Music > Interviews

Interview with Little Matador

03/04/14

When I was called upon to do the interview with this band called Little Matador, I was quite confused. First of all, I had absolutely no idea what a Matador was, and when I found out the guitarist of Snow Patrol was in the band the nerves really kicked in. Apparently, a Matador is a bull fighter. Although we’re talking about a little one in this matter, the line-up of the five piece band certainly isn’t. “The Irish Super Group”, that’s what they’re often called. Unsurprisingly, since every member has been in another group at some point in his life, ranging from The Frames, LaFarao and Tired Pony. I got to talk to two of them: Nathan Connolly and Binzer Brennan. Lucky me!

How would you describe the specific sound of Little Matador?

Nathan: I guess honest, modern, dirty rock music would be a perfect definition.

Binzer: Slightly sleazy, sexy swagger, that’s probably the best way to describe it.

The music you make has quite an angry sound to it. Is it a way for you to get out some frustrations or d’you reckon it’s just part of the sound you make?

Nathan: We’re not an angsty band at all, so we’re not actively looking for that sound.

Binzer: No, we’re certainly not angry as people or something. It’s just that our sound is what comes out of it when the five of us are together in the arena. That’s the music we make. We definitely wanted to make a rock record, and I guess that’s just where everything came together. You know, everyone just has that in him and when we go to play live, it just comes out. But at the same time our music is big on melody too.

What’s up with the band name? Where did it come from?

Nathan: It’s a band name. I don’t think they mean anything after a while. They could mean anything at first but… I’m not going to tell you where it comes from. [laughs] Apparently there’s a book called Little Matador, but we had no idea.

Binzer: Red is our favourite colour too, so that could be another reason.

You all knew each other before the band started. Does this mean that Irish bands are interconnected? Or is it just a small place?

Nathan: I guess all Irish bands are connected.

Binzer: Ireland is a small place, there’s lot of cliquey scenes; I was in a band with Gavin, our bass player, years before. Gavin’s band from years back would have played with Nathan’s band years before. So yes, everybody knows everyone after a while. It’s like “I know you and you know him and he’s a friend of a friend of a friend so you’re my friend now. Let’s play together!

Nathan: I reckon it’s the same in the UK as well, especially when it’s festival season. You’re kind of going around then and you just bump into bands and you get to know each other anyways.

Little Matador often gets called “The Irish super group” since you’re all in other Irish bands. Does the influences of all the other bands come together in Little Matador or do you try to distinguish yourself by creating something entirely different?

Nathan: I think it’s different in some respects, but at the same time it’s only natural some things from other bands come through. Whether it’s just a melody or something else. It’s we, it’s just.. us. It’s not that we’re actively trying to be different or recreate anything. What we bring is what happens when the five of us are together.

Binzer: I think it’s an individual matter, you just take each experience that you’ve had with however many bands and it grows, together with the respective musician. When you form a new band however, it’ll turn out to be a different format. You just share those tastes and experiences and stuff, and you put them through the blender and you see “well, this has come out.” A totally new thing.

You all have some serious live experience, how do you like the change to ‘smaller’ stages?

Nathan: It’s nice. I think it’s only right that we do that. You gain an awful lot of respect as well by going back down on the ladder. And as well as that, you grow as a band in venues such as this [The Waterfront].

Was coming back to smaller stages a specific reason for starting a smaller project?

Nathan: No, it was the project first and then the band and only then smaller stages. It’s just the right way to do it by starting at the lowest step of the ladder again. We felt it was a good way to show we are sincere and honest about Little Matador.

Your upcoming debut album has been written and made in a very short time. Does this mean you had the songs in your head for a while?

Nathan: We had a handful of songs but most of it happened in the studio. We wrote as we went, you know. It was made in a short space of time, yes, so it was pretty intense and we didn’t have too much time to think about it. In my opinion, that’s only a good thing. If you think too much about something, you can take away the heart of it. We, however, put everything in there it was supposed to have: frustration, fun and creativity. It was made in a short space of time - five months - so we really ran through everything. We only had like a three weeks writing session before we hit the studio. I guess, at the time, we only had a few ideas so we could’ve seemed mad but I think our label had faith in us that we would pull it off and I reckon we made a better album than we all could’ve hoped for.

Why did you decide to make ‘Liar Liar’ downloadable for free on your website instead of cooperating with iTunes or Spotify?

Binzer: That was just a taster!

Nathan: We knew that the album and the single would be different from that song so we wanted to give the people just a teaser, a taster, of where we were going and what was happening. Nobody knew who the band was at that moment so you can’t just expect people to buy it.

Binzer: Freebies are good for you!

Nathan: We just wanted to get the word out, show the audience what we were doing.

Talking about Spotify, you’re quite absent over there. How come?

Binzer: There’s no specific reason for that, it’s just the early days. We’re just waiting for some more material to show up before we start invading that place.

Nathan: How do you see Little Matador? D’you think of it as a little side project or do you hope this one gets as big as Snow Patrol?

