Dublin-based quartet Let’s Set Sail have released their undeniably compelling collection of ambient vignettes – Enzo.
Opening with previous single Toledo, Let’s Set Sail create a sound that is oozing with textured atmospherics from the offset. Midnight Daylight (in Lavapiés) follows suit, as frontman Warren McCarthy’s distinctive vocal style entwines effortlessly with vocalist Marian Hughes’ celestial harmonies, Ian Dunphy’s ambient electronics and pianist Rob Molumby’s skilful musicianship, creating a completely mesmerising sound as a result. Fans of the likes of Metronomy and Sylvan Esso will feel at home here. Throughout the EP, minimalist folktronica is met with atmospheric soundscapes that soar effortlessly, creating a totally immersive experience for the listener as a result.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Let’s Set Sail about the latest release, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
Our own individual musical developments. We used to create folk-rock songs, but over time we got more interested and skilled in electronic music production. This gave us a whole new sound world to write songs from, and they tended to become more extended and meandering due to the atmospheres we could access through this medium. The songs have quite typical structures, and the lyrics are very literal and narrative. These elements are heavily influenced by traditional and non-traditional folk music, so our style has quite a noticeable combination of contrasting genres.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
We all just became intense music lovers as children. Following school we all decided to study music at University, and that’s where we met. We have a compulsion to create music and it makes more sense to show our compositions to people than to keep them hidden.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
Our lyrics are heavily influenced by life experiences whether they are common and seemingly mundane, or more elaborate and profound. Our tastes haven’t necessarily changed much over time but naturally as we hear more music, we become increasingly inspired by different artists.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
We always just wish to accomplish a genuine emotional connection between the listener and the songs. There wasn’t necessarily a specific subject matter that was focused on for the songs on the EP, but the 5 tracks kind of naturally linked. They are all about, or at least refer to, particular locations which gives the EP a very slight conceptual feel.
What was the last song you listened to?
Short Fall by David Lang
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Vinyl.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Spotify for the convenience. Bandcamp for the nobility.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
Time. We all work full-time jobs, live lives, and then spend any second we can making music. We don’t have any more time to be publicists, PR people or content creators.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
Give us a listen, and thanks for reading 🙂
