A Chat with Podge Lane (23.11.23)
Eager to challenge musical norms, singer-songwriter Podge Lane is known for his experimental and obscure melodies. Hailing from Cork, this natural talent turned our heads in 2022 and we remain completely astounded at each turn. From his well-received debut singles ‘The Dark’ and ‘Move On’ in 2018 to his recent album Common Country Misconceptions, Lane intoxicates listeners from the first chord. We speak with the intriguing Irishman about his double single ‘Snow / Hailstone’, why music is important in today’s society, future plans and much more.
OSR: We last spoke with you at the beginning of last year with your release of Outer Monologues. What have you been up to since then?
Lane: Since Outer Monologues, I have done some of my favourite solo tours, and opened for incredible artists I have admired like Charlie Parr, The Wedding Present and Rachael Sage. I also released my sophomore album Common Country Misconceptions earlier this year to a fantastic reception! I toured the album through Ireland and England and got to play some bucket list venues on the way. It’s been an incredible year music-wise, so I am really happy to see what comes next.
OSR: You recently released the double single ‘Snow/Hailstone’ and the tracks seem to play on both sides of the coin. The songs represent youthful innocence in the summer of ‘Snow’ but a mature wisdom with the winter of ‘Hailstone’. Did you plan this or did the songs sort of come together and complement each other?
Lane: It just kind of fell into place. I wrote the instrumental to ‘Snow’ trying out a new guitar tuning, and it just felt like winter to me. I focused on the idea of winter and what I would want to write about, the good or the bad. I decided to write two different lyrical ideas, with the second lyrics becoming ‘Hailstone’. It happened quite naturally, and if you asked me to do it again, I would have no idea how to recreate it.
OSR: What were the most challenging aspects of creating this release?
Lane: The lyrics for ‘Snow’ for sure. The lyrics for ‘Hailstone’ were almost stream-of-consciousness, and both instrumentals came together fairly naturally. But I agonized for weeks about ‘Snow’, writing books of lyrics. I just wanted to get the story in my head, the idea of the first snow helping you take that breath when you have a knot in your chest. Eventually, it became a jigsaw puzzle, taking the first verse from a voice memo, or the second line of the chorus while writing on walk through the wood. I’m so proud I didn’t give up because it’s some of my favourite lyrics.
OSR: Conversely, what was the easiest and most exciting part of ‘Snow/Hailstone’?
Lane: For once it was the recording. I recorded every single note of the song in a very intense and quick burst. I wanted to feel like I was each session musician in an old recording studio. I recorded the guitar first for both songs, then would almost try to move my head into bass player mode, record the bass, and so on until I had the full instrumentals to sing over. I wasn’t looking at how I would want to sing over it, but how each instrument would matter if I was only playing that instrument. What would I want people to think if I only played banjo? It was so much fun to be in that space, and it made going to mix so much easier, as the song felt lived in, not recorded all by one guy in an attic.
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Lane: The idea that they are not the only one thinking that thought. When I was young, I would listen to Father John Misty or John Prine, and just feel a sense of comradery. They weren’t always the heroes, sometimes they were the fools, and sometimes even worse. It was nice to see my idols sing about failing but still trying. So, I hope to do the same for some other person sitting on the bus.
OSR: Why do you think music is important in today’s society?
Lane: Because it allows expression and can serve a purpose in so many ways. I think music can be everything, from the most political Dylan song to an EDM instrumental. It all serves a purpose of helping someone. Music can mean something so different to me than to the person next door, but at the end of the day, it’s helping us both. It’s amazing that yelling in or out of tune can do that.
OSR: Random questions: What bends your mind every time you think about it?
Lane: This is so silly, but when I get an early flight, especially this year on tour, I am always baffled by the fact that I am about to go to a new country while someone on the ground is drinking coffee and listening to the morning news. Genuinely every time the plane takes off, it’s my first thought, I’m flying thousands of feet above the ground and for someone else it’s business as usual. I get mocked for this a lot, but like, that’s wild.
OSR: What incredibly strong opinion do you have that is completely unimportant in the grand scheme of things?
Lane: Don’t mix milk from two different cartons. Even if I have two cartons, if I know I have to mix, I will buy a new one. A hill I will die on, even though I am aware of how stupid I am.
OSR: Who inspires you to be better?
Lane: The people in my life who I care about and support me.
OSR: What can we expect from Podge Lane in the future?
Lane: I am excited to say my third album will be coming out next summer, it’s a very exciting and unique concept album that I am so excited to share with everyone. I’ll also be touring Ireland and the UK in support of it, but who knows, there could be a lot more in store.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Lane: Thank you for supporting independent music. Reading articles like this, listening to these songs allows creators to create and that’s a really cool thing. Even if you don’t like me, thanks for taking the time to groan at each of my answers, right until the end.
Many thanks to Podge Lane for speaking with us! For more from Podge Lane, check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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