Fynch – A peek into post-academic stress with rapper’s EP

 

They used it and that kind of got my name out there, I got my first gig through them because of it and that immediately made me think that I am good – and not just to my mates.

Did you ever think that just a couple of years later that you would have played Electric Picnic and be self-releasing a five-track EP?

I genuinely didn’t, it wasn’t even in the realm that this could be a possibility.

I always knew that if I wanted to create a project one day that I wanted it to have a theme or a concept running through it.

What is the theme or concept running through it?

Self-doubt, self-embrace, embracing my own artistry.

At the time when I was writing it, I was only six months out of college with all the confusion surrounding that because particularly with a journalism degree you just don’t have a clue how to find work when you get out. Freelancing work? What is that?

Ohh yeah, the upside-down pyramid – all of the important information goes to the top of the article – I could tell you all about that all day, but actually finding work, no chance.

Your lyrics are seriously entrancing, how do you come up with the stuff you speak about on this record?

Everything existed there already inside my head so it was said very naturally.

With the spot I was in when I was writing I didn’t have to be thinking ‘right what do I want to say’, I just said it. In terms of my process for writing tunes – I listen to the beat first, then I start thinking about saying something, whatever comes naturally really.

I always tend to come back to football because it’s something most lads would like to think they are professionals in speaking about it. There are a lot of themes about football in my music, but I try not too get too intrinsic with word-play. If it doesn’t roll off the tongue naturally then I’m not saying it.

There is a lot of word-play in ‘Saipan’, particularly the line ‘not to take the mick, I just need to manage’.

That is one song where I tried to put as many in there as possible. A line I’m very proud of is ‘Triggs does not mean trigger but my dogs will catch a body’. There are not many people out there writing songs about Roy Keane’s dog, I have that down. That’s my unique selling point.

Where did the name ‘Bookies Pens & Loose Ends’ come from?

The first line of the EP is ‘Bookies Pens & Loose Ends’ and I was showing a few of the lads from Burner, and they were just like ‘that’s it, that’s the title’.

So in the context of that one song I wrote most of the EP. I use a few racing puns in there.

Like ‘Found Solace in Fairyhouse’?

Yeah, exactly. There are a few odes to racing in there and I suppose I was just at a loose end when I was writing it, fresh out of college not knowing what to do.

Bookies pens are ubiquitous with my gaf, my old fella seems to collect them. He’s one of those fellas that throws the pen behind the ear when he’s in the bookies and forgets about it – he does come home with about 10 pens and just throws them on the kitchen table.

Fynch (Image: Finn Harney)

 

Do you feel that they reflect society?

Completely. They are a beacon of hope for society’s most vulnerable and poorest people who hope that one day they will make it big.

People in this country will, by any means necessary, try their luck with making a few grand, even if it really will never come off. If there’s a chance, we’re in. It’s a damn shame, but it does reflect the tiered society that we live in.

You battle with yourself a bit across the EP in terms of doubting yourself?

I played myself a bit and it was evident at that juncture in my life that I would speak about those things on the EP.

Those themes are not as prevalent now in my life, but even when I released the EP, I realised that they will always be an aspect of me because I would be going into job interviews and filling out applications for jobs that say ‘two years experience required’. I’ve four years of college experience though, is that not good enough?

What made you start your own label Burner Records?

The thing about Burner is it just fell into our laps. District Magazine were starting a record label arm of their business and I went on to be part of it.

They gave us a hand with gigs and all. Marcus Woods joined the crew then, but things started to slow down and dissipated to just a few acts.

We both thought we’d go our separate ways and they understood, they were cool about it. In May 2018, Marcus Woods was releasing his EP and me, Arbu, Local Boy and Sick Nanley started a group chat just to make sure the release went smoothly.

But then it never ceased. We were acting like a label already so we were just like ‘boys why don’t we put a name to this?’ They’re my mates and we want the best for each other.

We had a Burner Records launch night then on December 14, 2018 in the Bernard Shaw of all places, lord rest his soul.

What can people expect from your launch night in Drop Dead Twice on Saturday, November 23?

A jolly good time! It’s a Burner night so there will be an eclectic mix of fun and music. It’ll be a decent time, full of shenanigans, with a DJ on before me, a few of the lads and a special guest MC. We don’t know who they are yet, but I can tell you they are a rapper and very good.

‘Bookies Pens & Loose Ends’ is available on all music-listening platforms now and the launch night in Drop Dead Twice next Saturday starts at 7pm with tickets “the price of a pint” from www.eventbrite.ie