SXSW 2015 Interview: Colm Mac Con Iomaire
I spent much of the morning at Friday’s full Irish breakfast fretting in the back of my mind about the pronunciation of violinist Colm Mac Con Iomaire’s name, even after hearing it enunciated aloud the previous day on the Lost In Austin boat ride by another Irish artist, The Lost Brothers‘ Oisin Leech. As it turned out, when I interviewed Mac Con Iomaire after his set at BD Riley’s, he put me at ease on the subject right away. In the interview streaming below, we discussed the difference in ambience between the Thursday and Friday venues before moving onto Mac Con Iomaire’s background experience as a solo artist as well as playing in Irish bands The Frames and The Swell Season.
Mac Con Iomaire was a last minute addition to the Irish SXSW 2015 contingent, making the trip in support of his new solo album ‘And Now the Weather’. The album, which is due for release on the 17th of April, includes a masterfully effective piece called ‘The Finnish Line’ composed in Helsinki at the end of a particularly long and disorienting tour cycle. In the interview, I refer to the music on the album as “songs”, but as the tracks are instrumental, it might be more appropriate to call them “pieces” of music as opposed to true songs with verbal lyrics. However, the fundamental lyricism of Mac Con Iomaire’s violin style, influenced by modern classical composers and traditional Irish music alike, is at the forefront of the compositions he played for us here.
Having played four solo gigs in 4 days over the course of his time in Austin, Mac Con Iomaire recounted a relatively relaxing experience in Austin compared to many of the other artists I talked with during the week. However, he was looking forward to heading home to begin the more complicated job of rehearsing with a 10-piece band for his upcoming live shows in Ireland.
Thanks to Aoife for her help in coordinating this interview.
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