It’s been well over a decade since I started swapping questions and answers with creative souls from around the world, and each of them often leaves me with a little nugget to hold onto. With Far Caspian, it’s the common ground of missing friends who seem to have gone on to bigger and better and the acceptance of that. We touched upon that as we got into the incorporation of the cello, fall touring, and ‘The Last Remaining Light,’ the new album that drops on all major music and streaming sites on July 14th. 

Kendra: I found it interesting that there’s this running theme throughout your 2023 release, ‘The Last Remaining Light,’ of routines, and the release itself sort of feels like your own musical routine because you’ve been consistently releasing work since 2021. Are you someone that’s just constantly writing new material? 

Far Caspian: Pretty much, yeah! If I’m at home, I’m usually working on something. Because it’s a solo project, and I produce my own stuff, rather than being able to get into a room with the other bandmates and work out songs, I have to do that myself in some way. So I’ll usually demo a song as I’m writing it and work out the parts as I go along. Then eventually (if I don’t end up hating it), I’ll re-record parts and make it into something that I’d be happy releasing. 

Kendra: Was there anything in your life that was happening during the creation process of ‘The Last Remaining Light’ that you felt pushed you in a way that surprised you? 

Far Caspian: I had just moved back to Leeds from Ireland after the lockdown, so everything felt exciting again. I was reconnecting with friends and had begun seeing my now girlfriend. I definitely felt rejuvenated after a long two years, like everyone else around me, and having new experiences definitely added to the creation process when it was time to write.  

Kendra: Let’s talk more about “Own.” This song really hit me because I think as a creative person, you have to accept that riding the struggle bus to your goals is more common than not, and while we struggle to get to our destination – friends who chose more traditional paths are fine and flourishing. We’re not mad about it, but at the same time, we miss them. All of that said, is this a topic that’s been floating around for a while, or is it something new you felt like exploring on this record? 

Far Caspian: The concept of friends moving on has been with me since it started happening after school. I’ve only really made peace with it in the last few years, and in the past year, a really close friend moved to a different city, and we lost touch in comparison to when we saw each other every day and went through a lot of darkness together. 

It’s a jarring feeling knowing there’s a person out there that knows you so well, and yet you both are in different lanes now and are slowly becoming strangers. I wrote that song based on that thought. I think I wrote the chorus first, which originally was based on a younger version of myself moving away from home, but once I started writing the verses, it switched to being about someone else. 

Kendra: You also learned to play the cello for this song. Is that a self-taught situation? 

Far Caspian: Most certainly. Any actual cellist would be able to tell you that immediately haha!

I bought it off a friend who was looking to get rid of it as I had always enjoyed the sound of cello on indie music. I’d tried using plugins to get a cello sound, but they always sounded fake, so I thought if I could at least bow a note, I’d be able to cut them all together to make a phrase, and although it would be annoying, at least it would sound better than midi! 

Kendra: Did you break out the cello when you played Primavera Sound Festival at the end of May this year? How was that? Festivals during the summer are usually a great time. 

Far Caspian: I didn’t, unfortunately. I can’t imagine it would’ve done too well in the luggage hold, let alone the price to take it over for me to play some very poorly played notes.  

Kendra: You’re also heading out on tour this fall. Are you playing any venues that have been on your bucket list? 

Far Caspian: The Islington Assembly Hall is a big one for me. I love that venue and have always wanted to put on a gig there. 

Any venue in America is technically a bucket list tick-off, as it’s always been on there to tour the states. Whether big or small, I’m extremely happy to be able to get over there to play. 

Kendra: Time for a side note – this month, we’re asking everyone to pick a song for our ‘ZO Summer 2023’ playlist. So what summer anthem would you add, and why? 

Far Caspian: “Storm” by 22° Halo. Their album ‘Garden Bed’ came out last summer, and this song in particular takes me back to that time. The whole album is perfect for a summer afternoon. We were lucky enough to have them support us in New York in Spring, and Will from the project has guest vocals on ‘Heirloom Part 1’, which is a bonus track on the album. 

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘The Last Remaining Light’ out on July 14th, what else is on the horizon for you at the moment? 

Far Caspian: We’ll tour the album this autumn, and then who knows what next year will bring. Hopefully some bigger summer festival slots and more music! 

