We’ve always claimed to know very little about music, the @rcade tends to know what it likes and what it doesn’t like – we’ll listen to Japanese folk music or Bulgarian Death Metal and Irish rapping, it doesn’t matter who sings it as long as the music has more depth to it than a puddle of peroxide blonde and a voice synthesizer. A few weeks back it was suggested that we have a listen to the music of a Limerick based band called Supermodel Twins – we didn’t know what to expect with the name, maybe something electronicy or uber-sugary pop, so imagine our surprise when three days later we were still listening to their music.
The five piece band have come from Limerick and Galway and found a perfect sound – take some pop add some rock mix (apologies for this cheesy analogy) with some fantastic lyrics and a passion to make music and you wind up with the music of the Supermodel Twins. You will find yourself happily lost as you sing along to the music, songs that remind you of great loves and inevitable losses, so infatuating is the music that don’t be surprised if you wind up listening to everything on repeat – in particular we recommend ‘Buried in Pink’, ‘Love on its Own’ and ‘Bruises’.
With a forthcoming album this summer, plans to tour the world and finishing off the last stages of their album work with producer Noel Hogan (The Cranberries), the lads take some time out to talk to us about their music:
Who are Supermodel Twins?
ALL: Supermodel Twins are a 5 piece Pop/Rock band from Limerick & Galway! We’re are Thom O Keeffe (vocals & guitar), his brother David (guitars, keys and vocals), their cousin Alan (guitar & vocals), Mike Gavin (bass & synths), and Noel Mooney (drums)
Where did the idea for the band come from and how did you get started?
ALAN: Well it just kind of happened really, Thom and I have been playing in bands for the last 10 years or so but this line up has been together for about 8 months. Thom, Davey and I are family so we’ve always been messing around together, we met Mike through the local scene in Limerick about 3 years ago and we met Noel a few years ago too, while he was at college with Davey. After many trials and tribulations we’re in our current form and we’re in the best period of our career since we started playing together in 2000!
A lot of bands struggle in the beginning but you guys just seem to have gone from strength to strength – what was it really like for you guys when you first started out?
ALAN: To be honest we didn’t really know what we were doing when we started out but it was the fun factor that kept us going. It was only after people started to take notice of our demos and energetic live shows that we thought we could be really happy to do this as a career. We’ve obviously had our ups and downs like every band/relationship/business do, but our goal has never changed. The beginning was great and all, but it’s where were going that we’re even more excited about!
Who would you say that your band sounds most like? Why?
NOEL: I suppose we sound like a cross between Jimmy Eat World and Weezer if we had to label it. That’s always the obvious comparison but we definitely sound more Irish.
Could you sum up your bands music in five words? Why those words?
DAVEY: Catchy songs for your ears! Why those words? Well that’s what our music is really. We just want people to nod their head, sing along, dance along, have fun listening to our music and then not be able to get our songs out of their head for days on end!
You’ve played to a massive crowd in Limerick’s Thomond Park, what was that like?
NOEL: It was an experience to say the least. To play in front of 20,000 people in your (adopted) home town for such a fantastic occasion as the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony is just something you dream of. In addition, to play before a band as big as The Cranberries is an amazing achievement for us, they’re a band we all grew up listening to. We’re very lucky to have been involved!
Are there any Super Model Twins in the band? If not, where did you guys get the name from?
MIKE: Yea, Alan and I are twins! ……No not really. One of the lads knows these set of twins that walk around thinking that they’re more attractive than they actually are and henceforth, we have been labelled with the ironic moniker!
Can you tell us more about your forthcoming album? What’s it like working with ‘The Cranberries’ guitarist and songwriter, Noel Hogan?
THOM: We started the album about 2 years ago. It’s been a long, long process but now that we’re about 6 weeks from the end of the process, we’re glad we took the time to reflect on the work. We don’t want to release something we’re not happy with and after 2 years, we’re incredibly happy with it. Noel Hogan is one of the nicest guys we have ever met! We are very lucky to have a guy who has seen everything and done it all before, to be producing our album for us. His knowledge has been invaluable.
What are your plans for the future? When can we see you play next?
MIKE: Our plans are endless to tell you the truth. At the moment we’re taking the time to mix and master the album, which we actually haven’t had to time to do in the last 8 months! Once the album is out we will be touring extensively, Ireland, UK, America, and hopefully mainland Europe too. We’ll be doing dates all over Ireland & the UK during the summer and autumn so keep an eye on our websites! – www.supermodeltwins.com
Finally if you were trapped in an Arcade for eternity, what game would you play to pass the time?
MIKE: Streets of Rage. Next question….
With so much work, energy and time going into their music we are glad that the lads are starting to see the benefits. With sell out shows, an army of fans, Supermodel Twins are fast on their way to becoming one of Ireland’s top acts and we wish them every ounce of success because it’s what they really deserve. If you would like to learn more about Supermodel Twins, check out some of their videos and blog, then head on over to their official website, www.supermodeltwins.com or alternatively you can follow the lads on their official Facebook page here.
Listen closely and you can hear the crowd sing along – see we told you they were catchy!
