Porcelain Eyes

To be honest, we don’t really know what we sound like. People who have heard our current set of songs, have told us we're a mix of indie rock, punk and grunge. Essentially, we like to think of ourselves as just an out-and-out rock band. Each member has different styles and influences which adds an extra dynamic to the songwriting process.

We have been round the block bands-wise in Waterford, so it was really exciting, for me personally, to get to jam with Eddy (Drums/Vocals), Evan (Bass) and Jason (Guitar/Vocals), who I’ve seen on numerous occasions playing in their own bands. We’d hang out at sessions and always talk about having a jam but that never materialized. I was out of the scene for a couple years but missed it and was looking to get back on the horse and start a band. Luckily, the stars aligned and the lads were eager to start an original band at around the same time.

Our influences would be Jeff Buckley, Pillow Queens, Queens of the Stone Age, Mastodon, Pixies, Metallica, Frames, Nirvana, Interpol, and Iron Maiden. The list could go on and on. We have many different musical tastes, but also many of the same which helps. Then we discuss and vote on what works. We believe that if it sounds good, it’s in.

Ah man, I wish we had a good story behind the name. We were just trying to come up with names that we thought sounded cool and would go with the music. I think Porcelain Eyes is flexible in that way. A really heavy band could take the name but also an electronic act, which represents our music in a sense. We're a rock band, but due to everyone's different styles, not every song sounds the same.

It was originally just called, 'Still at it'. Which is a reference to when you’d meet up with family members you haven’t seen for a while, and they would all ask the same question, ‘Are you still at the music thing?’ So it was a play on that. But when we hashtagged it, it could be read as, 'Still a tit', as well. So we thought, it would be a funny idea to use both, so the hashtag would be #stillatit. The EP itself has a kind of ghostly feel due to the way the recordings turned out, that sound almost serious in nature. So the EP name is to counter that. We don’t want to take things too seriously.

We played around with the idea of doing it all live apart from vocals. However, in the end, because we were still finding our way playing live and because we were on a budget, we thought tracking separately and piece by piece was the best way to go. We're happy with the results.

Usually, I'd bring in songs mostly complete into practice and we'd work on them together as a band. Then the lads add their own flavour and change some things if needs be. Some parts would be shortened or lengthened, or a time signature might be changed. But lately, we're getting more time to rehearse together and have created some bits of songs that we came up with as a band, we just have to finish them off.

'Filth' is the most popular song for people outside the band to listen to. I really like that song as well. But I think my favourite is, 'Do you like that?' That’s Jason's and Evans as well. And Eddy likes 'Filth'. Funnily enough, when we play live, 'Do you like that?', seems to be most people's favourite. I think all the songs represent us right now. While we are a straight up rock band, we do venture off to the indie, punk, grunge side of things as well. Even our new songs, which are up there, if not better than the songs on the EP. We have one song that has elements of The Beatles and the brilliant Irish band Pillow Queens that ends up like Opeth.

I agree and don’t agree. I think it’s unique, because not all the music sounds the same. As mentioned above, there is a pretty big DIY scene here, but I think Waterford gets overlooked. While the scene here is thriving, if we want to make a bigger impact, we have to think beyond Waterford as well. At the moment, we are trying to gig swap with bands from the South/South-East, because there is so much talent around those areas, especially in Wexford, Kilkenny and Cork. Bands like, Bad Mothers Union, Star Comedy Democrats, Forlorn, Oracle villa, Go Like This, Babyrat, Brand New Dead Things, Kai Mod, Barmp, and Soverna.

Anywhere that will let us play. We have played a good few places, but there is something about Geoffs that all of us like playing. Plus they have the best chips.

We are hoping to release at least two music videos from the EP. We are working on more gigs (as many as we possibly can). We are writing loads of new songs. Regarding next year, we're planning more gigs outside Waterford, maybe even some gigs outside of Ireland. More recordings, be it our first single, followed by an EP or LP. That’s still up for discussion. But what we will be doing is working very hard to bring better songs and an even better live show.

We just hope they like it and want to come back to listen again, to see us live and maybe tell their friends. Whatever they get out of it, I hope it's positive and gets them nodding their heads and stomping their feet and dancing like no one is watching.

Jeeze Louise… we’ll do two from the past and two from the present just to be awkward. Nirvana and Thin Lizzy from the past. Pixies and Queens of the Stone Age from the present. They are just unreal bands.