I’ve started my own label (Tiny Library Records), which is putting out some new music in the coming months, so I’m really looking forward to that as well as hopefully signing some more bands in the next year.

The post The Last Remaining Far Caspian  appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: It’s one thing to start a creative endeavor with a sibling, but your twin seems like there’s an extra added layer of understanding. Would you say you both have an inherent gift of knowing what the other wants and needs when it comes to The Ocelots? 

The Ocelots: I say we definitely have an advantage. We sometimes have different ideas in terms of songwriting, but when it comes to performance we definitely have no problem intertwining. What matters most is that we’re both growing and learning I think. We both have various side projects that influence the art in different ways. 

Kendra: Did one of you find music before the other or did you both showcase an interest around the same time? 

The Ocelots: As children, we showed an interest in music that was difficult to ignore. I went to guitar lessons and my brother went to piano lessons. Although I think I was the one who started writing music first.

Kendra: When you started down that folk path you were channeling artists like Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel. I find it interesting that it’s been years since these artists and bands like The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac have been topping the charts, but for musicians – it’s like the inspiration is cradled in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Would you say that might be the most inspired time in music? 

The Ocelots: That’s a very interesting question. I think because there is so much music readily available to our ears, this generation has seen a ton of throwback artists from every decade. However, I do think during the ‘80s, popular music split into a world of Synth and electronic sound. Therefore it’s evident to me the ‘70s was the last decade where popular music was completely swamped with string instruments, and there was a lot of amazing rock and folk. I don’t think songwriting got any worse, but I think when people pick up a guitar and want to become a musician, music from the ‘60s and ‘70s seems a trusty source where the guitar seems the most relevant and beautiful. 

Kendra: Now let’s talk about The Ocelots’ music. Your debut, ‘’Till We Get There’ dropped a handful of years ago, and you’ve just released a new single. How would you say one another has grown since the debut? 

The Ocelots: That’s pretty funny. For us, it seems like so many years ago and a ridiculous amount of change and growth. I feel a completely different person since then, so I suppose I’m a different artist too. We were still kids when we wrote those songs, so they are in any case sentimental to me.

Kendra: When I listen to “Addlepated,” it feels like it could work for so many fictional couples in the pop culture realm. Did you have any pairs in mind when you penned this? 

The Ocelots: Yes of course! It’s between ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Jack in the Beanstalk.’ The melody of the piano represented to me something romantic and cheesy, and I wanted to protect this cheesiness in a fairytale so I could enjoy those feelings authentically. 

Kendra: What do you think is the number one thing couples will find hinders their compatibility? 

The Ocelots: Pheromones probably. Self-assurance. Alcohol. Genes. 

Kendra: So I have to know more about this backpacking across Europe. You just packed a bag and set out to play music here and there. Was there anything you learned during that time that you tucked away in the back of your mind as a one-of-a-kind life lesson you likely would not have learned otherwise? 

The Ocelots: I hope so. People travel to either find themselves or lose themselves. I learned a lot about people’s hospitality in other cultures. I think one thing I learned from traveling, is that happiness and a “home feeling” can be found all around the world, and it really doesn’t matter where you live, you could have a meaningful time everywhere.

Kendra: Now with the holidays right around the corner, I’d love to know if you could be gifted with tickets to see any artist, living or not, live in concert – who would it be and why? 

The Ocelots: It will always be The Beatles for me. They are so magical.

Kendra: Lastly, with “Addlepated” out now, what are your plans heading into the new year?

The Ocelots: We hope to release the rest of the EP and tour around a bit within the context of people knowing our newer songs. I want to go to Brazil and record our album, and spend a lot of time playing music and less time on trains. 

The post A Moment in Wonderland with The Ocelots appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: What made you pull that trigger back in 2020 when you released that debut single, “Expand Your Mind?”

DJ Dobrel: You know I had released some stuff back in 2016, but didn’t follow up at the time with more music. I had other things going on at the time that didn’t allow me the time required to produce and release music regularly, but I started to pick it up again towards the tail end of 2019, and I guess it was partly down to the lockdowns that I had more time and fewer distractions to focus on the music production side of things and honed my skills over the last two years to the next level. Now I can just concentrate on making the music and being more creative. 

Kendra: Since then you’ve dropped some two dozen or so singles. Where do you draw inspiration from? Is there somewhere in Dublin that you go to feel inspired? 

