The Frank and Walters are a Cork fourpiece. Formed in 1990 the Frank and Walters continue to release music and perform to a loyal following.
What advice would you have for an act that is just starting out?
Stick together, the amount of Irish bands who break up prematurely is crazy. About 5 bands I know who split up in the last year were just starting to get somewhere, you’ve got to be in it for the long haul.
Does an Irish act need to leave Ireland to achieve success?
Yes, you have to measure yourself against the best, and the best gravitate to three place, London, NY and LA. It’s pointless being a big deal here if you are nothing in the outside world. We only have the population of a medium sized city. In fact if Ireland were a city we would be only be the fortieth largest in the world. Being a success in the fortieth largest city in the world and no-where else is just embarrassing, especially if you’re running around telling people about it!
What’s the best thing about being a musician in Ireland?
I think musicians are respected here. Also bands get a chance to develop at their own pace. Because we have such a small music business there is no pressure early on from the outside. In Ireland you can fail, go away and re-invent yourself and make something happen the second or third time. In the UK or US it’s very hard to do that. Ireland is a great place to find your sound or experiment before launching yourself on the outside world.
What’s the worst thing about being a musician in Ireland?
There’s nothing really bad about being musician in Ireland. I think it can be frustrating to be in a band that makes headway here but hit a brick wall internationally, but at least you’re making headway somewhere! Plenty of deserving acts have failed to even get records released in the past.
What can be done to help Irish musicians make a breakthrough?
Where to start! I think the percentage of Irish artists on the radio needs to be increased. The system they have in France works really well to keep the home grown industry ticking over, 40% of all music has to be of French origin. I would also cut VAT on musical instruments, it’s times like this where we need to get kids playing music instead of robbing cars and getting into trouble. I could go on but we’d be here till midnight!
