RUNAWAY[GO] INTERVIEW
- Jan 11, 2016
- 4 min read
RUNAWAY[GO] are a lovely duo from Belfast. They have been friends for a long time and it shows through their team effort, musical understanding, and trust in each other. Below is an interview during their time on the Coffee House Tour.
When did you both start to create music together?
Fiona: I suppose in school. David and I went to school together, so in the music department, when we were supposed to be in another class together. I would bring my songs to him, and he would make them sound better. So from then on we started just hanging out more out side of school. Staying up until 5am in your house just playing music.
David: Yeah there’s a big red sofa at my mums house that’s so comfy, and all these songs used to come out from Fiona and we would just mess about with them all night.
Fiona, you are the main songwriter correct? Does anyone else have an input or is it mainly just you?
F: I suppose I write about my own experiences in life, so the main song comes from me, but it always changes when it comes to the band, because the band you know.. Different guitar lines could pop up, and then I think, wow we need to make that a feature! So the structure of it always changes and it never really ends up the way it started I don’t think.
You are originally from Belfast. Have you lived and played anywhere else?
D: Mostly around Ireland. We still live on the outskirts of Belfast. I have never really lived anywhere else. We have gigged all over Ireland. Dublin, Cork, all the big cities. Derry as well. It’s been great gigging around Ireland, it’s been lovely.
You would be surprised how different every little bit is. It’s a bit like England, you move 30miles away and you have maybe a different accent, with different taste in music and crowds and different ways they are. Some are quiet and respectful and just like to listen, and some like to be involved in the music and involved with dancing and singing. So you just need to be aware of which crowd you are playing too. Its pretty good though.
How are you finding the Coffee House Tour?
F: Pretty good so far. This is our first time playing over here. I had a few shows a few years ago, but this is our first tour. So just to be meeting people, its our foot through the door here. Getting people to meet us and tweet us and follow us. It is really important for us to have that connection over here, so the Coffee House Sessions have been amazing for that. There has been a lot of travelling, so there has been (for me) a lot of sleeping in the van! But we are trying to see as much of each city as we can.
D: We went to Liverpool last night, checking out the ice rink. It was really cool. The Coffee House Session is nice though, its all in the afternoon so when people are really watching. If you go to a pub at night sometimes the people are really plastered, so they will have forgotten who you are, and forgotten that they really loved you that night, so it’s a missed opportunity. But the Coffee House Session has got people who are just having a coffee and there just happens to be a band playing and you could just turn people who had never thought about seeing you.
You have played with artists such as Bastille, Professor Green, The Editors, how was that?
F: Amazing! It’s incredible to play for their crowds, they are all mad! You are opening up for such a big band, the crowd goes nuts and then there’s an amazing atmosphere in the room. Then from those shows we have had so many followers, and people are still coming up to us in the street saying ‘I saw you playing for Bastille!’. They were amazing shows.
D: Yeah totally. I forgot about Professor Green, that was mental that show. Its funny, between the three, Bastille, Professor Green and the Editors, they are three different crowds. You have the R’n’B crowd, then the crowd who love to hear the intricacies of the music for the Editors and then Bastille where everyone’s reaction is let us dance!
Do you have a favourite performance for any of those?
D: Dublin
F: Dublin, was amazing
D: Yeah Dublin, opening up for Bastille because it was a completely brand new crowd. No one knew who we were but they loved it which was amazing.
How did you react when you were first played on Radio1?
D: I would like to say I was really cool and that I didn’t jump about like a giddy child, but I did.
F: I actually, annoyingly missed it when it was played. This always happens, we are always doing something when our songs get air play. We released a single yesterday, Ashes, and it’s the first off our new album, it was played on BBC Radio Ulster as an exclusive play, but we missed it! We were travelling and we couldn’t tune in to it.
D: Knowing that its there. You know you have been on the Radio because everyone starts texting you. My mum alerts me ‘oh my god your on Radio1!’, yes its fine calm down.
Where has been the most exciting place you have played?
F: I would say the Ulster Hall in Belfast, just because it’s a venue that’s really up there in my list of venues to play. So to get to play that one was awesome.
D: It was the first place Stairway to Heaven was performed.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
F: I think we would both have different ones. I would most probably like to perform with Alt-J and say I wouldn’t get scared or star struck. I would love to sing with Sia as well.
D: I like Adelle. I think Adelle would be class. I think mad, but class and great. Anybody!
What are your plans for the future?
D: We performed at the taste of London. The smell was amazing.
F: I think we will be preparing for our single releases.
Thank you!
D: No, thank you!
http://runawaygo.com/
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