Elbé
elbé is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Seamus Allen and the perfect vehicle for his indie songs that are blended with folk, traditional music and pop elements.
Nora Frederich's intuitive, groove-based drumming and James Moone’s melodic and nifty bass lines make up a strong rhythm section. Emily Naughton is a vastly experienced keys player; her creative melodies dance in and out, adding colour to the songs.
Songwriter Seamus Allen takes inspiration from real life experiences and day-to-day events he witnesses in his life. In an attempt to make these relatable and give meaning to the listener, he describes events in a metaphorical and poetic way.
The Cork band has released numerous singles and three EPs which gained attention from BBC Introducing, FM104, RedFM and 98FM. elbé's latest singles have been played on BBC Ulster, Classic Hits FM, KCLR 96fm, 98fm, Radio Nova and were added to Goldenplec's New Irish Music playlist.
‘Hazy’ is about those unexpected experiences that occur, when the air is electrifying and the energy from the people around us is contagious. It’s about letting go of your stress and worries and being in the moment, if ever briefly. The song concludes with how lucky you are if you finish the day in the arms of someone you love.
How High - Mick Flannery
I (Nora) have been a Mick Flannery fan for years. His lyrics can be both metaphorical or a story like this song. The drumming by Christian Best has influenced me a lot as I feel he really accentuates the vocal melody which I am trying to do myself when it feels right. He also knows when it's good not to overplay which is the best advice a drummer could get.
Ghosts of memories - Wallis Bird
When I (Nora) first heard Ghosts of Memories by Wallis Bird I was blown away mainly by the low piano line in the chorus. Wallis Bird has shaped my understanding of being an artist and what it means to constantly evolve in the musical landscape. Again, I have to mention her former drummer Christian Vinne who taught me that groove and sometimes keeping just a steady simple beat is the best for a song.
I Follow You - Melody's Echo Chamber
I (James) love the feel and vibe of this song. So dreamy it really takes you away and has a slightly melancholic feel underneath it. The bass line that comes in the chorus is the real star of the show and has definitely influenced some of the ways I would try to write a bass line. The fuzzyness and how it just slides around so melodically. It really feels like it has a personality.
Myxomatosis - Radiohead
I (James) There's so many Radiohead songs I could pick, but when I heard this song from one of Radioheads Live "From the basement" sessions I was captivated by the bass line because of how weird it was, it seemed to move around completely randomly and had such a nasty energy, I instantly wanted to learn it. Colin Greenwood, their bass player, is such a creative guy. The synths in this tune are great also, really slimy pads that just add to the intense feeling of the tune.
Elliott Smith - Angeles
I (Seamus) could have chosen lots of Elliott Smith songs, but this was the one that introduced me to him. For me his songwriting is on another level and it’s something I aspire to. The melody, lyrics and surprises in his songs is something I love to hear and try to incorporate as best as I can into our music.
Creature Fear - Bon Iver
I (Seamus) had never heard anything so soft sounding but with such an edge before, until I listened to Bon Iver's first album. Vocally this was some of the first ever songs I had tried to cover and was influential to me starting to write songs. I love the cryptic lyrics Justin Vernon uses and this has also been an inspiration to me.
A Day in the Life - The Beatles
The Beatles for me, and many others are "mildly" influential (haha). I think creatively what i take most from the beatles is their willingness to try things, this song in particular is phenomenal. It sounds as if it's almost two songs pieced together, which is a lot of how our songs actually come into being, for this reason I couldn't not include it. Always enjoy hearing it too, never gets old.
I love you - Fontaines DC
I (Seamus) love Fontaine’s, I could have chosen many others as well, but this one stands out, with the story like lyrics and how easily they flow throughout the song. I feel their latest album is their best work to date. Lyrically I think they are a cut above most bands as I've mentioned already and their songs sound huge. Grians voice is also so unique. I have seen them 4 times in the last 4 years and they absolutely own any stage they are on. I’ve introduced them to many people and everyone always appreciates them. I genuinely think they are one of the best bands in the world at the minute, which is class considering they are from Ireland.
Picture in a frame - Tom Waits
Tom Waits has consistently been in my top three artists for as long as I’ve (Emily) been into music. The album Mule Variations is definitely my favourite of his work because it combines his original ballad style alongside pieces that are more eclectic and akin to his experimental phase in the late 80s. This song in particular I’ve always been really drawn to because it shows his skills as a poet and as a songwriter in the simplicity of it, with a fairly simple chord progression and essentially only three lines of lyrics he still manages to deliver a genuinely beautiful love ballad that makes you feel something.
Screwdriver - The White Stripes
The White Stripes have definitely been the most influential artists to me (Emily) as a musician. The concept of a two-piece that’s not about writing the fanciest music possible, it’s about playing how you feel and your intention behind what you play is the most important thing. I think Screwdriver encapsulates this ethos really well. Like a lot of the tracks on their debut self-titled album, there is a very chaotic and fluid nature to it, with tempo straying everywhere and dynamics shifting, especially in the ending where it’s just a build-up over the same lyric line starting at almost a whisper and ending with Jack White shrieking “I’ve got a little feeling going now” at the top of his lungs. it’s such an incredibly catchy rock blues track that takes you on a rollercoaster
