Five minutes with Conor McAuley from Córas Trio
British Underground catch Córas Trio’s drummer Conor McAuley ahead of the Northern Irish band’s performance at WOMEX 24 to discuss inspirations, unforgettable gigs, and their vision for sharing their unique sound with the world.
Interview: Steph Wilkinson
Córas Trio represent Northern Ireland at WOMEX 2024 on the Horizons Regional Stage
Describe your music in three words/one sentence?
A hard thing to do. Avant-free Folk? We sometimes describe our music as being like a river that flows in layers and at different rates depending on how deep or shallow the layers are, whether they are diverging around a rock on the riverbed or being obstructed by a felled branch on the surface. The layers are somewhat independent, yet they all form part of the same river and are interconnected.
Who’s in your band?
Kevin McCullagh (fiddle and electronics), Paddy McKeown (acoustic guitar and electronics) and Conor McAuley (drums).
What are your ambitions for WOMEX?
We just want to connect with people on a global stage. Our music is about emotion, and if we can make people feel something, then we are in the right place. Every performing musician just wants to share their music with the world, and so we are hoping to find an EU booking agent as we continue to grow the lovely team we currently have around us.
“Music is life, simple as that. It gives me not only a connection to life, but a reason to exist.”
What’s the best gig you’ve ever played?
The best gigs for us are when there are no barriers between the stage and the audience, so perhaps our sold-out album launch in Belfast at the Crescent Arts Centre. We completely reconfigured the room and built the stage in the centre, installing a quad-system PA for surround sound. The room looked and felt incredible – we could have sold that venue twice over, people were scouting for tickets on X. That, or a very last-minute throw-and-go gig to full capacity in Co. Limerick at Féile na Greine festival. It was a high-energy room and we were sharing the bill with some great acts who are pushing at the boundaries of traditional and folk music. It felt like a real celebration of where Irish music is, and where it is heading
What has been your career highlight?
We recently performed a BBC Radio 6 Live Session in Manchester - it felt a little surreal performing our music, which is a very particular sound, live to hundreds of thousands of people. We had such a warm response from everyone, and credit to the BBC for programming something that’s a little bit different to the norm. Also, being called 'liminal weirdos' by the great Ian Lynch of Lankum, when we featured on his Fire Draw Near podcast, felt like a real moment.
Best/craziest audience reaction?
Someone told us after a performance that they cried during the show – this has happened a few times. Others have said that they felt they were co-creating the music with us. These kinds of responses mean so much to us as we want to connect with the audience on an emotional level and to create, in the performance, an opportunity for people to be vulnerable and go on a journey with an open heart.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I am really enjoying listening to the latest release from Irish artist Róis, we think she will be the next big thing. Also, Huartan, another fantastic group from Belfast. Been listening to lots of Yamandu Costa recently, as well as This is How We Fly, LAU, Aldoc, and anything with real heart and soul in it.
Who are your top three artists of all time?
This question is far too difficult to answer, but a weak attempt that will no doubt be different tomorrow, and in no particular order, would have to be: Joni Mitchell, John Coltrane, and Claude Debussy.
What do you love about music?
Music is life, simple as that. It gives me not only a connection to life, but a reason to exist. Playing music is one of the most profound and beautiful ways to feel a connection to whatever this thing is we call reality in all its multiple shapes forms and feelings. It is hope, joy, despair, rage, love, anger, dance, and playfulness – everything and nothing. It brings me closer to other people, and that makes me feel less alone in the world.
Córas Trio is performing on the Horizons Regional Stage on Saturday 26 October at 10.30pm at the Albert Hall. For details on how to buy public festival passes and day tickets visit womex-festival.com.
The Horizons partnership is managed by British Underground on behalf of Arts Council England, Culture Ireland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Creative Scotland, Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Wales and British Council.
