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De-Classified
Interview with Stephen Leneghan from the band Classified.
This is it. The place where all the magic happens. Where songs are perfected or abandoned, created or destroyed. This is where Classified, Galway’s next rock sensation rehearse. Somehow I thought it would be bigger. I thought it would be nicer. It’s even a little smelly.
Amongst the red carpeted walls, second hand mirrors and a soundproofed ceiling lies a “Welcome to Supervalue” mat. There is not much else in the room besides a microphone stand, an ancient looking P.A. system, some decrepit looking amps and a mismatched drumkit held together by generous layers of black tape. Well, there is one other thing, the large but smiling presence of guitarist Stephen Leneghan. He greets me with camaraderie and a friendly handshake, a good grip, but not too formal. “Welcome to Supervalue” he says jokingly.
For the past two years Classified have been writing songs and honing their live act. Their focus is on their songs and the band has become quietly confident that their new unrecorded material is what will set them apart in 2009. Indeed they are something of an enigma. They have played in China, have had their demos featured on radio stations around the globe and, prior to having a fan base, came eleventh in a prestigious UK songwriting competition. Yet they are virtually unknown in Galway.
I start with the basics, asking what made him want to play music. He is calm, reflective, and the answer is brief. “It was the freedom of expression I found playing any instrument I could get my hands on as a child. The way I could explore the world through notes and chord combinations and beats.”
So what is it like now, working with a four-piece band? “It’s interesting to create with other people, to bounce ideas off each other and end up with something that would be impossible alone. It is another level of communication where the creative process takes on a new meaning because there is a sense of guidance, of a mutual journey. And of course it’s good fun.”
His answers are professional, like he’s been answering questions like these for years. I was somewhat taken aback by this, so to cover I rushed to what I wanted to know: what makes Classified’s music different? He doesn’t hesitate to answer:
“It’s the boundary issue,” he says in that matter-of-fact tone of his, “We don’t try to stick to a genre of music; rather, we try to work on each piece of music for what it is. We don’t say, we are playing in this style and that’s it. Our method involves a lot of analysis; a lot of changes and of course a lot of arguments too. If something is not working we try to make it work. If it still doesn’t, it’s cut. Good judgement is the key. The tone or the image has to come across. The message of the lyrics affects the music as much as the music affects the writing of the lyrics. You have to be critical of this. Our songs are our product, so we have to make each song the best it can be.”
His passion is unmistakable, but this is no hobby - the band affects his personal life too. As a student and part-time worker, Stephen’s life is a juggling act. “Recording, practising, writing, it all takes up a lot of energy. It can be bad for your health and being an unsigned band costs money so it has a profound affect on financial stability too.”
When it comes to a project or the creation of a song, he is adamant that everyone in the band has the same problem. “The craziest thing is, you can’t plug yourself out. When your head is so wrapped up in a project, it gets to a point where you can’t sleep. You find yourself still mentally working on something when you have stopped for the day, when [you] should be relaxing.”
What is the reward for such a hardworking band? Success? “Personally I feel that it is a possibility and not just for our band. It could be for anyone. That sprinkle of luck…the hardest part on the working side is getting everyone on the same track. We have four minds in our band and we need to be moving in the same direction, wanting the same things.”
Stephen and his brother Anthony on vocals started Classified two years ago. They were soon joined by bass-player Jimi and Joe on drums. “It’s a very delicate balance between the four of us. Arguing brothers is a good description, and not just because two of us are brothers. We fight a lot. We disagree, especially on song structure within the creative process. It wouldn’t be uncommon for a bystander to hear shouting coming from this room rather than music. We have to be democratic, and we argue our point for the purpose of the band. It’s because we believe in what we do.”
Classified’s goal for the next year is to put together and record their debut album by the end of 2009 and to gig extensively, doing whatever it takes to bring their music to as many people as possible.
Stephen is just looking forward to getting back to playing live. “We have not gigged in quite a while and that’s the fruit of your labour. That’s when you are at your most expressive and an audience’s reaction to your music is always very fulfilling. Their emotional response helps us to revisit our work, to hone our live set and make our show better. So playing live this summer is the next thing that I am really looking forward to.”
Classified play in Eamonn Dorans, Dublin, on Saturday May 2.
Visit: www.myspace.com/classifiedireland or http://www.garageland.ie/dates.html for details.
By: Joseph Cully
