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the academic

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By Kate Brayden

The Academic have turned more than their fair share of heads in 2018.

The Westmeath indie rockers have toured with some massive names, released their debut album Tales From The Backseat to critical acclaim, and have played some of their biggest gigs to date.

We had a chat with Craig Fitzgerald, lead vocalist and guitar player from the band, to ask him about their fanbase, plans for 2019 and exactly how they capture that infectious energy on stage.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The four-piece band have an undeniably dedicated fanbase, clearly responding to lyrics lamenting youth and everything else that comes along with it.

The group is comprised of Fitzgerald, Matthew Murtagh on guitar, Stephen Murtagh playing bass and Dean Gavin on the drumkit, and they are all in their early twenties.

Tales From The Backseat is a hugely impressive debut, and features some of the catchiest songs around right now.

Choosing tracks for the anticipated first album appears to have been a careful affair, the boys recorded most of it in North Hollywood with music veteran Tim Pagnotta.

It's no surprise that the musical offering flew to the top of the charts on home soil.

The boys make music with big pop choruses and indie lyrics, and if you're hearing their songs for the first time, you'll know every word by the time the track concludes.

The lead vocalist and his bandmates have a clear talent for writing music which garner a youthful audience, but does he feel the fans will grow alongside the group?

"I definitely think so. In the first album, there were songs from when we were young, so it made sense. The songs seemed to resonate with younger people. We would like to mature our sound, and that would hopefully intertwine with the fans getting older." 

They've clearly figured out how to find comfort on stage, effortlessly show-casing their extensive touring experience.

Craig describes the special ability of their fans to relate their own adolescence with that of the boys' through his lyrics;

"When we go on tour, we do a lot of meeting the fans, we like to go to the merch table and we like to hear what they thought and we get to say hello," he says.

"A lot of the time what amazes me is that the songs are just stories that were specific to me as a teenager, but it’s amazing how someone can adapt the story to something that they’re going through."

From tales of fake ID's on nights out, to the turbulent relationships and friendships which parallel adolescence, The Academic paint a relatable picture of the unique energy of that time in a person's life.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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It's immediately obvious when you see the band play live that they value their fans' enjoyment of music, and nerves are a thing of the past.

The band met while still in school, and began gigging once they secured their drummer Dean.

Roughly five years later, the lads are essentially pros at what they do, but touring outside of Ireland can be a game-changer for any group or musician.

"When we started and we were playing shows, you begin shy and just want to make sure that you get up and play well," the 24-year-old cites about their initial shows.

"We’ve been given so many great opportunities to go on long tours, like month long tours in the States and Europe and the UK, and I think particularly when you support so many bands over the last couple of years we’ve become so comfortable as musicians together," he added.

"Even more so than when we were just in a shed playing together. I definitely think you lose that scared feeling that you had, because you just have to get up in front of people and play."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The band have learned some valuable lessons on the road, from song-writing to making friends in high musical places, to general tips on how to command a stage. They keep one important thing in mind in particular;

"That’s one thing I think we’ve learned in the past year, is that if we’re not afraid, people won’t be afraid, and they’ll have a good time with us. When we toured with The Kooks, we just kind of watched them and loved how they were just having fun on stage and it wasn’t too serious."

"One thing that I always try to do when I go on stage, is to break down the wall and say let’s not be afraid to make a fool of ourselves."

"The whole thing is crazy, like the fact that people are staring at you playing music. They drop their barrier when they see you having fun."

Confirmed; we stared, we dropped our barrier, we had fun. Then we bought the t-shirt…

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The lads give a lot of time to their fans, and are both aware and respectful of how powerful a fan's love of music can be;

"We appreciate everyone for all their weird and wacky stuff. Music makes them feel a certain way and we appreciate that no matter what it is or whatever song it was that made them attached to us."

Despite their youthful tracklist, high-energy set and the fact that they've only released their debut album this year, the lads have been penning tunes since they were in their mid-teens.

Craig reminisces on the tricks and tips of the trade which his years of the music industry has taught him;

"I’ve been writings since the age of about 15/16, and a lot of those songs are actually on the first album.I think in the beginning, so it’s five years now of song-writing experience, there’s a naivety and you’re not afraid to do anything. Then you start picking up tricks," he muses.

"The one thing I have learned now that we’ve been a band for so long, is that I always want the music to be catchy. One thing I’ve learned is that if it’s catchy, don’t be afraid of it."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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For a band who are considered new to mainstream audiences, they have a level of maturity worth noting, especially when it comes to songwriting;

"That’s what people want to come and see, they want to sing along. You shouldn’t lose your innocence about song-writing, you can still think of crazy things and put them in," the vocalist says.

"The beauty is in the imagination, use it, and don’t be afraid to think outside the box. It’s very important."

When we asked Craig where he would be if The Academic was never formed, his answer remains musical, unsurprisingly.

"Maybe I would have finished college. I went to BIMM, so I would probably work in a musician’s field. Probably in the studio, that was nearly just as strong as songwriting for me. I enjoyed playing with bands too much, so I made that decision." Thank God he did, for our sakes at least.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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After catching their big break after releasing Different from their first EP, radio stations took notice, and it all took off from there. The rest was indie-pop history, but do the lads ever disagree with each other?

