HamsandwicH are no strangers to the Irish music scene and have been well known on the circuit since they formed just over eight years ago. Hailing from Kells, Co. Meath, HamsandwicH have become one of the most endearing music acts in the country today.
The band’s distinct sound is thanks to the perfect combination of front woman Niamh Farrell’s powerful and haunting vocals, alongside Podge McNamee’s baritone. When you hear this band live you’ll understand just why HamsandwicH are now regarded as one of the best drawing live acts in Ireland.
We caught up with Niamh to chat about new material, nerves, singing Galway Girl with Mumford and Sons and their biggest gig to date.
Together just short of a decade, the group started to make music not really knowing how things were going to pan out.
“A few people saw us and they were like you’ve got something and gradually as you go along it’s all about learning. Learning as your playing live, learning as you’re recording.
“We can see that we’ve come a long way as musicians, we have a confidence in ourselves now.”
The band released their second album, White Fox, in 2010, a record that garnered the group a phenomenal new following and fan base that continues to grow. But was this four-year gap a conscious decision by Niamh and the guys or have they been quietly working on new material for quite some time?
“We got a lot out of White Fox, people were still catching onto stuff recently and it was only last year that we did the Phoenix Park with Mumford and Sons. Since we released White Fox we were just gigging every year so it just happened naturally.
“After the Phoenix Park gig we made the decision that now is the time to start on the new album. It’s very hard to write and gig at the same time – we’ve all got other stuff going on. We just let the gigs run their course and then we sat back and started again.”
In 2013, the song ‘Models’, taken from their second record, was chosen as Discover Ireland’s TV and Radio campaign soundtrack for The Gathering – something Niamh is extremely humble about.
“That was totally out of the blue. It was really nice that they picked up on that and thought that that would be good in the advert, it was huge to be asked. You look at those adverts and you hear The Heathers and bands like that, really great bands. So we were like ‘Whoa, you really want us for that?!’ It was great. It brought so many more people to our music.”
Acoustic version of latest release, ‘Illuminate’.
Last Friday, HamsandwicH released ‘Illuminate’ the first single from their eagerly anticipated third album that is due to hit the shelves in September. With a happy, positive vibe we asked whether this track was a reflection on how the new record was going to sound.
“It’s a good representation, we kind of didn’t know what song to put out as the first single. A lot of people were saying that it’s different but it’s still HamsandwicH, which is important because you don’t want to lose a sense of who you are altogether.
“There are a few kind of dark ones on the album but still kind of retaining the dancing vibe which is what we wanted. It is a good representation as well because that song a year ago was completely different. We just worked on it and worked on it and we were like ‘that song came from there and look at what it’s like now’, we were very proud of what we managed to carve it into. Hopefully people will like it and so we thought it was the best song put out.
Just like every artist or act, HamsandwicH is compared to someone else in the industry and placed into a genre of music, all off which pretty complimentary.
“We get Arcade Fire a lot, they have the male female vocal thing going there as well. Other comparisons are Rylo Kiley, Blondie and The Pixies, which are all good obviously!
“I always say that we’re kind of like indie-pop, but then some of our stuff is quite heavy so I’m not sure.”
On Saturday the group will take to the stage of The Olympia Theatre for their biggest headlining show ever – something that Niamh and the lads are obviously delighted about.
“To get an opportunity to play the Olympia is amazing considering the amount of bands you’ve seen down there through the years. We’ve played there before with Barretstown but it’s a case of doing three songs and you’re off. You don’t get the chance to warm up to the venue.
“It’s a wonderful thing to be able to say that you’re playing the Olympia Theatre in Dublin because it is such an iconic venue.”
Despite being almost a veteran to the stage at this point, Niamh still suffers from nerves before a live performance.
“I think it’s one of those things if you didn’t get nervous it’s times to quit. It’s healthy and then once you go on stage the nerves turn to adrenaline.
“Especially big gigs, like the Olympia one on Saturday. Half an hour before a gig I won’t be talking to anyone, I’ll just be sitting on my own having a quiet moment. I get shaky knees and everything.”
Despite the nerves, Niamh is looking forward to showcasing new material exclusively to fans attending on Saturday.
“You can get to a point to where you’re gigging for so long and you’re doing the same songs that it becomes somewhat of a muscle memory. With a new song you need to be thinking about it – ‘what’s next, when is the bridge, get ready for the chorus, ‘ you know – really concentrate. It gives you that bit of nervous energy again which is great.”
‘Models’ the song selected for Discover Ireland’s 2013 The Gathering campaign.
The band has quite an impressive history when it comes to music festivals and has successfully conquered some of the top in Europe. From Spain’s Benicassim Festival to UK’s Glastonbury festival, Leeds and Reading Festivals, Berlin’s PopKomm, South-By-Southwest in Austin, Texas, to our very own Electric Picnic in Co. Laois. The standout moment to date for Niamh however is on good ol’ home soil.
“The Phoenix Park is definitely a highlight for myself. It was a beautiful summer’s day. Getting out onto the stage in front of this massive crowd that were really into the set and really into the music and it was just wonderful.
“Then later on we got on stage with Mumford to sing Galway Girl. That was incredible just to look out and see a sea of people, it was like nothing we’d ever experienced before. It was just phenomenal.”
HamsandwicH have also supported the Jon Bon Jovi in Slane Castle and appeared on festival line-ups alongside some of the biggest names in music.
When it comes to collaborations Niamh loves experimenting.
“There are so many good bands coming out now. There’s one guy I really want to go and see live his name is Myles Manley, I love the stuff he’s doing.
“I love doing stuff with different people. I did a song with Declan O’Rourke in the Concert Hall on Valentine’s Day with the RTÉ orchestra and that was something completely different for me. I loved it.”
Other things you should know about HamsandwicH.
Who came up with the name of the band?
“We were all sitting around one day coming up with really silly names, I don’t know who it was but someone said HamsandwicH and we all laughed. Then it kind of stuck, we kept coming back to it.”
Do you have a favourite song to perform?
“At the moment it is definitely one of the new ones that we’re doing for The Olympia. We’ve been rehearsing for the gig and I’m extremely excited about singing it.”
Is there a track from the new record that you predict big things for?
“Hopefully the same song!”
Do you have a favourite lyric?
“When a dark cloud is all you have to hold, I’ll pick up the phone so I can call your hope.” – Ants.
Sum up the band in three words.
“Fun, melodic and manic”.
For more info and all of the band’s updates check out their official Facebook page, Twitter, website and YouTube channel.
See HamsandwicH in the Olympia Theatre this Saturday, 19th of April. Tickets priced €20 and can be purchased from MCD or Ticketmaster.ie.
Before we go we’ll leave you with ‘Random Power’, a brand new single from the lovely HamsandwicH uploaded to YouTube just yesterday.
