The Dying Seconds – Interview

• 24th Nov 2008

Up and coming Dublin duo The Dying Seconds have been compared to the likes of Arcade Fire and Death Cab for Cutie.

The unique musical partnership of Dave Cantan and Jack Quilligan is disarmingly difficult to categorise, but I like to think of them as the bastard child of Elbow and Kraftwerk. They recently made their debut album available as a free download so Glasswerk Ireland tracked the pair down to get the inside scoop…

What's your musical background?
JQ: Both of us were in choirs from age 6 and orchestras (Jack) and bands (Dave) from the age of 11 playing various instruments including piano, trumpet (Jack) and guitar (Dave). Dave started getting into using computers from age 16 and I've been into the electronic side of things over the past couple of years.

How did you get together?
JQ: I joined our old band, Vemorana, when the drummer, Chris who is a friend from college, brought me along to practice because he discovered I could play the trumpet and they were bored of guitars. That band fell into disrepair and Dave and I decided to record an album ourselves which was officially the beginning of The Dying Seconds.

Why do you want to record and release your own music?
DC: Because I'm rubbish at everything else!
JQ: Because it's fun and it's great when you make something you like (and when other people like it too).

What themes do your songs cover?
JQ: The first album is pretty much one long Carpe Diem poem, the lyrical style is most inspired by T.S. Eliot and The National. Dave looks after the vocal side of things.

Who are your musical influences?
DC: Aphex Twin, Plaid, Manitoba, Jimmy Tamborello, Arcade Fire, Radiohead, Animal Collective, Do Make Say Think, Kraftwerk.

How would you describe your music?
DC: We try not to. It’s difficult to pin down but hopefully that’s a good thing. I guess it incorporates a variety of styles.

What are the short and long-term goals for the dying seconds?
JQ: Short Term: Fix Dave's computer which crashed recently… the files can be recovered luckily but our hands are tied at the moment. Record a new EP – once we're back up and running we'll be putting together new material for release. Film a video for 'New Years Eve' with Simon Eustace who did the Ukraine video for The Minutes
Long Term: World domination? Or at least more of the above – gigging and recording.

What live performance experiences have you had?
DC: Playing 3 nights at Electric Picnic was the highlight so far. Things got messier each night, it was a great experience. We've also played pubs where we couldn't fit our band (including session musicians) on the stage. Each experience tends to be different from the last.

What's your favourite song to play?
DC: Usually the one we've written most recently, in the case of Electric Picnic this was 'New Year's Eve'; the song which Simon is doing the video for. Right now our favourite is a kind of a minimalist piano ballad provisionally named 'Calling All Cars'.

Is there any inner band conflict? Are there any creative differences?
JQ: Rarely over the music; usually over pizza toppings. We usually agree on the important stuff.

Where is your dream gig location?
DC: Glastonbury, Main Stage, night time, fireworks and thousands of people singing along.

Do you think you would like life on the road?
DC: Probably not, but getting to play live every night would make the travelling and hotel rooms worth while.

Any new bands you've seen that are worth watching out for?
JQ: Le Galaxie are probably gonna be headlining The Electric Arena by next summer and The Happiest Lion is a songwriting genius in the making.

You guys have quite a distinctive sound – what equipment/instruments do you use?
JQ: Anything we can get our hands on, lots of old keyboards, glockenspiel, melodica and stuff found in second hand shops. Harmonophone features quite a lot, as does trumpet. And synths of course. We also like making beats out of broken glass and crisp packets.

Do you think you'd ever record a cover? Who would you cover if you did?
DC: We have thought about it a bit, Sinner Man would be good to do. We would want to do something we could bring something original to like Schneider TM's version of There is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths.

What are your favourite labels? Why?
JQ: XL, DFA and Domino. They seem to sign artists on the basis of being interesting and original rather than fitting into some genre or other or having Demographic potential.

What made you decide to give your music away for free?
DC: Very few people pay for music these days, we just want people to listen and giving the album away seemed to be the best way to reach as much of an audience as possible. It's cool to have people from places like Mexico, New Zealand or Latvia writing to say they like what we do and it's unlikely they would've spent money on an album by a band they'd never heard of before.