Behind the music - Ginnels

Dublin act Ginnels have released their fifth album, The Picturesque. We asked Mark Chester of the band the BIG questions . . .

Ginnels were part of Irish music's Popical Island collective in the early 2010s. Now, after a hiatus, Mark returns with the 12-track The Picturesque.

Speaking about his latest single, Lands Faraway, he says, "On this song I was trying to channel The Chills - to the point that the phone demo was called 'Chills Bass Riff', while also realising the dream of having a cod-classical guitar solo on a track.

"It’s set in the limestone quarry in Cumbria where I spent much of my teenage years."

Tell us three things about yourself . . .

I’d love to, but I can’t…

How would you describe your music?

A worn-out cassette of lost pop songs, typically about the countryside. Your cool dad would play it in his Peugeot 205 GTi.

Who are your musical inspirations?

Anyone in a punk band who accidentally wrote a perfect three-minute pop song. Think Don’t Ring Me Up by Protex, Sweet Suburbia by The Skids or Big Time by Rudi. Also, guitarists like Vini Reilly, Maurice Deebank, and James Honeyman Scott of The Pretenders.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

Manic Street Preachers. I was at a BBC Radio 1 Roadshow in Morecambe that featured B*witched and Peter Andre before that but not sure if that counts.

What was the first record you ever bought?

Waking up The Neighbours by Bryan Adams.

What’s your favourite song right now?

A Power of Wides by Oh Boland.

Favourite lyric of all time?

I have no idea so I’m going to say Ingrid Bergman by Woody Guthrie/Billy Bragg. Woody takes a break from being the voice of the disenfranchised to get hot for the legendary Swedish actress: "This old mountain, it´s been waiting All its life for you to work it, For your hand to touch the hard rock, Ingrid Bergman, Ingrid Bergman."

Where can people find your music/more information?

All the usual streaming services.

Alan Corr