Irish band Colm O’Mahony & The Hot Touches have a cool rock and roll sound with more than a hint of indie rock, making for something really enticing in today’s mainstream pop world. Their song Damage is a future hit, destined to propel this band to stardom in no time. I sat down with frontman Colm O’Mahony to find out a little more about the track…
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a new track called Damage. What can you tell us about the song?
I wrote Damage when I had just come back from working in the middle East. It was a nasty Irish October day and the field behind my mother’s house flooded, so I just wrote about my surroundings I guess. Metaphorically a rocky relationship seemed to fit well I guess. Not that it was a conscious choice!
How has the reception to Damage been so far, and where can it be purchased?
So far the reception has been good, and we’ve had so really nice reviews on such platforms as York Calling. Engagement is the critical point here and there’s still a lot of work ahead, but that’s all good. Currently the best place to buy the record is on Apple Music or straight from our website.
Damage is your debut single, making it sound all the more impressive! How did the band get together?
Thank you. I had had the song for a while and then I just approached some friends on the local music scene to help me record it. My full time job is as a musician so I knew what guys to call in order to help me make the record. It was recorded locally as well at Little Dylan Studios. Due to covid and other factors the line up has remained relatively fluid.
Do you have any more singles planned for release soon?
Preacher’s Daughter is the song we’re focusing on next and the promotion should be started by the time this goes out .
Are there any plans to release an album or EP in the near future?
The material is there and always gnawing away at me, ha-ha! I’d love to get back into the studio, but a lot of that will be determined by how well this current album does.
Your music has a retro rock and roll sound. What/who are you most influenced by? What have you been listening to recently?
I’ve been mostly influenced by American rock bands. Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty at the top of the pile. But there’s also Irish folk and Britpop and a whole host of others mixed in. I was born in ‘81 and I think music was so prevalent and all encompassing that it was absorbed almost by osmosis. There’s lots of other things competing for our attention these days but music was everywhere then. I was listening to Hackney Diamond by the Stones just yesterday. Such a good album!
You’re from Killarney in Ireland. What is the local music scene like in your area at the moment?
It’s a small town so there’s not much appetite for original music, unfortunately. But there’s a lot of talent with some acts gaining momentum nationally lately. The talent is there the conditions for a scene not so much. There is talk of renovating our old theatre with added digital media suites and rehearsal room. If that happens it will be a game changer. A focal point will have been added to give impetus to a scene.
Do you have anything else exciting coming up over the next few months?
We’ll be promoting the album right through this year so keep an eye out for some vids and new features on TikTok. Maybe a Christmas song too.
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
That would be dreamland stuff! Nothing yet, but here’s hoping over the next few months we gain enough traction in order to fulfil that ambition.
Any last words for the fans?
First, can I just take the time to thank you at York Calling for featuring us on your platform. Promotions like this one ensure a healthy underground always has an outlet. If anyone out there is enjoying our music, we’re chuffed! Thank you so much. Maybe tell a friend, that’s the old fashioned way of sharing music!