Yurmah
Yurmah is a 6 piece indie ensemble who stand for and respect all genres of music. With most members studying Jazz and Contemporary Music in DCU and spanning from classical to self taught tuition, the sounds blend together to create a new fast and energetic indie rock/mah rock sound. Michael Murphy and producer Tay have known each other too long and started the group to get the music written in their bedrooms out to the world.
Their new single “Barbarella (Acoustic)” is the now played fast and angsty song returning to it’s original written slow state to honor the then 15 year old Michael writing the song in his school notebook. The song is about self doubt and the unknown taking up too much space in your head, and wishing everything to go the way you want it to even if that’s a bit selfish.
Yurmah hopes you can enjoy our slow debut slow song and have a good cry, but if you’re in a happier mood don’t worry, they have plenty of more upbeat bops out on Spotify and on the way
Harvest Moon ~ Neil Young
This song is to this day and always will be my favorite song. I think everything about it is perfect from the lyrics, to the main riff and the so simple but iconic harmonica solo near the end. I like to associate songs with memories which you will get to see a lot but my Dad showed me this song for the first time in a McDonald’s drive-thru one day when I was very stressed over the leaving cert and he told me to stop stressing and just enjoy the song and my McFlurry. The song had a special place in my heart and whenever I’m stressed out I always come back to this song to bring me back down to earth. I try to grasp this level of nostalgia when writing songs for Yurmah.
Wonder ~ Fizzy Orange
I had some fat playlist a while back when Spotify first introduced their enhance feature when it would add three songs that are similar to ones you like and I remember this song coming on and instantly being hooked. I was also today years old when I realised these guys are Irish and absolutely killing it at the moment (go see them if you haven’t). I keep the amazing guitar riff they play going out of the chorus in mind when trying to write any solos or riffs myself for Yurmah’s music. The blend of the drums and bass and the guitar and electric keys just make me want to cry they’re that good so yeah, in conclusion they’re too good and I want to continue to write music that has the same vibe.
My Motorcycle (Live) ~ Current Joys
I think this is the best recorded live song I have ever heard and ever will hear (until Yurmah gets a live album obviously) but the energy and atmosphere Nick Rattigan can create live is just insane. Yurmah’s recorded music is lovely and chill but when playing live I always try have some elements be like this recording, from the driving drums to the perfectly gritty yet not too harsh guitar tone. I hope to record more like this in the future, and I always write songs with the playing style being an option live. Also Nick Rattigan is a genius so anyone who hasn’t had a proper dive into his music, what are you doing with your life?
The Modern Age ~ The Strokes
I want nothing more in this world than to be like The Strokes. It actually annoys me how good they are, from their stage presence, their tightness as a band and their style, it’s sickeningly good. When I heard this song for the first time I instantly when and listened to the entire album and I was hooked. What I like most about The Strokes music is Julian Casablancas’ vocal effects which is what I usually request in the studio and his pure emotion that he puts into his singing. Like why is he so mad? Why is he yelling so much? I haven’t a clue but it has taught me to write about topics that I feel that strong about. Everything about The Strokes and specifically the pure angst of this tune (especially the guitar solo) is everything I want Yurmah to be and more.
Have You Met Miss Jones ~ McCoy Tyner Trio
Right so I study Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance in DCU and the tuition I receive from there is second to none. My favorite thing about my course is that I get taught by absolute fanatics and experts in the field of Jazz and all things performance based and every lesson is basically us sitting and listening to our lecturer just preach about the genius of certain songs. I came into the course not being a huge jazz head but this song is what sold it to me. It’s only played by three instruments but it sounds like there’s twenty being played. It’s simplicity yet liveliness amazed me and it has really made me consider writing on the piano more which is something I have done far more since studying jazz. So if you haven’t hopped on the jazz wagon yet, and I don’t mean elevator jazz I mean real jazz, start here and you won’t regret it.
Let’s Stay Together ~ Al Green
This song is my headphone testing song. Whenever I get a new set of headphones which is quite often because I break so much due to my head being massive, I test them out by playing this song. I think the master and overall sound of the song is just second to none. Al Green’s singing range from his soft tone to screaming and belting is something I aim to write with in mind always. The use of horns in this song is important to me also since we have a Sax player in our band and I always make sure to never forget him (love you Leon). I also always listen to this song when driving late at night with my girlfriend so it’s very special to me (love you too Soph).
The Boxer ~ Simon & Garfunkel
This is my granddad’s favorite song and he claims that it has the greatest lyrics of all time which I do agree with him. I love this song for how much influence it has had on so many people, such as Boygenius when they were writing “Cool About It” and myself when I’m writing more folk like songs which I have yet to release. This song helps me write as it reminds me to always remember to keep a story at the heart of your songs, a message of some sorts for people to follow and relate to. In our song “The Locomotive” I really honed in on this and I couldn’t have bern happier how it turned out, all because of my granddad showing me this song years ago.
A Beautiful Sea ~ from Sing Street
This song was kind of the first introduction I had to associating music with more recent memories. Last summer I would go for sea swims with my girlfriend and friends and we would always play this song on the way there. I always think of those times when I listen to the song and I think it’s beautiful how people can associate songs with such happy memories in life. The use of the chorus effect on the acoustic guitar too is awesome and I just hope that maybe some day my songs could have a happy memory associated with it for others too which is something I also always keep in mind when writing.
Steeeam ~ Shelly
This is another example of a band that is sickeningly good, Shelly. These guys have only released two songs on Spotify and have millions of streams, they have an absolutely amazing sound. What stood out the most for me with this song was its composition and how the instruments bled together. I adore the dreamily reverb vocals and the really clever use of brushes on the drum-kit. It’s also a huge reason why I use a chorus pedal on my rhythm guitar to achieve this ethereal sound. This song is the perfect song to listen to on the train by the way, and also someone pass this onto Shelly, “Shelly, PLEASE COME PLAY IN IRELAND PLEEAASSEEE”.
Lover, You Should Have Come Over ~ Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley is the first ever male singer I ever related to since we have the same range and style of singing. I have been compared to him a couple times (shoutout to Sarah Brooki who everyone should go see by the way) and I can’t describe how amazing that has made me feel. Everything about his performing and use of his range is breathtaking to me and especially in this song he amazed me when I listened to it the first time. He has also taught me to use different tunings when playing the guitar which I did for the first time when I wrote our song “James Is On Holiday”. I strive to write a song like this one day which Im still working on but maybe someday I’ll have my very own Lover, You Should Have Come Over.
That has been my, Michael Murphy’s top ten most influential tracks on how I write music and thank you so much for reading. Make sure to check out Yurmah’s Spotify and if you’re ever around when we’re playing make sure to come say hi, we’d love to see you :)
Bye bye x
