing about Pulp and we never even thought that it could be hardcore music (funny cos it’s much more hardcore than hardcore really). So when we got home, we played the record and that was it. As soon as the first track ended, a song named The Fear, I thought, “I’m going to be a musician, I want to do that”.
Introduce us to you all and your musical history.
Well, I’ve been in a shitload of bands, none of them had real success. I won’t even bother in mentioning the bands, some of them were really good but they’re history. I just care about what’s going on now, with The Bouquet Sessions and also with my not-so-recently released album Sniff and Tell (do yourself a favour and also listen, it’s proper music and you don’t find much these days)
What’s the live music scene like in (Adrogué) right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (Bar you of course)
Absolute rubbish, never cared about any of the bands around and now I care even less. Everything turned into lab music now, all that trap, rap, crap noise thing that kids and grownup cunts that want to pretend they’re still fresh listen to these days. As I said, I never cared about the local scene (even though I think it is or was the most respectable in the country) but at least in the old days there were still bands, people making songs. Now it’s all clowns and karaoke, man. On that bombshell, I really like a new Irish band called Fontaines DC.
I’ve seen a lot of people struggling for support recently online. Whats your view on the industry?
In the words of a wise man, “cunts are still running the world” and each day it’s getting worse. Now it’s all about the market and only about the market. Well, always been a bit like that really anyway, but the dark side is constantly growing and evolving. Algorithms, technocrats, companies slashing people’s sense of curiosity and investigation. Everything is getting more and more concentrated, homogenous, lacking of soul. Most people don’t even play their own music playlists for crying out loud, they will listen to whatever any shitty algorithm wants them to.
We’re losing important venues for independent artists every day everywhere in the world. That’s a big thing for those who don’t have any contacts in the music business. Also, I’m a bit disappointed with many big “successful” bands, even bands and musicians I love, that were once independent or they called themselves independent. I think they should be doing something for the small artists, giving space, listening and fighting for the right thing. I guess they’re getting older and losing the “revolutionary” sense that music once had, they rather be touring and collecting to fix their golden loos or whatever.
What are your thoughts on the new Co-op arena?
Dunno really. Looks like a dream venue to play. Looks very modern, I guess it has all the new bells and whistles. I hope they use it in good health. I hope new emerging artists, real bands get to play there. Come on, Harry boy, do the right thing and call me, mate. I promise I won’t disappoint and you know it. Don’t be afraid.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
God like legend rock pop star waiting for the masses to notice.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
I’m a very handsome man, stylish and I have three legs.
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture? Discuss….
All the time, so I rather not say…
Do you sign up to any conspiracy theories? If not why not?
Love many of them, but this is one of my favs, the Michael Jackson castrati theory. It goes that Michael Jackson was chemically castrated as a child to preserve his high-pitched voice. It’s based on his lifelong vocal range, his father’s controlling behavior, and allegations from his former doctor, Conrad Murray.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I won master chef.
What are the next steps you plan to take as a band to reach the next level?
Play play and play some more until they get it.
I hear you have a new music, what can you tell us about it.
I really think you should listen to it, it’d be silly not to. Are you silly?
What was the recording process like?
Messy, boozy, slow, fast, magical, sometimes a fucking nightmare, sometimes very enjoyable.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
Learning to never doubt for a second about myself. I have infinite tunes, infinite hits.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Not one bit, it is what it is. Art !
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
What else other than my music and the possibility of seeing me on a stage. Don’t miss out, mate. You don’t want to miss out.
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