Podge Lane is an alt-folk singer-songwriter and musician based out of Cork in Ireland. I fell enchanted with his sound when I heard his track Battle Wounds and wanted to share it with the world! I hope you enjoyed it – if so, check this interview out!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a track titled Battle Wounds, which we reviewed. What can you tell us about the song?
Battle Wounds is a song about the struggles of oversharing, from each point of view. It’s about those times where people have talked at you (or through you) without caring about your feelings. Those conversations where someone talks for 30 minutes at you, and the minute you try to interject with a personal story, they’re suddenly running late. It’s an interesting place to be in, as I’ve been both people.
How has the reception been for Battle Wounds and where can it be purchased?
It’s been incredible! To have a song picked up or playlisted by Hot Press Magazine, American Songwriter, all these magazines I’ve read as a fan, it’s great. It’s been amazing to see the reach the track has been able to achieve, especially in the UK and the US. Battle Wounds is available on Bandcamp, Tidal, Spotify, Apple Music etc. and will be available on cassette and cd in February as part of the album Common Country Misconceptions.
Do you plan to release any more singles in the near future?
So, the next song from Common Country Misconceptions will be released in January. It’s called Change In The Weather. It’s a slower, more serious track. It felt perfect for January, which is a very cold month, where everyone is kind of collectively waiting for the year to start. The song kind of moves into those more serious territories of doubt, looking for signs, and ultimately the idea of self belief. It’s like Battle Wounds’ more serious brother, so it’ll be really great to show that side of the album!
Are there any plans to release an EP or album?
My sophomore album Common Country Misconceptions is set for release in February 2023! I’ll be releasing another song or two before then, but I am super excited to have the whole project out and available in physical and digital at the end of February.
Has the pandemic hindered your work much?
Actually, it’s the opposite. Strictly from a musical standpoint, it gave me a chance to reflect and take stock of what I had created up to that point, and work on what I wanted to create going forward. In May 2020, I had moved back home after a few very tough months in music where I felt stagnant, and worse, I felt like I wasn’t good enough. When I moved home, I started listening to all the albums that made me want to play music. I only had a guitar and a really old condenser mic. That kind of made me realise why I loved music. A good song, with a fun or interesting story is all that I really need. Since then, I’ve moved and everything I’ve made since has been rooted in that feeling that I’m not making it for the most pristine listen, or the best technical ability, I just want to play songs.
Your music has elements of folk, Americana and country. What/who influences you most as an artist? What have you been listening to recently?
I consider my music to be around that folk, alt-country scene, but really and truly I am a melting pot of different inspirations. I love blues, punk, rap, pop, I even take a lot of inspiration from stand-up comedy. Music is about creating something new or unique. You can use the same chords, but it’s your perspective, your voice. So, I try to take something from everything, whether it’s a Johnny Cash lyric, a Buffy Sainte Marie vocal melody, or a Fatoumata Diowara rhythm, I’m just inspired to create.
An album I have really loved recently is Kevin Morby’s album This Is A Photograph. Again, it feels to me like a melting pot of inspirations, from Memphis blues to Jeff Buckley. It’s a phenomenal album!
How do you compose your songs? What’s the process like?
I tend to look at it like a jigsaw puzzle. I may get a melody or riff first. From there I will loop the idea and sing nonsense over it, until I like the melody and word phrasing. From there, I tend to sit down with the nonsense and try to piece together some coherent words, and that’s where the puzzle begins. What do the words mean, and how do I make them into a coherent story? I tend to think of songs, even from the basic chords, based on where they would come in a record. So, If I have a chord progression that feels sadder, I’ll tend to write an album track 6 or 7 style song, which is usually the point where an artist talks about loss, or a realisation of a mistake. Sometimes this can take a while, or the songs can be so distinct that the story is immediately apparent.
Sometimes this differs, like with The Party on my last album – it was written in one 10-minute burst! But usually, it tends to be some form of a fragment of an idea and then I think about how I make a story that’s memorable, has a journey, and sounds like me.
You’re based in Cork. What is the local music scene like?
I have gotten a lot of inspiration from living in Cork, especially thanks to the people I have worked with on this album! I had a small, trusted group working on this with me, people who connected with me musically and bought into my big ideas!
Peter O’ Sullivan, who writes and records under the name Fhablo, was the keys and organ player on my first album Outer Monologues and came back for Common Country Misconceptions. It’s been so fantastic getting to work with him, he just jumps into any idea and genre and makes something completely unique.
Also, my girlfriend and backing vocalist Rebecca Dermody, helped to create paintings for the single covers, we would sit together listening to the mixes and she would paint what she felt fit the song. It was amazing, she just painted what I had been trying to say.
There are so many other incredible artists and venues in Cork to take influence and inspiration from. Venues like Winthrop Avenue and Coughlans that I’ve gotten to play amazing shows in this year, but also seeing artists from all genres and styles like Mick Flannery, Mossy, Red Sun Alert and so many more, it’s quite inspiring.
Do you have any UK tour dates lined up?
I don’t have any finalised dates at the moment, however I would definitely say keep an eye on my schedule around May/June, as I’ll be coming over for a few dates if all goes well. I played in London last year for the first time, and it was so amazing! I love UK crowds, and I can’t wait to come over again. Also, there are a lot of TGI Fridays, so that may be an extra selling point.
Any last words for the fans?
Anyone reading this, thank you for supporting music and taking a vested interest in artists. It’s amazing to get to talk about my music and have people truly care about it. Support independent music, go to shows, eat your vegetables.