Nathan: No, it’s certainly not a side project. I mean, yes, there is a time where I have to go back to Snow Patrol but I do feel these are only the starting-up days of Little Matador. This is our first record and we’ve made such a good one that it’s only fair of us, of the band, to see how far we can go with it.

Binzer: We’ve got a taste for it now, so we want to make more out of it. I don’t think it was ever a side project.

Nathan: I guess it’s easy to label it as that. Some bands do start side projects while they know it’s not going to go any further. But this is something we’re looking at on long term.

Binzer: Put it this way: if Little Matador is going to be fucking massive, does that mean that Snow Patrol is going to be seen as a side project? D’you see what I mean? It’s just another band.

A lot of people on the internet are talking about Little Matador as ‘the band of the Snow Patrol bloke’. Binzer, isn’t it hard to see all the attention going to Nathan?

Binzer: It’s unavoidable, I mean, Snow Patrol is huge. If the Frames were as big as Snow Patrol they might be saying that about me, you know?

Nathan: It’s just a reference point that makes people familiar with the band. It’s also a thing the media loves, but at the same time we’re not keen on it and we’re not promoting it. I mean, I’m in one band and at the same time I’m in another. Snow Patrol happens to be the biggest one so that people can reference. It’s as simple as that.

It’s quite strange you’re a part of the line-up of Sonisphere since it’s known to be a more heavy metal festival. Do you feel comfortable with a place between hard bands such as Iron Maiden, Slayer and Motorhead?

Nathan: First of all it’s great to be a part of the 40th anniversary of Sonisphere. I think, for a band like us at that stage, it’s perfect. It’s a good place to win the hearts of the people and to pick up some new fans. I think we fit in fine. There’s so many bands on the bill that kind of fit in on that broad spectrum of rock and metal.

Binzer: We’re actually a hard-hitting band I think!

Nathan: Yes, certainly live! It’s even more aggressive than it is on the record, but then again the record is equal measure heavy hitting and a lot of melody. I think there’s quite a few bands on Sonisphere we could fit along with.

I always love bands that are different live in comparison with on an album. I mean, a band has to entertain the audience as well. What have you got to offer during a live gig except your music?

Natan: We’ve got no gimmicks, you know? I don’t think they work or are quite important. We do have a certain amount of energy. It’s intense, we throw everything we have into it. There’s no holding back. We’re not afraid of who we are on stage and we found out that out pretty quick.

The release date for Little Matador’s debut LP is planned to be April 21st. The album will be downloadable via iTunes or via http://www.littlematadorband.com/

When I was called upon to do the interview with this band called Little Matador, I was quite confused. First of all, I had absolutely no idea what a Matador would be, and when I found out the guitarist of Snow Patrol was in the band the nerves really kicked in. Apparently, a Matador is bull fighter. Although we’re talking about a little one in this matter, the line-up of the five piece band certainly isn’t. “The Irish Super Group”, that’s what they’re often called. Unsurprisingly, since every member has been in another group at some point in his life, ranging from The Frames, LaFarao and Tired Pony. I got to talk to two of them: Nathan Connolly and Binzer Brennan. Lucky me!

How would you describe the specific sound of Little Matador?

Nathan: I guess honest modern dirty rock music would be a perfect definition.

Binzer: Slightly sleazy, sexy swagger, that’s probably the best way to describe it.

The music you make has quite an angry sound to it. Is it a way for you to get out some frustrations or d’you reckon it’s just part of the sound you make?

Nathan: we’re not an angsty band at all, so we’re not actively looking for that sound.

Binzer: no, we’re certainly not angry as people or something. It’s just that our sound is what comes out of it when the five of us are together in the arena. That’s the music we make. We definitely wanted to make a rock record, and I guess that’s just where everything came together. You know, everyone just has that in him and when we go to play live, it just comes out. But at the same time our music is big on melody too.

What’s up with the band name? Where did it come from?

Nathan: It’s a band name. I don’t think they mean anything after a while. They could mean anything at first but… I’m not going to tell you where it comes from. [laughs] Apparently there’s a book called Little Matadoor, but we had no idea.

Binzer: Red is our favourite colour too, so that could be another reason.

You all knew each other before the band started. Does this mean that Irish bands are interconnected? Or is it just a small place?

Nathan: I guess all Irish bands are connected.

Binzer: Ireland is a small place, there’s lot of clicky scenes, I was in a band with Gavin, our bass player, years before. Gavin’s band from years back would have played with Nathan’s band years before. So yes, everybody knows everyone after a while. It’s like “I know you and you know him and he’s a friend of a friend of a friend so you’re my friend now. Let’s play together!é

Nathan: I reckon it’s the same in the UK as well,  especially when it’s festival season. You’re kind of going around then and you just bump into bands and you get to know each other anyways.

Little Matador often gets called “The Irish super group” since you’re all in other Irish bands. Does the influences of all the other bands come together in Little Matador  or do you try to distinguish yourself by creating something entirely different?

