I was contacted recently by Ian Pirrie from a band called The Candy Republic and he told me all about their debut single ‘Army of Robots’ which is available from June 23rd. I took a listen to the single and liked it so much, I suggested we run an ‘intro’ feature so that would be fans can size them up before investing their time in the band. Read on to find out how the band formed, previous projects, super powers, time travel, dream collaborations and karaoke songs…..
1. The Candy Republic is an interesting name, please tell me how it came about?
For a long time I've been a disobedient individual, right back from getting expelled from school at 8 years old for releasing the budgerigars to protesting at Greenham Common with CND, I have always been a bit of a rebel, I wanted the bands name to reflect my punk rock attitude with the sweetness of our indie pop sound. So I cam up with The Candy Republic.
2. Tell me who is in the band and what instruments do they play?
My self, Ian Pirrie, lead vocals, guitars, bass and analogue synths on the recordings, Alison Pople on piano and organ, Emily Smith aka Grit Girl on vocals, Cheech Raps on drums.
3. How did the band form?
I was living in a little village in Devon when my cousin came to visit me to hear the new album tracks, I told him I needed a backing singer and he had a friend who lived just a few miles away. Emily turned up and she was a great singer, turns out her son is a drummer so Cheech joined us as well and here we are. I was working with Alison Pople from the start of the project, she is an amazing musician and just gets it, I can just play her something and she plays it back to me but much better.
4. Were you in bands prior to forming The Candy Republic?
Yes many bands and a long, long history, from Bristol Goth rock outfit The Temple, Rock band Ananda Maya, Prog rock band Auroracaelador, Fire and Ice, a short stink with rock singer Sam Ireland who was in Die Cheerleader and ex Girlfriend of Henry Rollins. I produced music in Bristol for tons of bands like the Moonflowers and toured extensively around Europe. I'm very tired now as you can imagine.
5. Would you say that you grew up in a musical household? (did your folks play any instruments?)
Definitely not, I was the only musician in my family, I am on the spectrum as they say, neuro-divergent is what were supposed to say now, I picked up music from a young age. I drove my Mother mad rehearsing with my early band in the garage. We were awful back then so she put up with a lot, but she supported me and let us keep making a noise until we got better. I have five brother and sisters all artists or hairdressers.
6. If you had to describe your music as a type of food, what dish would it be and why?
Chilli with a side of sour cream and spicy salsa!
7. If you could have ANY superpower, what would it be and how would you use it?
It has to be time travel, I would go back to the seventies and form the band then so I could go through the eighties and nineties again, I loved those times! Plus I could start some new trends which I have already heard.
8. If you could collaborate with any musician (dead or alive) who would it be and what would you play?
It would have to be Bowie, I would play the Ebo solo on heroes, as for alive musicians I really like Tanerélle I think she is an amazing vocalist, I would play guitar for her!
9. If you were stranded on a desert island with only 3 albums, what would they be and tell me a bit about each
I would have Tubeway Army, Our Friends Electric, that album is so great on so many levels, its ground breaking and unique, has amazing subject matter in the song lyrics and is so fearless.
2. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, one of the most influential albums I heard when I was starting our as a musician, you can hear the influence in some of my songs.
3. This one is a toss up between Black and White by The Stranglers and The Raven by The Stranglers, I listen to them both still a ton and love them so much, great song writing, I'd have to say I listen to The Raven more.
10. If you could travel to any era in history, which would you choose and why?
Definitely the late seventies, I love the style, the fashions, the cars and the music was going through a revolution back then, with glam rock breaking the norms and punk rock just beginning to emerge, the best time in music for me.
11. If you could create a signature fragrance that represents your music, what would it smell like?
Lol! I'm not sure anyone wants to smell The Candy Republic, although it does sound like a pretentious fragrance, I think heavy and deep like Poison with a hint of citrus and scotch bonnet chilli, like a friendly Mace so if people invaded your personal space they would get a whiff of it and back off with tear streaming eyes!
12. What is the most challenging aspect of being a musician in today's industry?
Getting noticed, with something like 200,000 new global releases a week it is so hard to get your music heard, unless you prostitute your self making embarrassing videos on TikTok, I think it is hard for the serious musician.
We do the radio and press stuff and we have all the usual social media but it is all so time consuming when all we want to do is get our music heard. But we have to do it.
13. If you had to select just one song to be the soundtrack of your life, which would it be and why?
Freak Show by Jimmy Persey, from his debut solo album Imagination Camouflage, sums up my life in all the wrong ways.
14. What is your 'go to' karaoke song and do you have the dance moves to accompany it?
Creep by Radiohead and there is no dance to go with that, although I would try to come up with something, it would probably empty the Karaoke bar though, I'm kind of a creepy dancer.
15. Finally, where is the best place to keep up to date with your musical happenings?
Our website is the best place where you can join the Army of Robots and get updates for all our gigs, merch giveaways and news.
We’d like to thank Ian for taking the time to chat to us and wish the band every success with their debut single ‘Army of Robots’ which will be available from June 23rd.
