Riptide Movement keep it alternative and authentic

Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

Dublin outfit the Riptide Movement have set themselves a high standard over the last decade. Championing an anthemic brand of alternative indie-rock, the band has seen huge success with major Irish singles like Elephant in the Room and All Works Out.

The four-piece play Galway’s Róisín Dubh this Friday, as part of a winter Irish tour. It coincides with the release of the group’s newest project – a five (soon to be seven) track EP titled Something Special.

The new tracks reemphasise the band’s enduring ability but so too their diversity. There are quiet, stripped back moments on All I Ever Wanted as well as bursts of energy on the EP’s titular track as well as on the first single.

“We released it in September – the first single was I’ll Be There,” recalls bass player Gerry McGarry.

“We had Jam Media on board to do a video to coincide with that release and it’s actually up for an award now. It was a great start… We’re really chuffed with how it’s gone and how the proceeding singles have followed and how well they’ve been received on radio as well as on Spotify where it’s nearly up to two-hundred thousand plays.”

The band is choosing to stagger further singles over the course of the next few months, culminating in the release of a second EP of the same length. The format seems to offer more time to focus on individual songs – there is no immediate rush to have a full album ready for release.

“We actually did seven songs,” Gerry notes. “It’s a seven-song EP on the physical vinyl so if you do buy it online on Apple or anything, once we release the two other singles they’ll be added to it.

“We’re excited – Mal is currently working on a video he shot for one of the songs which is coming out for Christmas, hopefully next week or the week after. We did that in Dublin and it’s a bit more sombre… It’s got a good storyline.”

Gerry has been playing alongside vocalist Mal Tuohy, guitarist John Dalton and drummer Gar Byrne since 2006. The foursome has seen the music industry evolve hugely over the course of their relationship as a group. Ultimately, they have embraced the challenge of navigating an Irish music scene that has changed dramatically in the last thirteen years.

“We are fans of albums,” Gerry admits. “Realistically, to do an album it takes nearly two years. It’s a very enjoyable experience but it’s quite a long [process] and financially it can be tough as well.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app

The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.