Nathan: I think it’s different in some respects, but at the same time it’s only natural some things from other bands come through. Whether it’s just a melody or something else. It’s we, it’s just.. us. It’s not that we’re actively trying to be different or recreate anything. What we bring is what happens when the five of us are together.

Binzer: I think it’s an individual matter, you just take each experience that you’ve had with however many bands and it grows, together with the respective musician. When you form a new band however, it’ll turn out to be a different format. You just share those tastes and experiences and stuff, and you put them through the blender and you see “well, this has come out.” A totally new thing.

You all have some serious live experience, how do you like the change to ‘smaller’ stages?

Nathan: it’s nice. I think it’s only right that we do that. You gain an awful lot of respect as well by going back down on the ladder. And as well as that, you grow as a band on venues as this [The Waterfront].

Was coming back to smaller stages a specific reason for starting a smaller project?

Nathan: No, it was the project first and then the band and only then smaller stages. It’s just the right way to do it by starting at the lowest step of the ladder again. We felt it was a good way to show we are sincere and honest about Little Matador.

Your upcoming debut album has been written and made in a very short time. Does this mean you had the songs in your head for a while?

Nathan: we had a handful of songs but most of it happened in the studio. We wrote as we went, you know. It was made in a short space of time, yes, so it was pretty intense and we didn’t have too much time to think about it. In my opinion, that’s only a good thing. If you think too much about something, you can take away the heart of it. We however put everything in there it was supposed to have: frustration, fun and creativity. It was made in a short space of time, five months, so we really ran over thing. We only had like a three weeks writing session before we hit the studio. I guess, at the time, we only had a few ideas so we could’ve seem mad but I think our label had faith in us that we would pull it off and I reckon we made a better album than we all could’ve hoped for.

Why did you decide to put ‘Liar Liar’ downloadable for free on your website instead of cooperating with iTunes or Spotify?

Binzer: That was just a taster!

Nathan: We knew that the album and the single would be different from that song so we wanted to give the people just a teaser, a taster, of where we were going and what was happening. Nobody knew who the band was at that moment so you can’t just expect people to buy it.

Binzer: Freebies are good for you!

Nathan: we just wanted to get the word out, show the audience what we were doing.

Talking about Spotify, you’re quite absent over there. How come?

Binzer: there’s no specific reason for that, it’s just the early days. We’re just waiting for some more material to show up before we start invading that place.

Nathan: how do you see Little Matodor: d’you think of it as a little side project or do you hope this one gets as big as Snow Patrol?

Nathan: no, it’s certainly not a side project. I mean, yes, there is a time where I have to go back to Snow Patrol but I do feel these are only the starting-up days of Little Matador. This is our first record and we’ve made such  good one that it’s only fair of us, of the band, to see how far we can go with it.

Binzer: We’ve got a taste for it now, so we want to make more out of it. I don’t think it was ever a side project.

Nathan: I guess it’s easy to label it as that. Some bands do start side project while they know it’s not going to go any further. But this is something we’re looking at on long term.

Binzer: Put it this way: if Little Matador is going to be fucking massive, does that mean that Snow Patrol is going to be seen as a side project? D’you see what I mean? It’s just another band.

A lot of people on the internet are talking about Little Matador as ‘the band of the Snow Patrol bloke’. Binzer, isn’t it hard to see all the attention going to Nathan?

Binzer: it’s unavoidable, I mean, Snow Patrol is huge. If the Frames were as big as Snow Patrol they might be saying that about me, you know?

Nathan: It’s just a reference point that makes people familiar with the band. It’s also a thing the media loves, but at the same time we’re not keen on it and we’re not promoting it. I mean, I’m in one band and at the same time I’m in another. Snow Patrol happens to be the biggest one so that people can reference. It’s as simple as that.

It’s quite strange you’re a part of the line-up of Sonisphere since it’s known to be a more heavy metal festival. Do you feel comfortable with a place between hard bands such as Iron Maiden, Slayer and Motorhead?

Nathan: First of all it’s great to be a part of the 40th anniversary of Sonisphere. I think, for a band like us at that stage, it’s perfect. It’s a good place to win the hearts of the people and to pick up some new fans. I think we fit in fine. There’s so many bands on the bill that kind of fit in on that broad spectrum of rock and metal.

Binzer: We’re actually a hard-hitting band I think!

Nathan: Yes, certainly live! It’s even more aggressive then it is on the record, but then again the record is equal measure, heavy hitting and a lot of melody. I think there’s quite a few bands on Sonisphere we could fit along with.

I always love bands that are different live in comparison with on an album. I mean, a band has to entertain the audience as well. What have you got to offer during a live gig except your music?

Natan: We’ve got no gimmicks, you know? I don’t think they work or are quite important. We do have a certain amount of energy. It’s intense, we throw everything we have into it. There’s no holding back. We’re not afraid of who we are on stage and we found out that out pretty quick.

The release date for Little Matador’s debut LP is planned to be April 21st. The album will be downloadable via iTunes or via http://www.littlematadorband.com/