Belfast’s Gareth Dunlop is amongst the brilliant and competitive shortlist for Album Of The Year at The Northern Ireland Music Prize 2024. Discussing his career-defining third offering, ‘Welcome To The House Of I Don’t Know’, the artist delves into its universally resonant themes, widespread critical acclaim, and return to his beloved Northern Irish roots…
Your new album ‘Welcome To The House Of I Don’t Know’ moves across genres, blending elements of indie, rock, alt folk and synth-pop. What was your vision for such a diverse soundscape, and how did you balance these different musical elements?
My only preconceived notion for the album was to get my friends into a room and go after what felt good to us in the moment. I had a bunch of demos on my phone that I’d purposely not recorded and built out in my own studio. On the previous record ‘Animal’ – I worked on it in solitude and I didn’t want to fall into the same habits on this one. Four co-producers each with different musical backgrounds and influences throwing ideas together was the game plan… and I think those different approaches as well as finding the middle grounds made the album sound how it does
Big congrats on your Album of the Year nomination at the Northern Ireland Music Prize! Did you anticipate this level of recognition, and would you consider this a career milestone?
Thank you! I’m thrilled it’s been recognised in this way… I’m never sure if what I’m doing is going to connect with people outside of the studio so it’s a great feeling to know that it has. It’s a milestone in a lot of ways… most of my career has been writing and producing songs for other people. My names on this one and the songs are exclusively about me, my life and the people in it… that in itself feels like a milestone.
Your storytelling in this album has been widely praised for its emotional depth. What is your process for turning personal experiences into such evocative music?
Songwriting continues to be a mystery to me… I think songs are just one persons view point on stuff we all feel and deal with in life. Unpacking it into music is my way of trying to process that stuff.
The mix of folk influences with contemporary elements has become something of your signature. How did you develop this unique sound, and what draws you to blending these styles?
I spent the majority of my career writing Americana based music out in Nashville… because of that I think folk music is pretty well rooted in me and definitely influences how I write. I’m a ‘guitar in lap/paper & pen’ advocate… the production and recording side is where things go a little haywire. i’ve been lucky enough to produce music for other artists, TV shows, Movies and commercials… and each gig has called for different styles and approaches. I think that’s bled into my own music through the years.
Many listeners say the album feels like a journey. Was that intentional, and how did you approach the flow of the album from beginning to end?
Before we started tracking, we had a pre-production meeting in my kitchen over a few beers. We listened through each of the demo’s and chatted through ideas… everything from groove, tempo, dynamics, space, microphone choice, pre-amp choice etc…
I think it became clear to us all pretty quickly what the order of tracking would be as well as the over all curve of the record.
The last song we cut was the first song on the record – ‘Church’
The idea was to use every element, instrument and voice that appeared throughout the record.. almost as a way of setting the tone of the album right from the get go and we couldn’t do that until every other song was recorded and more importantly knew how the album would end. A left hand piano part, playing a pulsing 8th note octave to open the record and to close it.
You’re nominated alongside incredible talent like Cherym, Blue Whale, and Kneecap. What are your thoughts on the current Northern Ireland music scene, and where do you see it heading?
I spent too many years making music on the other side of the ocean…I was kind of disconnected from the scene here in Northern Ireland a bit. It’s incredible to be home and to be a part of it. There’s a wealth of talent here… great songs being written every day, great gigs happening all the time and great music being put out into the world. I see more and more people from further ashore paying attention to the music being made here.
Northern Ireland’s music scene is notably gaining more international attention. What does it mean to you to represent your home country on this stage?
I’m a home bird… I love where I’m from… I’ve been lucky enough to spend time working, recording and touring in different countries all over the map… I made this album in a room half a mile from my house with friends who live here in Northern Ireland. I’m proud of that.
Finally, with ‘Welcome To The House Of I Don’t Know’ out in the world, what’s next for you? Are there new projects or directions you’re excited to explore?
I’m ready to jump back in on the next project! Wether that’s an EP or the next full length album… I’m not sure.
I have a phone full of new songs and my old electric guitar has been catching my eye lately… might be time to set the acoustic down for a while and see what happens with the old axe.