"You really have to have absolutely no ego whatsoever in music coz people will keep telling you 'that’s shit .. That’s shit .. oh yeah that’s defo SHIT!!' - Diarmaid O’Meara
As a worthy ambassador of modern melodic bass driven filthy techno Diarmaid O’Meara takes his rightful place on the international stage. With the greats like Len Faki and Dave Clarke playing his tracks and BBC Radio 1 getting in on the act you could be forgiven for thinking this guy is just as tough as his Techno. Connected caught up with for him for a coffee and a chat and happily discovered this hardworking, humble and refreshingly honest mixing master is straight up sound! As arguably the best thing to emerge from Offaly, Diarmaid has busily been establishing his Label ‘Gobsmacked Records’, releasing tracks and illustrating his DJ-ing prowess on no less than three turntables at his gigs!! It’s pretty safe to say this guy is going places and one of our own is sending out a serious shockwave all over Europe. Chatting with Diarmaid it quickly becomes apparent that one thing this guy holds no fear of is hard graft.
The success your now enjoying, what drives it?
“Trying something and completely failing at it .....and then trying again later and then getting told 'that was shit' and then get trying again and trying it again and again and again until you get it right, and then, once you get it right, people forget about all the mistakes that you made. You get a bit of satisfaction out of it but then you just want to do something else and fail at that!! Try that until you succeed at it and then just move on.
You really have to have absolutely no ego whatsoever in music coz people will keep telling you 'that’s shit .. That’s shit .. oh yeah that’s defo SHIT!!' (Laughs)” 'Oh actually no I like that!!' Eventually, as you’re moving along you work at taking the criticism, even though it’s not meant to be constructive, as constructive criticism and find a sound that people like and enjoy and then once people hear that it’s well made they stop being ignorant in their criticism .....a long learning curve!!”
Any observer of the Dance scene both in Ireland and on the Continent will see a difference in how the genre is viewed in Europe. There, Dance Music is more mainstream and even more socially acceptable than it is here.
So does Diarmaid ever see the kind of music he makes becoming mainstream here, and, does he even want it to?
“No!! No to both questions! I don’t think it can ever really become mainstream. I hope it never goes like that because it would take the edge off it really wouldn’t it? The Irish charts are filled with stuff that young girls buy mainly isn’t it? I couldn’t see them buying techno! I think it helps that it’s underground. From my experience most people that are into that kind of music prefer not to be viewed as marketable artists and prefer to stay in the background where it’s dark and dirty and make as much noise as possible!!”
Diarmaid’s latest offering; a 75 minute mix made up of 16 tracks, is available on CD and download from December.
So what can we expect from ‘Structured Noise ‘?
“It’s kinda different to what a lot of people would be expecting but I can’t see why they wouldn’t like it. Everyone seems to like it at the moment anyway!!”
With a twist of hope, a dash of industry hatred, and a pitcher of
grassroots optimism; we’ve been getting shitfaced on our own
shitetalk for quite some bloody time now... Fifty issues worth in
fact, from August ’04 till round about now. We were, of course, due to kill two birds and cut the cake on our (running late) 5th Bday at the same time last December, but the very small matter of nearly
dying just happened to get in the way...
Nightflight, D-light; tools and toys, Clockwork Noise; some Bitches, one Bob and a Tubelord... Reader’s Wives, Supafast jives, and the ever present Sounds Of System Breakdown... Yes as we near the end of lap one of Ireland’s race to the bottom; the pits, indeed, have claimed many – and as we ponder the frugal future of publishing, pink skinned from slaps aplenty, it’s amazing what sights are now glimpsed around the next bend...
Connected: a magazine with a fanzine’s heart – forever seeking new music and gigs we like the look of; and steering clear of the same old suspects, covered by everyone else, all the time... Populist photocopying – while no doubt pretty and a great way to parlay – is not the objective here. This winds some people up no end. We couldn’t care less. Self important? Silver spooned?
Michael Jackson, MTV, Hiroshima. Yes August certainly has a lot to answer
for... World War I, British troops descending on the streets of Belfast,
the day Anne Frank got pinched – history’s handslap to the testicles.
For it’s generally around this time of year that you start to wish this pathetic excuse for a summer would end, that gigs worth going to cost less than 700 quid, that those forever haunting Back To School ads would
just fuck off...
School’s out, work’s out, spending’s out, saving’s as likely as another Solas festival, haven’s as
likely as another Solas festival; sunbathing, however, is a joyously
regular possibility and that, in this kip, is beyond enough to herald
the remaining summer months with aplomb aplenty. Some of you, including
me, have already been finely frizzled at quite literally the time of
our Life. The festival’s transplant a minor miracle and as positive a
cue for the sun as we’ve seen for longer than any memory matters.
