Dublin band Columbia Mills released their debut album 'A Safe Distance to Watch' last Friday.

The four-piece, who incorporate elements of rock and electronica into their sound, will launch it with a gig at Dublin's Button Factory tomorrow, Friday November 17th.

Ahead of the launch, we had a chat with vocalist and guitarist Fiachra Treacy as he answered entertainment.ie's Big Questionnaire.

What’s the music that you listened to growing up, that you still listen to today?
When I was 10 I went to see The Cure in The Point. I have always gone back to their old albums. My dad had lots of records by Van Morrison and Bob Dylan that I still listen to now; Astral Weeks is timeless. I still listen to Joy Division, Massive Attack, Orbital, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg. They are all quite different, but they have all stayed with me from my teenage years.

When did you first realise you wanted a career in music?
 Going to see The Cure at 10 years old. I remember myself and my cousin Dan wanted to go, but being far too young our parents wouldn’t let us. I managed to convince my older brother to chaperone me and my mother reluctantly agreed. Dan couldn’t convince his mother. Now he has a really good job and I’m a musician. If only my mother was more strict.

In three words, describe the minute before you walk on stage.
 Just enjoy it.

How do you wind down after a gig?
 Not sure I can say. I really like to sit quietly on my own or just chat with the lads from the band in a for a while. Jameson on the rocks, lots of Heineken. Nowhere too loud and no people too loud.

What’s the one song you wish you’d written or recorded first?
 Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen.

What song of yours are you most proud of?
 I wrote a song on our first EP call Fish Bowl City. Lyrically and sonically, I love how it turned out. On the new record ‘The Wall Around You’ is the song I’m enjoying most now.


What’s your favourite venue to perform in?
 The Olympia Theatre is my favourite. We have done some support slots there so it would be great to headline one day.

Your best and worst gig so far?
 Best gig was this year at Electric Picnic in the Jerry Fish tent. It was packed and everything went really great: the sound, the crowd, the set flowed really nicely and we were buzzing before and after. Unfortunately we have played tones of terrible gigs. We once played in a pub in the midlands and the punters kept asking us to play Wagon Wheel. When the promoter came and asked us to play Galway Girl, we packed up and left. I died a little that night.

Whose career do you envy, and why?
 I really like to see bands do well that have been doing the rounds and have struggled for a while. You get the sense that they enjoy it more when the success comes. Future Islands, The National, LCD Soundsystem. When you see them live they have an uncontrollable joy on their faces. Rather than bands that get signed at 18, they seem like they couldn’t give a balls anymore and I would hate to feel like that playing in front of so many people.

Vinyl or digital downloads?
 Vinyl.

Give your thoughts on Spotify in three words.
 Unfortunately the future.

You can only have three albums on your phone/in your house at any one time - what three would you pick for today?
 The National - Sleep Well Beast, The Cure - Disintegration, LCD Soundsystem - American Dream.

Name one piece of music memorabilia that you wish you owned.
 Kurt Cobain’s Fender Jaguar guitar.

Name one record, one book and one film that everyone should hear / read / see.
 Deerhunter - Fading Frontiers (such a great record and didn’t get much hype in Ireland)
Philip Carlo's The Ice Man (I love true crime, this is one of the best)
Stand By Me (Everyone probably has seen it)

Pick the director and lead actor(s) for a biopic about your life.
 Tristan Henue (director), Peter Coonan (actor)

You’re ordering take-away, what do you get?
 Crispy Chili Chicken with fried rice.

You’ve been given €100,000 to spend, but only 1 hour to spend it. What do you buy?
 A bright green Lamborghini or Kurt Cobain's Fender Jaguar.

Describe your perfect day off.
 Lots of sleep, lots of food, a good concert, good company.

Tell us why we should listen to your new album.
 I think Irish music is at its most diverse and I think we are doing something a bit different too. We put our hearts and souls into the songs so hopefully you can relate to them. It is a collection of songs that all work together to tell the story of the album while being ten separate stories at the same time. This was tough to do so please check it out and see how we got on. The album was produced by Rob Kirwan so you know it’s going to sound good.

What else do you have planned for 2017?
 We play The Button Factory this Friday 17th, Mike the Pies in Kerry on 24th, Other Voices 2nd December, Special Gig for Pieta House in Dublin on 9th of December. We are currently writing the second album so lots of pre-production.

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