DJ Dobrel: I’m lucky that where I live in Dublin I can get out for walks down by the sea or in a beautiful local park. It’s a great opportunity to listen to new music while walking and getting inspired by both the music and surroundings. I will make myself a playlist and just hit the road for an hour, the fresh air and walking help reset the brain before sitting down to produce. 

Kendra: What can you tell us about your 2022 single, “No One?”

DJ Dobrel: This is a banging tech-house track that sucks you in with a super catchy hook and bassline. It’s something I had made some time back but felt now was the right time to release. This one is perfect for all occasions if you want something with a strong beat to get you going such as at the gym, in the car, and hopefully in the club!  

Kendra: So you’re overseas where House music is so ingrained into the fabric of the nightlife and music scene. I was wondering how you viewed the American House and electronic scene? 

DJ Dobrel: There has been a strong tradition of House in cities like Chicago and Detroit; techno scenes are legendary worldwide. Also, you can’t discount Miami even if it’s more mainstream superclubs there is still an underground scene.   

Kendra: With it being March, I’d love to know what song you feel lucky enough to have heard in your lifetime? Like, what’s a song you’re thankful has existed while you’ve been here? 

DJ Dobrel: I have to call out a track by my hero Kerri Chandler did with Jerome Sydenham called “The System – You’re In My System,” it’s such a Deep house classic and it still sounds soooo good! 

Kendra: Lastly, with so many singles out now – what can fans both new and old be on the lookout for from you in the coming months? 

DJ Dobrel: There are so many tracks that I am currently working on and all at various stages of development, I think you will see a lot of collaborations dropping between some talented singers and in the style of Bass House, Deep house, and Tech House throughout 2022. 

I’m also looking to do a few remixes here and there! There could be an EP later this year also, and there are also a few special projects I’m working on across different genres like Trance and Techno, but most likely will be dropped under a different persona! I’m also hoping that the DJing picks up again this year after two years of lockdown.

The post No One Quite Like DJ Dobrel appeared first on ZO Magazine.

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No matter the stage, those born with an innate gift love to be at the center of it. Growing up Siobhán O’Brien wanted nothing more than to be an acrobat in the circus, but coming from a family where music was as common as breathing she flip flopped on that dream as soon as a guitar was put in her hand.

“Once I started playing guitar there was no other way I would be anything else.”

After that she found herself inspired by great American singer-songwriters who were storytellers at their core. Moved by what she heard, she made the biggest move of her life in 2016 and headed to the US. While others would’ve been terrified to do so, especially that year, it’s worked out well and where we start this exchange.

Kendra: You decided to move to the US in 2016. Not our best year and it hasn’t been since. Hopefully, the music scene you found has treated you well and made the move worth it. Speaking of, how did you decide where to settle after spending your life in Ireland?

Siobhán O’Brien: Everyone has been very supportive. It was chance, I got instant work in the local Irish bars through a great woman called Patty Simpson, I don’t think I would’ve been able to survive long in the states had I been anywhere else that I would’ve had to get the gigs myself. It takes so long to get an establishment to even look at you. I probably wouldn’t have been able to stay. Plus my friend of 17 years lived in the area and I was able to stay with her…Thanks, Metta and Tony.

Kendra: ‘You Can’t Run Out of Love’ showcases your journey and adventures since the big move, but how do you feel it showcases your overall growth from your 1996 debut?

Siobhán O’Brien: Great question – I feel like I was 18 leaving home for the first time and I finally did all the growing up I should’ve done when I was 18. We need time to ourselves to figure stuff out. It has been a HUGE learning curve. I have gone from strength to strength. Confidence is a huge factor, learning how to navigate everything on your own is a big wake up call and you learn to rely on yourself which gives you the confidence to show up for yourself all the time. I feel like Tom Hanks in ‘Castaway,’ I just had to make that raft…and get off that island to find my audience. Musically I hope I’ve grown, but a lot of my essence is constant.

Kendra: Adventures and your move are showcased, but you also noted women being something this album focuses on as well. In almost every industry, music especially, women have to fight harder for what’s rightfully theirs. Who are some women in music you feel have made your industry a better, safer space for women since you started?

