Interview with Gaelic Storm's Steve Twigger

Gaelic Storm

In this exclusive interview, Transceltic's Emmett McIntyre speaks with Gaelic Storm's co-founder Steve Twigger. Gaelic Storm are arguably the most succesful Celtic Rock band performing today. They deftly mix modern musical taste with traditional Celtic music. 

1. Do you consider Gaelic Storm to be Ambassadors of Celtic Culture?

No, we never set out to do anything but enjoy our music.  We do try to put Gaelic word songs in our albums, but it was not our intent to be “Ambassadors” of anything. We just naturally mix traditional folk songs with contemporary music which reflects the background of the band.

2. What influence does the band’s Piper have on Gaelic Storm’s Celtic identity?

Pete Purvis, from Canada, is a Grade 1 Championship Piper.  The Pipes is a stirring instrument and although we have not always had a Piper, the presence of the Pipes has an impact on the band’s direction.  We jumped at the opportunity to welcome Pete Purvis to the band and we welcome the influence that the pipes give to the rhythm of our music, woven in to the detail of the composition of our music. The Pipes do not give much room for subtlety, it is “All Hands on Deck” when there is a Piper in the band.  The Pipes no doubt add drama and layering of harmonies.

3. What events led to Gaelic Storm being cast in the film Titanic in the iconic scene – “An Irish Party in Third Class”?

At about that time, Patrick Murphy (Co-founder of Gaelic Storm) was working as a Bartender in a pub in Santa Monica near where I was living and one thing led to another and out of this came Gaelic Storm. A short time later we were playing at the Los Angeles Irish Festival when we were spotted by casting staff for the Titanic who liked us, James Cameron (the film’s Director and Co-Producer) agreed and that was it. We stayed true to ourselves in the performance that appeared in the movie, that is to say that the band as it appeared in Titanic was the same Gaelic Storm that you would have seen at that time in the Pub.

4.  Tell us about your latest album – “Chicken Boxer”.

Chicken Boxer is our latest album and has enjoyed great success, reaching #1 on the Billboard World Chart. The Album’s influences came out of a trip I made with Patrick Murphy to Ireland.  We had decided to get closer to our roots and ended up taking an 1100 mile journey along the coast of Ireland.  I think the album’s success stems partly from that trip to Ireland, it was a major inspiration. This album has many original songs we are known for, the spirit and the rhythm of the balladeering we like to do.

5.  To what extent is Gaelic Storm inspired by the bands Celtic roots?

Patrick (born in Cork) is not the only member with Celtic roots.  Although I was born in Coventry in the UK, I consider myself Cornish by adoption.  As a child and young man I would spend the summers in Cornwall and it is in Cornwall that my mom and dad retired opening a shop in Looe, just southwest of Plymouth, near where we spent the summers. My Mother, who was my only musical influence in the house, sings in a Cornish Choir. My Grandmother would often speak of Cornwall and I developed a love of the place over the years which has led to my Cornish identity. As a youngster I remember having heard Breton fisherman speaking the language on the quay. My fond memories of going to Pubs in Cornwall have merged into my Cornish identity.

Gaelic Storm logo

Patrick and I realized when we were touring Ireland that we were influenced, more than perhaps we were aware starting out on the tour, by the Celtic folkloric traditions that we absorbed as youngsters. We realised that the folkloric traditions of Ireland and Cornwall began to fuse with our contemporary musical taste.

What’s important to note from a Pan Celtic perspective is that we have done a lot of touring and playing at venues in Europe.  The Celts did spread over all of Europe and the Celtic influences in Brittany and in Galicia are recognizable to us, for example we see that Galician music has retained elements of it’ Celtic identity.

6. Can you describe your interaction with your audience, especially when you perform at Celtic Festivals.

It is nice to us that we have been able to bridge the gap and connect with audiences who may have a tenuous connection with their own Celtic ancestry and I think we can do that through a blending of our youthful exposure to Celtic folkloric traditions, our exposure to modern Irish or Celtic pub music, such as the Clancy Brothers  and our contemporary musical tastes, such as Dépêche Mode and our appreciation of the Pure Drop (traditional music unadorned by modern accompaniment or stylish influences).  This connection is enhanced by our blending these influences into a contemporary musical style in a way that we find very satisfying.

7. What Do You See As The Future For Gaelic Storm?

I’d like to think that we will be recording and touring the rest of our lives, we look forward to touring and crisscrossing America.  We seem to attract the newer generation, which we find rewarding.  We are looking into previously unknown traditional songs from the British Islands, Irish, Scottish and English traditional music for future material.

 

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