Get To Know... The Scratch • Neu • DIY Magazine

Hello and welcome back to DIY’s introducing feature, Get To Know… which aims to get you a little bit closer to the buzziest acts that have been catching our eye as of late, and working out what makes them tick.

For those in the know, The Scratch have been tearing up venues around their native Ireland for a minute now, but it’s with the imminent arrival of new album ‘Pull Like A Dog’ that their inspired blend of heavy rock and freewheeling Irish trad is set to take the world at large by storm. Ahead of the LP’s release, we catch up with bassist Cathal McKenna to dig deeper into the quartet’s compelling world - one of experimentation, instinct, and unrestrained energy.

What was the first gig you ever went to?
I was about 10/11 years old, at the August bank holiday festival in Cahirciveen, Co Kerry! Jerry Fish and The Mudbug Club headlined the Saturday, and me Mam brought me along.
I was wearing my t-shirt that had a load of flames on it. Jerry picked a bunch of us kids to come onstage for a dance bit; I was king of the town for a few minutes.

What are your worst musical habits?
I don’t change the ‘ole bass strings as often as I should but sure look… Apart from that, we all have flawless musical technique and habits ;)

The Scratch’s distinctive sound combines metal, folk, and Irish trad music; for you, is there a common thread or theme which unites these genres? What else would you say informs your songwriting?
I suppose those three genres all have a technical side and an energetic side to them - combining those two things has always appealed to us. Travelling in general has also informed the songwriting; we’ve spent the last few years in so many interesting places, meeting interesting characters.

For ‘Pull Like A Dog’, you teamed up with John ‘Spud’ Murphy on production. Why did he feel like the right person for the job? Were there any particular elements of his past work you wanted to bring to the fore in your own?
Ah, Spud is a wizard - he’s got a load of amazing work with other artists (Lankum, Junior Brother, Ye Vagabonds, black midi), and his studio set up out in Hellfire has seen the making of some savage stuff. We just wanted to see what he would do with us - we’ve got an unconventional set up, and getting that across on record is never a simple process.

I can remember sitting watching him mic’ing up Lango’s cajon in the first few days we were there; it was a thing of beauty. Spud’s energy in the room is exactly what you want when you’re making an album. He has so many ideas, so many secret pedals/mics to pull out of his magic closet, and he’ll always make time to try and get your ideas across - it was a fever dream working with him to get it done!

“We’re excited by the idea of moving quickly. We’re always jamming during soundchecks and if something feels good, it’s probably got something to it.”

You’ve said you’re “not trying to reinvent the wheel on this album”. How has leaning into instinct and creative freedom shaped the final sound of the record? Did this approach teach you anything about yourselves (as a band, or as people)?
Learning not to overthink and going with momentum was something I learned from this one. From a songwriting point of view, but also just generally as a unit, I think we’re excited by the idea of moving quickly. We’re always jamming during soundchecks and if something feels good, it’s probably got something to it. I think we’re learning to trust the old instincts a bit more…

Tell us the best and worst advice you’ve ever been given.
Best advice: ‘Follow your nose’. I’d say it was Mam that told me that one - she has a few gems.
Worst advice: ‘The far away hills are green’. Not if you live in Monaghan lad, the fields are lovely and green here.

Finally, DIY are coming round for dinner - what are you making?
If there’s a bunch of yiz coming then it’ll have to be the classic lasagne and chippies! I’ve started doing home chippies with Golden Wonder spuds (slice ‘em up, cajun, rosemary, pepper, salt and vegetable oil). Few glasses of red is it?

‘Pull Like A Dog’ is out on 13th March via Music For Nations / Sony Ireland.

#AD