Dark Room Notes
Encyclopedia
Dark Room Notes are a three-piece electro/synthpop
band based in Dublin, Ireland
. The three founding members, Ronan Gaughan, Ruairi Ferrie and former drummer Ruairi Cavanagh originally hail from Galway
. Later members Arran Murphy is from Wicklow
, and Darragh Shanahan, who was the band's drummer for four years, comes from Dublin.
The band's music has been described as electro/synthpop with a slightly sombre overtone and introverted lyrical sensibility. According to Village
http://www.village.ie/Arts/Music/Dark_Room_Notes/ they "seem to gather comparisons with the murkier side of electro pop, usually bands like New Order
, Interpol
or Joy Division
. While the comparisons have some basis, DRN are far from gloomy, just a bit ... cool... But this cool does not translate into pretension, just humorous and knowledgeable asides to their favourite artists, photographers and filmmakers".
The band's debut album We Love You Dark Matter was nominated for the Choice Music Prize
.
The band were selected to play on the sixth series of the acclaimed RTÉ
music show Other Voices. http://www.rte.ie/tv/othervoices/. Dark Room Notes topped the 'Viewer's Choice' poll on RTÉ http://www.rte.ie/tv/othervoices/archive.html for Series 6 of Other Voices.
Producers who have worked with the quartet include Flood, Tom Rixton and Ciarán Bradshaw.
The band recorded their debut album We Love You Dark Matter in London during the summer of 2008, with producer Ciaran Bradshaw. The album was released on Good Friday 2009 to widespread critical acclaim. DRN spent the ensuing months touring Ireland and playing all of the major festivals before being signed by BBE Records in the autumn. BBE released We Love You Dark Matter worldwide in spring 2010, preceded by the re-release of Love Like Nicotine on February 8.
In January 2010 We Love You Dark Matter was nominated for the Choice Music Prize
for Irish Album of the Year 2009.
In March 2010 DRN travelled to the CMW music festival in Toronto and SXSW in Austin, Texas.
In April 2010 drummer Darragh Shanahan announced his departure from the band with immediate effect. The remaining three members chose not to replace him, but to continue on using a drum machine.
The band have completed the recording of their second album, entitled simply Dark Room Notes, which will be released on BBE in autumn 2011.
Dead Start Program was re-released on BBE on April 18, 2011.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band based in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The three founding members, Ronan Gaughan, Ruairi Ferrie and former drummer Ruairi Cavanagh originally hail from Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
. Later members Arran Murphy is from Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
, and Darragh Shanahan, who was the band's drummer for four years, comes from Dublin.
The band's music has been described as electro/synthpop with a slightly sombre overtone and introverted lyrical sensibility. According to Village
Village (magazine)
Village is an Irish current affairs magazine founded by Vincent Browne. It was launched in October 2004 and was published weekly. In January 2007, it was announced that Village Magazine would be published monthly...
http://www.village.ie/Arts/Music/Dark_Room_Notes/ they "seem to gather comparisons with the murkier side of electro pop, usually bands like New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, Interpol
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
or Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
. While the comparisons have some basis, DRN are far from gloomy, just a bit ... cool... But this cool does not translate into pretension, just humorous and knowledgeable asides to their favourite artists, photographers and filmmakers".
The band's debut album We Love You Dark Matter was nominated for the Choice Music Prize
Choice Music Prize
-Establishment:It was established by journalist Jim Carroll and manager Dave Reid in 2005. as an alternative to the industry-dominated Meteor Music Awards. The Choice Music Prize is modelled after the Mercury Prize which is awarded each year to the best album from the United Kingdom or Ireland...
.
Career
Dark Room Notes formed in Galway in 2004, recruiting drummer Shanahan in 2006. They performed their first gig in Galway in December 2006. Their debut single Love Like Nicotine was released in late 2007 on Gonzo Records, and became an alternative radio hit. This was followed in summer 2007 by the Dead Start Program EP, which featured lead single Slow Puncture and an early recording of Shake Shake My Ceiling.The band were selected to play on the sixth series of the acclaimed RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
music show Other Voices. http://www.rte.ie/tv/othervoices/. Dark Room Notes topped the 'Viewer's Choice' poll on RTÉ http://www.rte.ie/tv/othervoices/archive.html for Series 6 of Other Voices.
Producers who have worked with the quartet include Flood, Tom Rixton and Ciarán Bradshaw.
The band recorded their debut album We Love You Dark Matter in London during the summer of 2008, with producer Ciaran Bradshaw. The album was released on Good Friday 2009 to widespread critical acclaim. DRN spent the ensuing months touring Ireland and playing all of the major festivals before being signed by BBE Records in the autumn. BBE released We Love You Dark Matter worldwide in spring 2010, preceded by the re-release of Love Like Nicotine on February 8.
In January 2010 We Love You Dark Matter was nominated for the Choice Music Prize
Choice Music Prize
-Establishment:It was established by journalist Jim Carroll and manager Dave Reid in 2005. as an alternative to the industry-dominated Meteor Music Awards. The Choice Music Prize is modelled after the Mercury Prize which is awarded each year to the best album from the United Kingdom or Ireland...
for Irish Album of the Year 2009.
In March 2010 DRN travelled to the CMW music festival in Toronto and SXSW in Austin, Texas.
In April 2010 drummer Darragh Shanahan announced his departure from the band with immediate effect. The remaining three members chose not to replace him, but to continue on using a drum machine.
The band have completed the recording of their second album, entitled simply Dark Room Notes, which will be released on BBE in autumn 2011.
Dead Start Program was re-released on BBE on April 18, 2011.
Current members
- Ronan Gaughan — VocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, synthSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, programming - Ruairi Ferrie — Vocals, guitar, synth, programming, glockenspiel
- Arran Murphy — Vocals, synth, glockenspielGlockenspielA glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
Albums and EPs
- Dead Start Program (GON002, CDS, October 12, 2007 - 4 track EP)
- We Love You Dark Matter (GON003 April 10, 2009 - CD and Download)
- We Love You Dark Matter (BBE12ALP April 2010 - CD, 12" and Download)
- Dead Start Program (BBE April 18, 2011 - Download only)
Singles
- Love Like Nicotine (GON001, CDS and Limited Edition 7" Vinyl, June 2007 - 3 track single with remixes)
- Love Like Nicotine (BBE February 2010 - Download only)
- Elm (BBE Autumn 2010 - Download only)
External links
- Official website
- Dark Room Notes PR in Ireland
- Fan site based in Austria