Following on from their highly-praised debut album 'Cargo' last year, Dublin-based outfit pants on fire are now back on the grind once again to deliver their energetic new single 'Vodka Shampoo'.
Bringing back more of that fun and lively garage-rock aesthetic they are quickly earning a reputation for, 'Vodka Shampoo' makes for an incredibly warm and enjoyable listen. With its vibrant textures, breezy atmosphere, and stellar hooks layered throughout, they are certainly looking to get us up and out of our seats with this one.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Ollie - Piano, been playing it since I was 4.
Finn - Guitar, I’m not sure when exactly I fell in love with it, but it’s always been there for me as an escape.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Ollie - David Bowie, my parents would play him in the car all the time.
Finn - When I was 4 or 5 I loved Linkin Park, specifically their song Numb, then one day I showed my uncle the song and he called me an emo, which made me pretty emotional.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Neither of us can remember ever owning an album, the first one Finn Can remember listening to was this one Johnny Cash album, it might have been a compilation album I think. My parents would put it on in the car a lot when we were over in England with my cousins which is a fond memory. For Ollie it’s Illinois by Sufjan Stevens. For a while it was the only CD that his parents had in the car growing up. That shit was banging.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
We gotta go with Always Like this by Bombay Bicycle Club. That riff is on another planet.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
We get together and just start playing, jamming until we have an idea, then bring it to the band or produce a version on our own and work on it from there.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
First of all Bricknasty, they are above and beyond in every way, unreal talent. Secondly, the Scratch, their mix of trad music and metal is gorgeous. Third of all there’s this band from Limerick called Some Images of Paradise, who are new enough and they have this track called All the Places You’ll Never Be which I have on repeat.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Has to be Florence Road.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Apart from the therapy of the process of creating and producing music, the connection with other musicians and music enjoyers is priceless. The friends we’ve made and the craic we’ve had gives us a reason to get up every morning.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Good old creative differences.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
The best advice we’ve received is to just do it and give it your all as much as you can. As much as philosophy is intertwined with music, everyone is different and has their own approach, so you just gotta do it your way.
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pants on fire's new single 'Vodka Shampoo' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.