Siobhán O’Brien: Joan Baez, she makes a point of hiring women on her touring team, Brandi Carlile has moved mountains for women, even helping out Tanya Tucker to bring her back into the arena again after an already amazing career. Patti Smith is a cracker, very inspiring to look up to her as she is very centered and balanced. Buffy Sainte-Marie has always been a fighting spirit for me. She blazed through the barriers of being a Native American. What a sad thing to say in 2020.

Kendra: Now for a little game, we love to play here; Cover, Duet, Tour. When it comes to Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crow, and Brandi Carlile – which one would you want to cover, a duet with, and then simply tour with?

Siobhán O’Brien: Ha!, Well I already cover all these great women, so I’d love to duet with Brandi Carlile, and tour with the sage Joni, what you could learn from that woman? WOW! Even though she doesn’t tour anymore.

Kendra: Other than the shows you already have on the books in the new year, what’s 2020 have in store for you?

Siobhán O’Brien: Well, I hope more growth in every direction. I would love to get the perfect booking agent for me.

The post Siobhán O’Brien: Big Moves, Risks and Results appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Was there any animal or landscape in particular that sparked your interest in nature as a whole?

Bernie: It has to be Glendalough, which is an area of natural beauty in County Wicklow. It’s an early Christian monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and from this developed into a “Monastic City”. Most of the buildings that survive today date from the 10th through 12th centuries. It is my spiritual home.

In Ireland, we call them Thin Places. This is where the veil between the natural world and the spiritual realm is transparent. It is a place where time stands still and we can sense the divine in us. For me, Glendalough is one of those places. It inspired me to explore its landscape more and capture its inner beauty and energy.

Kendra: When did your love of nature and interest in photography come together?

Bernie: I have always loved being out in nature as I felt a sense of calmness there. However, throughout my life, work always got in the way. There was no balance – it was work to bed to work and life was passing me by. I took up photography three ago to encourage me to get some balance in my life. Not only did it help me to get out in nature more, but I also fell in love with photography. It helps you to slow down and observe more what nature has to offer. You begin to notice the changing seasons. The minute detail that you would have passed by but now see it as a work of natural art composed by nature itself.

Kendra: You’ve noted that your photos are like peaceful meditations. Do you mean for you or also for those who view them?

Bernie: It is for the viewer. I am a sensitive observer of nature and as I look through the lens. I want to capture the feeling of this moment for my viewer. The feeling is like a peaceful meditation, where the world stands still and you want that moment to last forever. There is nothing like observing beauty in nature whether through a photograph or being in its presence, to bring you into a state of inner peace. I want my viewer to escape into this world and be at one with nature itself.

Kendra: You must find complete solace in taking pictures because I read you waited a long time for this one shot in particular of a heron. What is the longest you’ve waited for the perfect shot?

Bernie: If I were a wildlife photographer, I would have to wait for hours to capture a specific movement. As a Nature Photographer, I capture the moment when t come upon it. For example, light dancing on the water, a flower blowing in the breeze and the light shining through its petals or a swan gliding gracefully on a lake basked in a stream of light. It’s all about the light in nature photography. Sometimes when I am walking around a place and the light changes. So I walk back to a shot that I took before because I know the light is better and I will be able to capture a truly magical scene. It’s like the swan photograph. I passed this place and then the light changed, so I went back and captured the same scene and it was a very different image.

With regard to the Heron, I came upon him and enjoyed my time just observing his stillness. I too felt grounded as the sounds of nature enveloped my whole being. I observed him for 30 minutes; when he flew away into the reflections on the water, I missed this beautiful shot. It happens and there will be other opportunities but it was lovely being in his company for this short time.

Kendra: When one thinks of Ireland, we think of the vast amounts of green that the landscapes have, as well as the castles. Where does one go to find the best of Ireland’s natural elements?

Bernie: There is something surreal about the landscape of Ireland. Apart from its natural beauty and its forty shades of green, there is a raw energy in the landscape. John O’Donoghue sums it up beautifully in his wonderful book Eternal Echoes as follows:

“There are places where the ocean praises the steady shore in a continual hymn of waves. There are fresh cold streams pouring through mountain corners which have a rhythm that never anticipated the gaze of a human eye”

All of our counties, 32 in total, including Northern Ireland, have their own natural beauty and ancient history. The Wild Atlantic Way is a 2500km touring route that trails the full length of the west coast of Ireland; taking in some of the most breath-taking scenery imaginable. This is an area I have not photographed yet but will go there to capture the power and energy of this incredible landscape.

