Bipolar Empire were the most recent band to play at NUIG.
I got a chance to speak with them afterwards and asked all about their upcoming album....
This all began at Oxegen 2007 right?
Shane: Yeah, that’s where Bipolar Empire began. Joe and me had been doing something before and then we ran into Callum, he was just a madman you know? It just seemed like real fun so we decided to have a practice and then it kind of fell on from there really. We started doing gigs and stuff like that.
And where did the name come from?
Callum: We had a couple of different ideas, like Bipolar Enemy came up but we weren’t really sure about that because one, there’s another band called Bipolar Enemy and two, it could be like we’re attacking people you know? So then I thought of empire. We all have different meanings to what the name is but my personal meaning is, you know we’re never all in the same mood so it kind of falls into the same category, we’re always killing each other, then we’re great so it’s kind of like mood swings between ourselves, but then the empire comes in because we’re always still a unit, we always work together for the greater good or the bigger picture rather than just ourselves.
Do you think it’s hard for Irish bands starting off to get support here in Ireland?
Mark: To a certain extent it is. There really are a lot of great bands out there and you kind of have to be lucky in one sense and you have to be prepared to have good songs and all that as well I think. But you do have to have a lot of luck to kind of meet the right manager or promoter or anyone. Big companies like MCD and all them who look after most of it so once you get in with that sort of crowd you do end up getting a lot of good gigs and if you’re not in it you miss out on a lot of good things. So it depends on what kind of crowd you fall in with. It is hard.
How did you end up in America?
Joe: Our manager knew this producer, Pat McCarthy (REM, Madonna, U2), and he loved our music. We had basically sent him over a demo of a couple of tracks we recorded in my room, just basic acoustic voice, and he loved it! He was kind of dreading it because producers are always getting material but he actually loved it and he wanted to work with us and record us. It all just seemed so surreal, packing up and moving over there for three months. We recorded basically the bones of the album. It was a great opportunity to go over there and record.
While you were there you ended up playing in some pretty famous clubs too…
Joe: Yeah, the producer had a few contacts over in Austin so we rented an RV and travelled across. It was great.
Callum: Whiskey A Go-Go
Mark: It’s a good place to play; it’s a historic venue you know?
Shane: Exactly.
2010 seems to have been a big year for you guys…
Mark: Yeah, 2010 is basically the year we kind of went from one standard up to the next. Oxegen kind of signifies the whole year. When you play there, it kind of gives you certain recognition and you go to another level. So that helped us out with getting better gigs around the country. We started trying to play around Ireland as best we could and we played another couple of festivals like the Temple House Festival. And this year then it’s even gone a bit further with the likes of the Late Late Show which is kind of another level again so we’re hoping to just keep building on that. I wonder what the next level is!
It must have been strange to go from being in the crowd at Oxegen to on the stage!
Joe: Yeah, we’ve been at Oxegen the last four, five years.
Callum: The weird thing is you go as a punter and you’re hanging about, watching all these bands. You’re always thinking I’d love to play that stage and then to get there, to be playing Oxegen and being backstage with Vampire Weekend there, and everyone just having a beer. It’s just more a surreal environment to what you’re used to.
You took a break after that and are back now with your new single ‘Feel That You Own It’.
Shane: Yeah, there’s a big distance between that and the last one but it’s been worth the wait I think. We’ve got it out now, along with the video, and it’s also the name of the album. So there’s not much distance between this single and the album release, which is about three weeks away.
About the music video, it featured Irish boxer Katie Taylor. How did that happen?
Callum: Yeah, Katie Taylor. It was a ‘friend of a friend’ situation, we kind of just sent her the track to see what she thought because we wanted to get a strong female for the video and she loved it. She came on board, and punched the feck out of a big massive wall. She’s a lovely girl!
And the album comes out April 29th.
Shane: Yes, the 29th of April. We’re playing our launch gig for the album on the 28th.
Mark: We’re eager for everyone to hear the album now.
Shane: We also played with the base player from Muse! Chris Wolstenholme. Our manager kind of knows and works a little with him.
Mark: He came on stage with us, which is brilliant, he played the guitar for the last single we released and he also played along on ‘Feel That You Own It’. It was just mad to see this famous person playing beside you!
Do you have any spoilers about the album?
Shane: I think it varies, definitely. There are a lot of different songs on it which is something that we always wanted to establish ourselves as, an artist that can kind of surprise people, that isn’t ‘pigeon holed’ in one genre. I think there’s somehow a link between the songs as well. There are ballads in there, fast paced dance songs, and there are songs that are kind of head-boppers, I guess you could call them.
Mark: And when you look at bands that have lasted they’ve done that. Like U2, they have these blues type songs, then pop songs and then they have slow ballads and things like that. If you do put yourself into one sort of category you have to repeat that every time and people expect it so that’s what we tried not to do so much.
Now for a few quick questions!
What is your favorite band and/or singer right now?
Callum: My favorite band at the minute is The National.
Joe: Too hard. Queen. Actually no, The Beatles. And singer would be..
Mark: At the moment.
Joe: Oh, hang on, at the moment?
Mark: Mine would definitely be Hal, they’re a great Irish band.
Joe: I thought you meant favorite band of all time! Mine would be….
Mark: Shh. Your turn is over! My favorite singer is Shane at the moment! I heard him sing just a minute ago, so it’s fresh in my head.
Your favorite YouTube video?
Callum: I know my one, the drunkest man ever. Where he walks into the shop and he starts swinging around the door, and he can’t get up off the ground. That would be my favorite one.
Mark: Mine is a video called ‘The Amazing Ass Spanking’. It’s a guy getting hit with a belt and it’s just hilarious.
Joe: Willie Bum Bum.
Mark: It’s a real thing.
Callum: After you watch that video you won’t eat or sleep for days.
Shane: YouTube video… Mikey X Factor!
Mark: That is good.
Maltesers or Minstrels?
Callum: Minstrels. Maltesers get stuck in my teeth and it really hurts.
Mark: Yeah, Minstrels as well.
Joe: I think Munchies actually. I love Munchies.
Callum: The question is to choose between either Maltesers or Minstrels! You can’t make up your own answer.
Shane: I’m actually going to go with Maltesers because I love Maltesers.
Mark: Joe! Give an answer!
Joe: Minstrels, No wait…
Mark: It’s not that hard!
Joe: M&Ms! Am…
Mark: Pick one! It’s quick fire like.
Callum: It’s quick fire, just give an answer!
Joe: Yeah, Minstrels.
Last one, Cat or Dog?
Callum: Dog.
Joe: Dog.
Mark: Dog as well.
Shane: Dog
To finish, what is up next for Bipolar Empire?
Callum: Kill Joe.
Mark: And after we kill Joe, the album launch is the big thing, which is April 28th in the Workmans Club, Dublin. And the album release is the 29th.
Shane: And hopefully world domination!
For more information, check out: http://www.bipolarempire.com/
Don’t forget to buy the new album ‘Feel That You Own It’, out April 29th.
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