A Neutered Fruit

Stuart and Saoirse first met in 2016 through UCD’s Jazz Society, bonding over their shared love of bands like Mastodon and The Mars Volta. They played together at various society events, including balls, fundraisers, and performances with the UCD Big Band. Beyond jazz, they became active in Dublin’s music scene, collaborating with acts like Francis Helmet and Sisterix and performing at venues such as The Button Factory, Marlay Park, and Electric Picnic.

Between rehearsals, they often found themselves jamming on old punk tunes, leading them to form the cover band Susie and The Switchblades. With a rotating lineup of musicians, the band quickly gained momentum, selling out headline shows in venues like Fibber Magees, The Sound House, and Workman’s. Throughout its run, Stuart and Saoirse remained the only constant members, steering the band’s success across the country.

Eager to push their creativity further, they began writing original music. Initially, they explored a singer-songwriter approach, playing stripped-down acoustic sets at open mics. However, they soon realized their true energy lay in louder, more expansive sounds. Lyrical constraints felt limiting, and embracing an instrumental format gave them the freedom to fully express their ideas borrowing notions from program music. Leaning into the sound they began to explore always attempting to make sure their ideas a) made them laugh, b) had strong melodic content and c) they always felt interested by what they were doing.

While still running Susie and The Switchblades, they began recording their new material at Beardfire Studios, refining their vision. They also collaborated with photographers and visual artists to craft a distinct aesthetic for their debut release, set for mid-April.