Kendra: When it comes to nature preservation, do you do any work in that realm either on your own or with your photos?

Bernie: Having taken up photography, I am more aware of the natural beauty around us. It’s hard to see how we as humans continue to intrude on the natural habitat of wildlife and upset natural beauty spots by turning them into tourist hot spots. I consider myself a good eco-citizen and was a member of the Irish Green Party a number of years ago. I also contribute to local initiatives like “Save our Bogs” which is so important for our natural environment.

As a concerned eco-citizen, I look at ways to recycle and I live my life trying to do the best for our planet. I know I could do more and this question has prompted me to do so. I know we can all work individually to do the best we can, but as a collective we are a more powerful force for good.

Kendra: Where do you see your photography going as we head into the spring and summer months?

Bernie: The four seasons offer so many different aspects of nature that are a joy to behold. It is not just about the wonderful colours of Spring, Summer and Autumn and the snow scenes in Winter. It is about observing the changing cycles. You see flowers blooming and then going asleep for the winter as they have done their job, majestic trees lose their leaves as you walk along a carpet of natural fabric. You notice the sounds of birds coming and going as they migrate to warmer climates and come home to nest in Ireland. They make their arrival heard and you delight in their homecoming. All of the senses are alerted as you become one with the cycles of nature.

Light is the most important element of any nature photography and in each season the light is different. You could go back to a shot you took last year and take it again; it will be a very different shot. It’s like how Monet painted the water lilies in his Giverny garden over and over again as for him it was all about the changing light. That is how my photography works too. I use the light as Monet did to draw the eye in to rest on an unexpected detail to convey a sense of space and connection. For me, it is all about my viewer. They are not just being presented with a photograph; they are being asked through my images to actively participate and become one with nature itself.

The post Bernie Tracey: The Patience of Nature Photography appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Struggling with a number of illnesses during part of her 19 years on earth, singer-songwriter Rosie Carney has been through the ringer. Coming out the other end with a perspective on life that’s left her with emotionally charged lyrics, she exposes her battles through song and has blown audiences away so far. It’s no wonder this Ireland born wonder is on the radar of many. We didn’t talk about her rising career but did have a chance to dive a bit into tradition, depression and more.

Kendra: The Irish have a rich history with folk and traditional music. Did any of that make its way to you growing up, or did you stick with more mainstream artists?

Rosie Carney: I remember when I started secondary school over here. I was studying music, and one of the songs we had to study was an Irish lament called An Mhaighdean Mhara. It’s a song about a woman who turns into a mermaid and says goodbye to her family before returning to sea. It always really stuck with me. I think it helped influenced some of my melodies. Also seeing a lot of live traditional music, and witnessing such life within it has help to inspire me. Other than that, artists like Joni Mitchell, Justin Vernon and James Taylor etc.

Kendra: On a more personal note, you’re not shy about talking about your history with depression and anorexia. What’s the one song or lyric that really helped you during the darker times?

Rosie: I’m not shy about talking about personal experiences, no. But I won’t wear them as a jumper either. They’re just elements of my being. Song that’s really helped me through hard times? Well there’s a lot, but the ones that stick out have to be Wash. by Bon Iver. There’s a line in it that really stood out to me. “Eyes too sore for sight”. Also Stacks, Woods, and Fire and Rain by James Taylor. I also gain a lot of comfort and meaning from Instrumentals. Especially Piano music. Clair De Lune by Claude Debussy and Entendre by Eluvium to name a few.

Kendra: Perhaps one day your “Awake Me” will help someone in a grand way, but I wanted to ask you if there was something going on in the world that we as a society need to stay “woke” about?

Rosie: We need to find and hold onto the things in life that really awaken us, which for me is art, honesty and love. We are all very similar in our true wants and needs. The sooner we realize how similar we are, the sooner we can solve things within ourselves, if that makes sense.

Rosie Carney’s Favorite Place in Ireland, Tra Na Rossan Beach

Kendra: Still very young, where do you think your sound will be in 10 years time?

Rosie: It depends on my experiences, so I don’t know, but I’m excited/nervous/ready to find out.

Kendra: What else is on the books for you in the coming months? Touring, recording?

Rosie: I’ll release my EP, do some live shows and then onto the next one.

The post Awakening on The Emerald Isle with Rosie Carney appeared first on ZO Magazine.