Tallaght three-piece Bipolar Empire have emerged as a serious band to watch over the last year. In the two years since forming, Shane (vocals/guitar), Joe (bass/backing vocals) and Callum (drums) have clocked up a few hundred gigs, including slots supporting The Blizzards andThe Dykeenies.
They’ve ended up in London via Los Angeles where they recorded with legendary producer Pat McCarthy (REM, Madonna), so we’ve got frontman Shane to write a weekly letter home to keep us up to date with what they’re up to as they aim to get signed and make their musical presence known to the world at large.
By Shane O Reilly
I have to say that last week I really got a lot off my chest about the ‘industry’ and how I think it could change for the better.
The more I think about the music industry nowadays, the more I feel confused.
It’s a very turbulent period, I suppose you could say. Turbulent for the jealous guys like me who desperately wants to play all the big gigs and tour the world, and the thing is, the more that time goes forward the more people that want to do the same thing.
There are a lot of people in the world and in Ireland trying to be succesful musically for whatever purpose, whether it’s fame and fortune or to try make some kind of differnece with your words and your attitude. I think what i’m trying to say is, ‘what is the reason?’ I’m definitely losing mine in ways, I find.
All of us strugglers, I believe, have been in some way sucked in by the bright lights. Personally I find I can’t help but feel I need to be like ‘The Beatles’ or ‘Led Zeppelin’ and ‘Jimi Hendrix’ and ‘Brian Wilson’ all rolled into one.
There is a lot of pressure to better, to compete and yet to be free spirited at the same time. It’s very hard to completely disinvolve yourself from the personalities that have influenced you. I hate to feel like I’m ripping off anyone but ultimately it’s quite inevitable. With only eight notes to a key and 14 major and minor keys (or thereabouts) it’s hard to feel that you’re going to do anything new at this stage, something that is better than the music of the past.
Needing to outdo
I think it’s just my own personality though, I feel I need to outdo the greats or try and reach their heights in some way. But then you just hear some piece by Queen on their second album, and think to yourself ‘there’s no way I could ever come up with something on that level’. So it can be mentally exhausting this ‘business’ that I’ve decided to get myself involved in.
Striving to find some kind of balance is a losing battle I find sometimes. Trying to come up with a song and it’s just not there. Sometimes it’s so easy and sometimes it’s so hard and very rarley in between.
This Last Waltz gig I was talking about has decided to return to The Olympia in August. Speaking of that gig, I play Van Morrison in it myself. It’s an amazing feeling to look out and see a full crowd. There’s a lot less pressure too when you just have to sing: no guitar, no cares.
That is the thing, though, it’s way easier to try and be someone else when you’re on stage. I find. It’s another thing to be yourself on stage. When you’re playing a part there’s a guide to do it. When you’re playing your own songs and being your own ‘character’ I find it’s quite hard to let go. Why is that? Let’s hope I can get out of this shell pretty soon before I wake up aged 40 wondering what if?
