A Dirty Dozen with EOGHAN MacSHEAIN & EMER McLAUGHLIN from THE MIDNIGHT PREACHERS – August 2020

According to a recent press release: “Irish rock band The Midnight Preachers released their new single titled “Pusher Woman” to all digital outlets via The Label Group/INgrooves. The band also released the official music video for the single that was drawn by the band’s very own Emer McLaughlin on her iPad. Formed in the north-west of Ireland in late 2017, The Midnight Preachers blasted onto the Irish music scene with a distinctive hard rock sound. Avoiding the modern trappings of overexposure on social media, the band’s approach is to leave more to the imagination of the listener, and to make the music their priority. Featuring rich vocal harmonies, Fender Rhodes piano and classic rock style riffs, their first single “California” debuted at #2 on iTunes in Ireland, on New Years Day 2018.” We get Eoghan and Emer to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Great question! The latest release is called “Pusher Woman.” Its a carefree, balls-to-the-wall little ditty with some heavy guitar and blues riffage throughout. Re: hidden nuggets – always. This is something we love to put in our music because we love hearing them in other people’s music.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

What got us in to music was the love of our favourite bands. Groups like Queen, The Doors, The Rolling Stones etc. lit a fire underneath us when we were young and inspired us to pick up instruments.

Eoghan: I remember hearing Guns N’ Roses’ “Nightrain” for the first time and just being amazed at the guitar. I knew I wanted to do that from that moment.

Emer: Watching Queen perform at Live Aid and just being mesmerised at Freddie’s performance.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Definitely plenty of such moments – hearing the aforementioned songs for the first time, as well as being transported into another dimension listening to Riders In The Storm… As far as live shows, Queen at Live Aid, Rory Gallagher’s Irish Tour, Thin Lizzy’s Live and Dangerous.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, and Guns N’ Roses.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Emer: Freddie Mercury.

Eoghan: I wouldn’t get the chance to answer before Emer got that out.

Emer: I have watched so many videos of him in the studio – playing around. He was such an authentic person, totally true to himself and such an amazing creative force. I’m sure there would be plenty of laughs…

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Southern rock with a hard, modern twist. No comparison or reviews that we’ve disagreed with.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

The freedom to express yourself in a way that’s so unique…. Live improvisation etc.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

We both cook. Emer goes for red wine occasionally and Eoghan has the odd beer.

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

Meeting Slash. Couldn’t think of a single thing to say to him…. Not even “Hello Mr. Slash… so do you always wear the tophat?”

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Emer: Artist

Eoghan: Voice actor

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Great question. There are the typical situations that come to mind – all the negative cliches about the music business and experiences therein… Without writing you a novel as a response… each experience teaches us a valuable lesson. We have to learn and go on, and try to guide other people away from negativity. Unfortunately, such… people.. do exist in the industry that try to take advantage of young musicians, but thankfully, the world is moving away from that. We’re all for that.

12.  If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Queen recording “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Hendrix doing “Little Wing,” and The Doors doing “LA Woman.”

Eoghan: As a guitar player, “Little Wing” for me is perfection… If anyone doesn’t think Hendrix is one of the best ever, they need to listen to that…

Emer: “Bohemian Rhapsody” because of what an important, magical song it became. Apart from the song itself, which is a masterpiece, the process of making such incredible uses of the technology available to them at the time is such a marvel in itself.

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Category: Interviews