Sonar, Sea Sessions and newbie No Place Like Dome have bridged the gap
since nicely, and both Knockanstockan and Glasgowbury stand ready and
waiting this July..
Ninth year, times the fifth month = our 45th issue. Freaky... Meant to be? A lazy intro?? 50/50 I'd say... (I'll start again then, shall I?) First sun, second wind, and two of Ireland's finest... Yes, traditionally May gives way for a lighter brand of lunacy. Midnight mischief dons her backpack and shades, as the doom and gloom fades, and flirts her way to a festive fumble. Ditching larks in the dark, she's set to make her
mark, in as visible a fashion as feasible. You'll succumb to her powers, unlike those fun-fearing cowards, and climb on for the ride of your life. DOWNLOAD ISSUE 45Read more...
It's not some naff teeny-rock band, it's not a particularly funny episode of Family Guy, it's certainly not a calamitously over-hyped American President, and neither is it the slowest route imaginable Townsend Street to Enniskerry...
No folks, this 44 refers to (drum roll) Connected's latest issue.
Our 44th effort to introduce great new music, our 44th reasonably proud moment, and my 44th attempt at a witty intro...
From this season of swan songs, a sibling style springs. Bucking trends, endeavouring to make amends, for our dear departed comrades... No Event Guide, no State, only that rag that I hate (which is about as useful and relevant as rickets). But we can't let this year, subside our cheer,
there's still plenty to keep spirits afloat...
Finished your exams? Need an intimate indie fix? Thought so! Interpol play Dublin's Olympia Theatre on November 29th. Read more...
The launch party for Ireland's first camper and scooter festival will be held at Dublin's newest venue the Complex on Smithfield square...
Read more...
Nouveaunoise were making waves this time two years ago. After garnering
much attention following support slots for Super Extra Bonus Party and
Messiah J and The Expert, not to mention some phenomenal headline dates
in Galway Dublin and Cork things were looking very bright indeed for
the West coast duo. But then they disappeared. Lost to the ether... or
so we thought.
Connected says g’day to Aussie rockers Eskimo Joe- sending in an intrepid reporter to investigate the future plans of these famously refrigerated flaming galahs.
Peter: "We explained politely that we are doing more to encourage, sustain and
develop homegrown music in this country than they are, on a fraction of
what it costs to furnish their new office. I think they got the hint."Read more...
Bob: "People can wear what they want but we do strongly encourage all domains
to let their hair down and feel the freedom to express their creativity
through fancy dress... And yes we do have costume camp!"Read more...
Fernando: "I have been trying for four years to book LTJ Bukem for Ireland (either
for a festival slot or a club show) and I almost cried when I got the
“YES” directly from him!"Read more...
Jamie (Bastardo Electro): "Hell yeah. There is some amazing music coming from Irish labels and producers at the moment"Read more...
Jimmy Smith- "We've 100% artistic freedom (on the new album). The record label was never involved in the
music or recording. They were very patient especially with this second
one-Total Life Forever. They just waited until we'd finished"Read more...
German space-rock pioneers, Cluster [or Kluster, depending on your
German] have been plying their form of avant gard electronica for
nearly 40 years. Defunct for some time, the duo, (Hans-Joachim
Roedelius and Dieter Moebius) have recently reformed and for the first
time in ten years will be playing together for a sweep of gigs
throughout Europe and America. Connected had a quick word before their
gig this Saturday, the 6th, in Whelan's. Read more...
We would like to think we are a very eclectic group here at Connected. So in the spirit of diversity we bring you some roooock!
Read more...
Oscar winner, singer, songwriter, actor.... Jaysus he must be wrecked! Glen Hansard wins over one of our own with a powerful performance laden with character, charisma and charm.
He's famed for penning 'Bad Things' - the title track for smash hit vampire show 'True Blood'. What we wanna know is- Does he suck?
Read more...
Amy Quirke gives us the monthly round up of January in Mullingar...(main pic Alison Curtis)
Read more...
But the writhing mass explodes for the fast-food themed party-ode 'Down at McDonnelzz', surging forward during 'Dirty Ball' and love-song-to-electronics 'Synthesiser' in desperate hope of feeling even the slightest touch of Valentine's pimp-ish pinstripes.Read more...
These guys didn’t mess about as they launched straight into a set that was packed with more effervescence than a Berocca in a glass of Red-Bull!Read more...
Amy Quirke gives us the run down for November in Mullingar...(main pic Giveamanakick)Read more...
After fifteen years the trio’s talent is sometimes forgotten but live they ignite into a ball of fierce energy and tight performance.Read more...