A sneaky appearance in one Hozier’s music videos, pet peeves and a ridiculous Glastonbury rider request.

Shookrah are really shaking things up at the moment. Having been named one of the ’50 People to watch in 2018′ by the Irish Times The cork five piece are fulfilling the early potential that was evident from the get-go.  Borrowing elements from neo-soul and adding a healthy dose of funk to everything they do, the group are also influenced by the likes of Thundercat, Hiatus Kaiyote and Solange.

Undoubtedly an influential outfit in the sphere of alternative sounds in Ireland their new album is the culmination of years of fine tuning and developing their own sound.

Shookrah compromises of Senita Appiakorang (lead vocals), Emmet O’Riabhaigh (drums), Brian Dunlea (bass), Diarmait Mac Cárthaigh (keys-synth) and Daniel Coughlan (guitar). We caught up with the group to get their most ridiculous rider requests and some juicy bits about them we wouldn’t have otherwise known.

You are fighting in the octagon, what song do you walk out to?
Emmet: John Cage’s 4:33 performed by John Spillane in a cage.

Dan: The Six One News theme on Harp performed by Scottie Too Hottie

What fact about you would surprise people?
Emmet: This applies to both me and Dan because we’re the two dudes in the video for ‘Take Me To Church’

Dan: I have a real job (this is surprising because on the surface I look like I’m incapable of tying my own shoes or cooking rice, I can do 1 of the aforementioned feats but which one?)

What does retirement look like for you in the future?
Dan: I actually had a dream about being asked this question last night and in the dream I woke up as an old man living under a bridge with only a pair of clumpy melted wagon wheels to get me through the night. Is it a doctor I need? Or am I still dreaming?

Senita: With any bit of luck the choice to stop working, sing when and where I want to and embark on a very experimental funemployment music adventure as a djembe and/or bass player.

What is your morning ritual?
Emmet: I stand up on my bed completely nude and then backflip directly into the prone position on the floor below and instantly start my 400 push ups, gently kissing a framed photograph of Steve Gadd with each push.

Dan: I usually wake standing in the kitchen at 6:45. In front of me is a blender. I don’t know why. The contents of the blender are Cornflakes, Cola Cao, Pipped Lobster tails, Pictures of random tony’s from the Tracton area. Hit ‘GO’ and drink that down with some milk. The doctors are calling it Multiversial Lobster Delusions due to lack of Vitamin B

What movie / video game has the best soundtrack?
Emmet: Home Alone all the way. John Williams’ finest work. Colin Stetson’s music in Hereditary was great as well.

Dan: Streets of Rage for the Sega Mega. Bedknobs and Broomsticks has some tunes in it.

Finish this sentence: You should never __________
Emmet: include mayonnaise in a dish by default and not explicitly mention it in the menu.

Dan: Paper Mache yourself to a wax sculpture of your yourself making the mache… world isn’t ready for that.

What is essential to have with you in the studio?
Emmet: A well-rehearsed brain, coffee, a door to the outside world, a willingness to change things on the spot, duct tape.

Dan: Coffee, Fags, a plan, some inspiration in the form of non toxic jellies sweeties, some idea of what the short term goal is and what we want to achieve wether that’s writing or live crafting, topper for you pencil.

Senita: Water, Honey, Pen and marker, Heater, Nebuliser, Jellies, one trusty friend/band mate (Imelda Cormican was mine) and a patient and encouraging sound engineer like Brendan Fennessy.

What is the last thing you watched on netflix/youtube/tv?
Emmet: A vlog by Adam Neely about his weekend of gigs in the Cork Jazz festival. He talked about how we can have a very broad interpretation of ‘jazz’, and thankfully wasn’t too cutting in his analysis of the festival, even though as we all know, it’s just a bit of a piss up with some brass.

Senita: I’ve recently learned about/ got into Top Boy and consumed it with such tunnel vision urgency that I’ve only realised I was watching it in the wrong order and am revising the first and second series’ now. It’s brill!

Dan: Wounds. A film about the Occult. I will refrain from giving any synopsis or rating because I don’t want to spoil it for others who have not seen it yet but I will say this. It goes from ok to shit when the demon climbs into his mouth at the end. 4/10, don’t bother.

What are you addicted to ?
Emmet: Gran Turismo

Dan: Lamb Bhuna (extra spicy hot)

You have your own talk show, who is your first guest?
Emmet: Andy Kaufman

Dan: The cast of Farting Wood. Sorry Farthing Wood!

Senita: The premise of my talk show is kind of like a celebrity ‘Naked Attraction’ but talking about topical and cultural news wearing nappies designed for conjoined twins! And so the unified, forced ( but not for long and not so forced) entity would be Richard Ayoade and Issa Rae. This concept is trademarked and highly arousing, don’t test me!

You are headlining Glastonbury, what are your most outrageous rider requests?
Emmet: Arriving on stage in a 1999 Ford Ka with a lasagne photo decal, but instead of having wheels it’s being carried on the shoulders of Ant & Dec (front axle) and PJ & Duncan (rear axle). This is particularly outrageous because (a) They’re the same people just from different times in history, and (b) they are notoriously weak men.

Dan: All my stage hands are past Olympians from each region of France. They are naked but their silly bits are covered by 3 of the rarest pogs from that particular region between 1991-2000. And Duncan Banatine backstage and just pretending we are rich friends.

The first album you bought?
Dan: Limb Biskit…..is that how you spell it? Dunno….keep rollin baby, you know which time it is!!

Emmet: ‘Saxophone Colossus’ by Sonny Rollins. I’m mistaken, I believe it was possibly also Limp Bizkit.

Senita: Jennifer Lopez- On the 6

You can choose one artist to head up the government and subsequently save the country, who is it?
Emmet: The guy that scratched records and wanked his nose in Slipknot. That’s exactly the kind of moxie this country needs.

Senita: Solange Knowles.

Dan: Picasso or St.Julient Aux Rivier. Is that what you mean by artist?

You can rock the stage with any act past or present, who are you choosing?

Emmet: Michael Jackson (what like?) or Stevie Wonder or Soundgarden.

Senita: Yock ^^! D’Angelo, Beyonce, or Andre 3000.

Dan: Eiffle 65, Little Richard or Duncan Banatine

What is your pet hate?
Emmet: People being nailed for something they didn’t do, spending most of their lives in prison etc. Boils my bones.

Senita: BO and bad manners, specifically when people cough and don’t cover their mouths, a common flaw found amongst elderly people. I respect old people, but I cannot respect this!

Dan: Bastards who leave rubbish in your car after you bring them home. You know who you are…

Photo Credits: Bríd O’Donovan

Get tickets to their album launch party in Bellobar November 17 here.