The Athy band reveal all as they prepare for the release of their second album, MDRN LV, later this month.
Picture This have broken all sorts of records since they first landed on the scene late in 2015, but surely their crowning achievement was becoming the first band in history to sell out five nights at the 3Arena.
Ahead of their mammoth run of performances in Dublin, Hot Press’ Deputy Editor Stuart Clark learns about the stories behind the songs on their fantastic new album, MDRN LV, as well as hearing about their most meaningful live experiences, their admiration for the likes of Oasis, Johnny Cash and The Stone Roses (whose drummer Mani has a deep, personal connection with Athy), Ryan Hennessy’s libido (read and find out…) and what went down when the band was asked to conduct an exclusive interview with The 1975 at the start of this year.
Elsewhere in the new issue, Lucy O’Toole sits down with Talos frontman and electronic indie-rock trailblazer Eoin French to discuss his new record, his love for his hometown of Cork, and ditching the nine-to-five. Peter McGoran chats to synth-pop stars Years & Years in the midst of their two sold-out shows at Olympia Theatre, and Stuart Clark meets Thumper, the young Dublin’s who’ve been causing a ruckus in the capital with their incredible, original sound.
In our frontlines section this month, Peter McGoran sits down with Malawian refugee, activist, chef, and candidate for this May’s Irish council elections, Ellie Kisyombe. Having spent nearly a decade in direct provision, Ellie is leading the charge in campaigning to end this shameful Irish policy. We talk to her about her plans to change Ireland for the better. On top of that, Stephen Keegan talks to ‘Mr. Busyman’, aka Rilwan Kadiri, a hip-hop artist who has been in direct provision for 15 years but who has still managed to play Electric Picnic, as well as hosting his own talent show and mentoring a young people’s centre.
In our book section, Peter McGoran talks to Geraldine Quigley, author of the powerful new novel Music, Love, Drugs, War which is set in Derry during the Hunger Strikes.
On top of all that, we’ll have all the news, reviews and previews you’d expect, including interviews with Katie McGloin, Empire Circus, Microdisney and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, and reviews of new albums from Picture This, The Gloaming, and Talos.