Grim17 is Laurence McDaid, a Derry-based singer/songwriter and producer renowned for his ecclectic mix of Blues, Electronica, Rock, Jazz and Stomp.
He will release his album ‘Digital Throw-up Parts I & II’ on November 5th. A Bandcamp pre-save is available.
How would you describe the album?
“It’s actually two EPs. I released the first half as an EP called ‘Digital Throw-up’ back in 2013 in the midst of a horrible breakup and period of chaos in my life, that included unemployment, the loss of contact with my daughter and pseudo-homelessness (moving back in with my parents). I had some moderate success, musically, after this with accolades and write-ups and even an appearance on TV, but I was suffering quite severe depression and disappearing further and further into alcohol abuse, i.e. I went drinking for five years.”
“When I started writing and recording again after I, sort of, came out the other end, I found that what I was writing was basically turning into ‘Digital Throw-up Part II’. Around this time Mike from the Lights and Lines label had contacted me about working together and when I told him the above narrative, he offered to release it.”
Do you have a favourite song on the album? Which one and why is it your favourite?
“Well, the one I consider the most musically and sonically accomplished is ‘Read Out Loud’. I like music that makes me say, “Woah! How the fuck did they do that?!” and I think that ‘Read Out Loud’ is the closest to thaton the record. Plus, with some of the growling, shouting, stomping and other weird noises I was making in the shed (it was recorded in a shed out my back) I like to imagine my neighbours incredulous reactions to hearing my lunacy out of context.”
Is there a story behind the art work? Did you make it yourself?
“Yeah, that’s all me. The original EP’s cover was done with whiteboard markers on white tiles in my parents’ shower. I wanted to recreate something similar for this, so I used my son’s chalkboard and chalks this time round. Also, the 1s and 0s in the background should translate as ‘Digital Throw-up Parts I & II’ unless that translation website lied to me.”
With a passion for vocal harmonies and inspired by Pop, Country and Americana, Andrew Thomas is a British songwriter & performer. Growing up Andrew was privileged to have a father that was a DJ and record collector. He would spend hours listening to old vinyl on his record player in his bedroom. Now, with influences from Crowded House, Ocean Colour Scene, Turin Brakes, Dispatch and Jamestown Revival, his latest album […]
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