You know us, we live for some drama…

"We’re not on the same page all the time (laughs). We usually are in sync when we know a song is good. If a song is obviously screaming out ‘Hey, I’m a good song’, we’re all on board. If there’s a more moody song or more emotional song, that’s when you can have arguments."

"We’ve always written songs together and made sure that everyone’s happy. We’d never really go ahead with a song if one member wasn’t fully happy." Creating absolute bangers and remaining diplomatic? Fair play boys.

We also wanted to know if there's a band out there that Craig would join, you know, if The Academic didn't exist of course. Which would be tragic.

"That’s a really good question, I’ve never been asked that before. We have a band on tour with us as support called Inhaler."

"The reason I enjoyed that band is that it’s so nice watching them because they’re like us four years ago. I’d love to step back to where they are now, getting support slots, heading out and being brand new again. That would be fun. Or else Fleetwood Mac would be great."

If you're wondering what 2019 will bring for the boys, it's some exciting new shows and a return to the studio to nail down some of the material written on the road.

The band will be making a big return to Iveagh Gardens in July, one year on from their concert at the famous outdoor venue, with some brand new (as yet unrecorded) music.

"What I would say we’re really excited about at the moment, is that we haven’t had any studio time in about a year. We’ve been writing songs on the road but we haven’t gotten to play them at all."

In terms of their landmark moments, their most recent gigs remain their favourites;

"I’d have to say, I think we’re all pretty blown away by the weekend we’ve just had. Two Vicar Street gigs and a headliner in Limerick, it was three in a row and every night was brilliant. It got better every time. We’re all still on a high."

The Academic have made some incredible memories in 2018, but they're just getting started.

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Saoirse Ronan is one of Ireland's BIGGEST ever stars, so we cherish any moment when the Carlow actress lands on Irish soil.

Fresh from her presenting gig at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles, Ronan returns to Dublin to lead the all-star line-up of tomorrow night's The Late Late Show on RTÉ.

The 24-year-old already has three Oscar nominations under belt, and now there's talk of Mary, Queen of Scots finally earning her the coveted golden statue.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Saoirse joins Ryan Tubridy to have a chat about working with Margot Robbie on the new movie, and her journey from The Clinic and Proof all the way to working with Margot Robbie in Hollywood.

We can't wait to hear the goss about life on set, the Oscars buzz and what stars she wants to work with in the future.

She's making the Irish look DAMN GOOD, and we're proud of the gal. She's had an illustrious career already at a young age, but she's just getting started.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Ronan will be joined on The Late Late Show by hilarious actor John C. Reilly and comic Steve Coogan, who stop by for a chat about their new Laurel and Hardy biopic, Stan and Ollie.

Padraig Harrington also joins the panel of celebrity guests on the couch, and will no doubt converse with Ryan about the 2020 Ryder Cup.

Last but not least, four of Ireland's most successful young people will visit Tubridy; boxer Michael Conlon, Irish actor and BAFTA Rising Star nominee Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk, The Killing of a Sacred Deer), journalist Ellen Coyne and influencer Rosie Connolly.

Music from indie-rockers The Academic and spoken word poems from Natalya O'Flaherty round up the evening, catch it tomorrow night at 9:35pm on RTÉ One.

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If your Spotify playlist Wrap Up of 2018 didn't include Why Can't We Be Friends, Bear Claws, or Permanent Vacation – you are seriously missing out. 

Mullingar foursome The Academic have taken 2018 as their year, and this weekend will embark on two epic sold-out gig in Dublin's Vicar Street. 

However, if you're heartbroken over not getting a ticket, never fear. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The lads are returning this summer with a massive gig in Dublin's Iveagh Gardens.

The new gig is scheduled for July 19th, 2019.

Craig, Dean, Matt and Stephen have an insane talent for songwriting, so to see them performing their indie hits in person is an unmissable experience. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Tickets for next summer's date go on sale tomorrow morning – and with the speed at which tickets for their previous gig have gone, you'd want to be quick. 

Tickets are available for €40,00 from Ticketmaster at 9am. 

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If you like a bit of Irish talent (like we all do), then feast your eyes on this list. From all around Ireland, these bands and singers are the ones to watch in 2016. 

And believe us when we tell you, you'll be impressed:

1. The Academic

These lads from Mullingar have just sold out an Irish tour. But that's not all, The Academic also supported The Strokes and Noel Gallagher in 2015 and in March they're headlining Vicar Street. Not too shabby, boys. 

 

2. Exmagician

Belfast's Exmagician have taken a more bluesy approach to their music of late. They first made a stir on the Irish music scene in 2011, but 2016 is definitely going to be their year.

 

3. James Vincent McMarrow

This Dublin man first debuted in 2010 but since then has changed his sound to a more hip pop and R&B vibe. And if his latest single, How To Waste A Moment is anything to go by, he's going to be big. 

 

4. Ciaran Lavery

Lurgan singer/songwriter Ciaran was nominated for the Northern Ireland Music Prize recently but this year he is really going to stand out from the crowd. Imagine a smooth Damien Rice-like sound. Just lovely. 

 

5. Saint Sister

These two beautiful ladies from Derry and Belfast have a enchanting sound to their music and describe it as 'atmosfolk'. Just think a traditional, Enya-type vives, but with a modern twist. 

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