'We've been performing the songs on stage for two years': Leevy release debut album

Amhlaoibh McSweeney, the songwriter and frontman of Leevy, is in quite a reflective mood ahead of releasing their debut album ‘ Baile Mhúirne' (or The Soldiers March the Paps of Anú)’ this week.

Both in conversation and through song, his honesty and frankness shines through. While many bristle when given criticism, he credits someone ‘calling out’ his choice of singing style as a turning point for his songwriting.

“I was 13 or 14, and I was playing in a punk band with the lads – the same lads that make up Leevy now I was playing with back in the early 2010s –and I was singing like an American rocker.

“Just because that’s what you’d be hearing, and you’re kinda trying to emulate that, which is a healthy part of doing music, when you are starting out anyway. I remember a friend of mine, Ray Brown, who used to be in folk and trad sessions I used to play with my brother; was running a gig, and we played there with our punk band, and he said to me, ‘you’re good, it’s okay but why are you singing like that?

“Why don’t you sing the same way that you sing at the sessions with this band?’

It seems so obvious looking back, but in that moment, I just kind of clicked. It reminds me now of that quote, usually credited to Oscar Wilde, ‘be yourself, everyone else is taken’. Since then I’ve written and performed in my own voice.”

He doesn’t just credit his musical heritage to where he’s from, but a large part of his identity in general, so keeping that authenticity is a touchstone for the group. “Leevy come from a place that is so strong culturally, which is the Muskery Gaeltacht.

“When we started playing music, and we were young teenagers, we were playing rock stuff and at the same time playing trad and folk songs. It’s very cool to think that something that we were just doing our whole lives, suddenly has become very popular again all over the country.

“Seeing other bands from our generation, from Ireland, playing places like Virgin Media Park and Live At The Marquee. It’s great to see that.”

The constant touring Leevy has been doing over the last few years has led to them connecting with more and more peers.

“Another really great thing about playing live original music is that we get involved in projects around the country with festivals and stuff. We’d be meeting musicians who are like-minded with similar interests and values. It’s amazing to see that there’s folk kind of stuff and sad stuff, but not always in a very serious sense, you know.”

Amhlaoibh also considers the regular live shows as crucial for helping hone the band. “Playing live with the four other lads so much, has definitely shaped us and what songs I felt would work for an album. We have been performing the songs that are on the album for two years. Some of them were played live before we even recorded a rough version of them.

So we went into the studio knowing that these songs work and we were able to get something across to people through them. I could see the true line between all of them, I don’t think I knew at the start of writing them what it was, but that emerged through forging the songs with the band. We built a solid foundation, and then I found the threads between all those songs.”

While accepting the necessities of album publicity and the music industry, making ‘Baile Mhúirne...’ one coherent piece was crucial to Amhlaoibh, as he continued. “I think you have to approach art that while it can be fun to look at something from a pop aspect and say ‘let’s write something catchy’, or ‘let’s try do something different on this take’, I have to honour the form of an album.

“It’s a longform piece of music, words and ideas, I’d be really into literature, things that people invest their time into making.

“Short-form content to try to catch people and hook them has its place, but going into the album recording process, we weren’t thinking in 30 or 60-second clips you know.

“It was definitely more looking at it as the whole piece of work and seeing how strong it is, with things building on top of each other and relating to each other.

“There’s a bit more longevity in that it gives people something to like, to really enjoy. One of those 30-second clips could catch on and help any band of course, but it’s much healthier as an artist to go from the finished work to the ‘content’, and as opposed to the other way around.”

Coming from a Gaeltacht area, it’s no surprise the Irish language permeates the band. “As a group, we’d be as comfortable talking away in either language, and on the album there’s a couple of songs using Irish, ‘ Niamh Chinn Óir’ and ‘ Croisín’. I really enjoy writing in Irish, this particular collection kind of ended up being the more English ones.

“We speak a lot of Irish and I’ve actually taken to translating some of the songs as well. It’s really enjoyable, finding another way of sharing the same ideas in a different way. Now sometimes I find that it’s best to start from scratch, as it can involve a different syntax but it’s a great challenge.”

Speaking of a challenge, last June Leevy were featured on RTÉ 1 Television’s ‘ An Ghig Mhór’ as they prepared to put on a big gig under the mentorship of singer-songwriter Rónán Ó Snodaigh, founding member of Kíla. “That was a great experience and the right balance between his experience and our music. It was great to see it up on TV.”

Leevy play Cyprus Avenue tomorrow, Friday; Levis in Ballydehob on Saturday, May 9, and The Briery Gap in Macroom on Friday, May 15. For more see www.leevy.ie