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In it for the music.
Dublin four-piece Otherkin have been making serious waves on the Irish and international music scene and they’ve already notched up support slots for iconic bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N’ Roses. Things could have been very different for the band had they dropped their musical dreams to pursue their academic ambitions.
The four members of the band could have settled for the traditional career paths that would have been forthcoming had they pursued their studies in medicine, digital marketing and graphic design. Instead, they opted for a life of rock ‘n’ roll and few people would now question that decision!
Otherkin bassist, David Curley, took time out of his busy schedule to discuss studies, stroopwaffles, success and their new album.
Did you always want to be musicians?
It wasn’t until my final years of college that I had properly considered it as a viable career. My love for music was what really drove me as a teenager, but the Leaving Cert system sort of sent me on a different path. Everyone had always told me to do something in science, and when you’re finished you can always go back and start a creative pursuit. Thinking about it now, I guess music was always in the back of my mind.
Is it true that the band members are all qualified in different disciplines?
Yes. Our guitarist Conor has a master’s in digital marketing, and myself and our singer Luke finished our degrees in medicine at RCSI. Our drummer Rob had to drop out of his degree in graphic design after we signed with our label, but he’s probably the most qualified out of all of us! He does all of our artwork. We’d be stuck using MS Paint without him.
What made you and Luke step away from being doctors?
Had the opportunity for us to do music not come up, we’d definitely still be doctors, but it did come up and it was something we just couldn’t pass up. It was a once in a lifetime sort of thing, and the timing just worked out. The working conditions for junior doctors in Ireland definitely didn’t help sway me to the medicine side. The system in this country is a real mess at the moment.
How did your band get together?
Myself, Conor and Luke were all on a working holiday in Toronto after first year college. We spent most of the summer jamming in the shade on our porch, sheltered from the searing heat, and by the time we came home we knew we wanted to start a band. It took a good year before we committed to this, and then we found Rob in a chat room – nothing weird.
What are the pros and cons of being full-time musicians?
Getting to do what you love on the road with your best mates is the pro that outways any cons, but there is a certain amount of waiting around for things to happen that can be stressful. That being said, I wouldn’t trade it in anytime soon.
What kind of following do you have?
Our fans are deadly. No band would be anything without their fans. The last time we played in Brighton we had people who had flown in from Germany to catch the show. Whenever we play the Netherlands, people give us stroopwaffles. If you are unfamiliar with stroopwaffles, seek them out. Pro tip – pop one of those bad boys in the microwave for 10 seconds, it’ll change your life.
What were your best and worst gig experiences?
On our first ever tour of the UK, we played a gig in the sunny seaside town of Scarborough; in November. Half of the town was literally shut for the off season, and we played to the support band and our soundman, until he left to go to the bar!
My personal favourite gig would have to be the first time we played Amsterdam. We were playing in this amazing venue called the Paradiso, with a couple of hundred Dutch people losing their shit and singing back lyrics to songs that had barely been released. It was surreal.
You’ve supported the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gun’s n Roses. What was that like?
It can be hard not to be starstruck when you’re meeting people whose life’s work had a major impact on you, but we have a strict no fangirling policy. You have to treat these people like an equal. When we supported the Chilis, we ended up spending most of the afternoon drinking beers with Patrick Stump from Fallout Boy, who was just a really nice guy. Our drummer Rob did get sick all over the outside of Mumford and Sons and Alt J’s tour buses the first year we played Reading and Leeds though, that was fairly gas.
What advice do you give to people who are studying/working but thinking about switching professions?
Life is far too short to not give it a go and “follow your dreams”, but you have to be a realist. If you fully believe that you are going to be the next big thing on the basket weaving scene, then give it everything you’ve got. If you give it your best and you it doesn’t work out, then no one can fault you. It’s your life, do what you want to do.
What’s next for Otherkin?
Our debut album, “OK”, will be released on 29 September. It’s available for pre-order now, and we will be taking it on a 40-plus date tour around Ireland, the UK and Europe once it’s released!
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