Dublin-based indie folk project Mykology aka Mick O’Gorman has released new single, Burning Letters. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
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The band recently supported Jerron “Blindboy” Paxton at a sold-out show in The Sugar Club in Dublin and they have upcoming dates in The Cobblestone, Mountshannon Arts Festival, and ArtLot at Electric Picnic.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
More recently I’ve fallen back in love with making music through Mykology, especially since it evolved into a trio with Christina “Crispy” Quill on banjo and Evan Heird on double bass. I love the sound we’re getting together at the moment.
The name Mykology is partly a play on my own name Michael O’Gorman (MichaelOG) but also comes from mycology – the study of mushrooms. I changed the “c” to a “k” to give it my own spin, even if it does make it harder for people to spell. I also never really wanted to perform under my own name because I always knew I wanted the project to grow into a group rather than just be me on my own.
Years ago, I was somehow juggling carpentry, teaching guitar and a few other jobs at the same time. A friend’s uncle spotted me working in a bookies one Saturday morning and couldn’t believe I’d taken on another job he kept going on about it. Then later that night he ordered a Chinese and I showed up at his front door delivering it. After that he started calling me “Mickey 10 Jobs” and the nickname caught on around the area, people still say it to me.
How would you describe your music?
Atmospheric indie folk with acoustic guitar, banjo, double bass and layered harmonies. A mix of folk songwriting, Americana and Irish influences with a slightly dreamy, nostalgic feel to it.
Who are your musical inspirations?
A lot of old traditional folk music and field recordings, I find the musical inspirations question really hard to answer but maybe Bob Dylan, Damien Dempsey, The Tallest Man On Earth.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Oasis in 1997. My dad brought my older sister to see them in 1996 and I was absolutely devastated I was too young to go. He brought me back a giant poster of Noel Gallagher playing his Telecaster and I had it covering my bedroom wall. Two years later he brought me to see them – Liam didn’t show up so Noel sang the whole set. I was about 11 sitting on my dad’s shoulders for most of it and I still remember the atmosphere so clearly. Seeing Oasis again last year felt very full circle.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I shouldn’t say this publicly, but Spice by the Spice Girls. I got it for Christmas. To be fair, their early stuff was solid. I was into cooler things too though; I was obsessed with Rory Gallagher from a young age. When I was around 12 my dad brought me to a guitar exhibition where Rory’s brother Donal was there, and he actually let me play a few riffs on Rory’s famous battered Stratocaster, the one with all the paint chipped off.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Probably Evening Train by Mick Flannery. I recently went to see his new show The House Must Win and it completely brought me right back I really love his stuff.
Favourite lyric of all time?
“Muddy river runs muddy and wild/You can’t give a bloody for my unborn child/Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well” – from Dink’s Song. John Lomax collected it from a woman known only as “Dink” who was singing it while washing clothes at a levee camp in Texas in the early 1900s. I’ve always been drawn to those old folk songs that somehow survived just by being sung and passed along. Although, “Mama I love you, mama, I care” by The Spice Girls deserves an honourable mention.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Probably Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head by B.J. Thomas. It was on the soundtrack for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and it was a song that hit me young. I loved that film.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My website.
Alan Corr