This week we’re catching up with the dynamic Dublin blues-punk band Guud Grief who have recently released their latest single ‘These Kids Just Wanna Be Famous’, which marks the outfit’s third release so far. Fronted by Mark Logan (also director of Collective Films and part of the Audio Department Records label), these Irish creatives have captured early attention with their unique mix of dusty soul vibes, vivid songwriting, and rock’n’roll spirit. Their newest track draws on a wide range of influences, from the prophetic artistry of Nina Simone and Nick Cave, to the poetic mastery of medieval Persian poet Rumi, to the eternal presence of nature. Be sure to listen to the track after reading our special On The Record interview.
Guud Grief front man Mark Logan met with his dear friend and famed London fine art photographer Charles Moriarty (best known for his iconic Amy Winehouse imagery) to capture the musician’s visual responses to these questions.
For those who have never heard of Guud Grief, who are you and what is your music about?
We often say to ourselves that we make blue coloured music. It can be dark heavy blue or baby blue and anything in between but usually we find our natural incarnation is to turn towards the blue in life and endeavour to find the lighter textures within that palette. We hail from Ireland, East, Centre and South West heel best known as The Kingdom of Kerry.
Let’s talk about your latest single ‘These Kids Just Wanna Be Famous’, what does this song
mean to you?
For us it’s a line in the sand. We have said our piece on the industry of music. Two words which we feel do not go well together. Music is sacred, industry is not. So from here we hope the song can act as a reminder as we progress of why we started this in the first place. That’s not to say there are not brilliant geniuses out there making a very good life from music, but selling out is not our intention.
What do you hope listeners will take away from this track?
Whatever it is they need from the song. We will never be prescriptive with our tunes. They are mirrors for us and we hope the listener too. We hope to see as many reflections as there are hearts tuning in.
Who or what are your biggest inspirations?
Nature. There’s just infinite inspiration to be drawn in through all of the senses from the natural world. Bird song at first light, the clash and thud of steel hitting the pavement in the rain. It’s all occurring constantly around us. We draw from that. Artistically we are inspired by those brave souls who’ve dug deep and sought to be as original as possible given the nature of art, the likes of Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and most recently Little Simz.
Do you have any advice for fellow or future songwriters who want to branch out of their comfort
zone?
Never intellectually ever try to understand your music. Allow yourself to feel it in the heart and from there put your mind to how you want to birth and dress it. Heart has to come first, you the creator are the first listener!
What are you grateful for right now at this moment?
My garden. Our children. Mezcal Negroni.
What has been the most rewarding highlight of your career so far?
Closing Gig For Gaza with ‘Come Shine’ in Whealan’s to a packed main room and helping raise much needed funds for the much needed aid there. Big up Sean Mulrooney for putting that one together.
Can you give us some other names that we should be looking out for from the Dublin music
scene?
There’s so many obvious ones like Gilla Band, Lankum and Fontaines DC but if we were to have a favourite it would have to be the legend and bard Rónán O’Snodaigh.
Who would be your dream collaboration?
Little Simz.
And lastly, what can fans expect from Guud Grief this year?
Nothing. We are going into album mode now as we’ve not yet had that luxury of being in the room for weeks on end to find the music we are now. We’ll have the album ready for the new year. From there it’s out of our hands. X
You can also listen to ‘These Kids Just Wanna Be Famous’ in our Outsiders Club playlist.
Follow Guud Grief:
UNRECORDED 