The last time we heard from you guys was back in 2015 with your Coming Up For Air album. What have you guys been doing with your time off?
We had been on the road for nearly four years by the end of the last record so we just took a well-needed life break to get some new stories and make some memories with loved ones. We also got to play our biggest ever shows with Ed Sheeran in Dublin and Kygo in the Hollywood Bowl so it wasn’t all sitting in front of the tv in our boxers.
You’re back with your new single ‘Brother’. Can you give us some more information about the track? Its inspiration and meaning?
Brother is really a song about the bond we all share with each other, well that’s what it means to us anyway. We always love hearing how our songs mean so many different things to people so I’m sure this will be no different. The video is one we’re really proud of, we got to work with Stevie Russell again and whenever we read his scripts they just jump off the page and this one really sends the message home, once you have someone that has your back they’re never really gone.
Describe your sound?
I still think we are finding our sound but on this album, we’ve been trying to push ourselves to the limit of what we are comfortable with. we love pop music and it’s been very interesting watching it develop so quickly in the past year but we still have that folk element at the heart of every song.
Who influences you musically?
So many people but I think the main ones are LCD Soundsystem, Van Morrison, Calvin Harris, Jon Hopkins and more classic stuff like Jackson Browne
When did you first realise you could make a career as a band?
We’re still just a bunch of messers who can’t believe their luck so we don’t take anything for granted 🙂
What do you most enjoy most about being musicians?
Traveling the world with your best friends is the most amazing part, if you had told teenage us that we would be playing in places like Japan and Malaysia we wouldn’t believe it!
If you could collaborate with one other artist in the world, who would it be?
I think Justin Bieber would be really interesting to work with, he is always pushing his music as far as it can go.
You guys played at Glastonbury back in 2014 and will be returning this Sunday on The Other Stage. How do you prepare for playing at one of the biggest musical festivals in the world?
As I said before we are messers so the same level of preparation goes into every show, we have a quick chat and just get up there.
Are you playing or attending any other festivals this year?
We have had a quiet summer compared to a usual Kodaline festival season as myself and Vinny are both getting married but we have played Pinkpop in Holland and are on the way to Hurricane and Southside in Germany on the way to Glasto.
What’s your festival outfit?
I think the key to festivals is Layers, you never really know what the weather is going to be like so you need to be able to make your outfit work whether it’s shorts and a t-shirt or a parka
Where is the most memorable venue you’ve ever played?
We got the amazing opportunity to join Ed Sheeran for his Dublin show in Croke Park to sing “All I Want” It’s the biggest venue in Ireland at about 80,000 and has always been top of the bucket list. Playing one song has just made the desire to play there again even stronger
What is the most memorable performance you’ve ever seen?
Lionel Richie put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, he seems to have just as much energy as he did when he first came out with the commodores
What’s your favourite song at the moment?
I really love “Don’t Kill my Vibe” by Sigala
Who’s your favourite artist at the moment?
Really loving Irish artists at the moment like All Tvvins and James Vincent Mc Morrow who happen to have just released a song together.
Who’s the most serious member of the band?
Vinny can be serious but only when he needs to be.
Who’s the class clown?
Mark and Steve have always had a schoolboy sense of humor and it’s just getting better with age.
Are you going to any other music festivals this year? Playing or attending?
We have had a quiet summer compared to a usual Kodaline festival season as myself and Vinny are both getting married but we have played Pinkpop in Holland and are on the way to Hurricane and Southside in Germany on the way to Glasto.
What does a typical day in the life of Kodaline look like when you’re not creating music?
We all have our own perfect days but Jay is very into flying drones and making videos, Steve loves to go for a run, Mark has been working on his base building skills and Vinny plays drums even when he doesn’t have to.
Drink of choice on a night out?
everything in moderation but we have been Gin and tonic drinkers for a while.
Favourite film?
Almost Famous has to be one of the best, it can always go on on the tour bus and no matter how many times we’ve seen it, shuts everyone up. Until the “Tiny Dancer: scene of course.
Describe yourselves in three words?
Bunch of Messers
Who’s your biggest style & fashion inspiration?
I’m huge fan of Casey Neistat and his style, it’s very functional unless he gets a chance to wear a suit.
You guys must have some Irish charm, so give us your best chat up line?
The old Phil Lynott line is probaly still the best, ” Have You got any Irish in you?” …. I’ll leave that one with ya.
Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to make a career in music?
These days it’s all about the songs so the best advice is to just work as hard as you can on your songwriting and the rest will come.
Check out the video for brother below:
