Name: Great White Lies
Formed: January 2014
Hometown: Carndonagh Co. Donegal / Derry
Genre: Experimental Pop/Jazz
Line-up: Keys and vocals – Neil Burns, Double Bass – Peter Doherty, Backing Vocals – Sally Lafferty & Ruth McCartney & Drums – Gary Raymond
◀ Q & A ▶
▶ Tell us about your band name?
It took a lot of deliberation and I eventually chose it because it;s the essence of how most people go about their daily lives; either telling or being told great white lies in order to keep some semblance of normality. Be it regarding our politics, climate change, what to wear and even eat…..the list goes on.
▶ When did you start playing music and how would you describe your sound?
I’ve been playing music all my life and was in my first band while at secondary school, it was a ska band. I loved it and knew its what I wanted to do with my life. I find describing sounds a really hard thing to do, as everything is subjective (people have likened us to Roisin Murphy, Regina Spektor, The Unthanks and Frank Zappa so you see my dilemma) and what I think of as glorious harmonies and could be someone else’s torture chamber, at a push we have beautiful soulful voices, backed by a solid jazz trio line up who can funk it up and weird it out with the best of them.
▶ What releases have you put out so far?
We released our debut EP in October 2014 as well as our debut music video in November 2014.
▶ Is there a particular live show which stands out amongst all the rest?
The last show we played in Bennigans was a belter. The stars aligned, we were relaxed and confident and showed the crowd just what we’re capable of. The crowd really enjoyed it too and we got such a buzz from their reaction.
▶ Can you talk about a Highlight and a low point of the journey so far
A highlight for us so far was winning VAI’s Best Original Song in February of this year, it feels good to get a wee tap on the shoulder of recognition.
Low point would be our guitarist moving away. He’s such a fine player and we haven’t even tried to replace him..yet…
▶ If you weren’t musicians how would you spend your spare time?
I’m a full time musician so my spare time is spent our hiking, going to gigs and drinking wine and eating cheese. If I wasn’t a musician my spare time would be spent eating cheese, drinking wine going to gigs and possibly trying to act my way out of a paper bag somewhere.
▶ If you were to go on a world tour and you could pick any 3 acts come along, who would they be?
Comrade Hat – because he’s a talented buck and more people need to see him and plus I’m in his band and he plays keys in mine.
Bjork
Blur
▶ What would be the 3 strangest things on your rider if you were able to make any demand?
25 puppies, a pineapple & a swing
▶ Who has been your biggest inspiration as a musician?
Billie Holiday, Damon Albarn…
▶ Is there a particular aim or goal which you hope to achieve through music?
Record albums that people appreciate. Tour the world to music lovers who get what we’re doing and love it as much we do.
▶ Are there any other Northern Irish musicians we should check out?
Yes – Comrade Hat, Velvet Alibi, Elephant Bone Blues
▶ What is next for you?
We’re just finished shooting our next video for Give Anything so getting that edited. We’re gigging at The Revelry in Letterkenny on 24th April and we’re hosting A.P.E. an original bands night in McGrory’s Culdaff on 15th May. You should come. more writing and recording….
◀ LISTEN ▶
Facebook ▶ /Great White Lies
Twitter ▶ @greatwhitelies
