Start Listening To: Bog Band

bog band on invented words, creative instinct, emotional distance, and the quiet confidence of letting songs unfold without forcing them.

Dublin duo bog band have always sounded most compelling when they follow instinct rather than instruction, and Mocashno Days leans fully into that way of working. Their second album feels loose, personal and quietly heavy, shaped by private language, shared jokes and moments of withdrawal as much as connection. It is a record that drifts between warmth and darkness, made with humour, care and a refusal to overexplain itself. We caught up with bog band to talk about invented words, creative freedom, Irish competitiveness, emotional distance, and the joy of not trying too hard.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

We are bog band. We are from Dublin, and we try to make the best music possible depending on our ever changing moods.

What was the inspiration behind the title Mocashno Days and how does it reflect the themes explored in the album?

Mocashno is a word Isaac made up. It is a word to address your pals. You could shorten it to ‘mocash’ if you wanted to save time or speak informally. It’s a personal record, about the last few years of our lives, and using our own language speaks to that.

Can you walk us through your songwriting process for this album?

Songs can never be written the same way twice. When we started writing songs for this record, we were probably trying a bit too hard, and then we remembered how to have fun. When we are having fun, we are unstoppable because we have so much joy in our hearts. When you’re trying too hard you’re not nimble, you get bogged down doing what you think you should do, instead of following your instincts.

How did it differ from your previous work?

No big difference. We are always making songs, so as soon as the last project ended, this one started.

Which track on Mocashno Days do you feel most connected to, and what personal experiences influenced its creation?

‘Mocashno Days’, the song. It is quite a painful and dark song that was written and released with ease and deftness. The chorus lyrics are “and you want to want for nothing”, it’s a song about wanting to shut yourself off from the world.

What role does collaboration play in your music?

bog band with no collaboration would be like a violin without a bow.

Can you describe the visual aesthetic you aimed for with the album artwork and how it complements the music?

Ste made the artwork for the singles. He made them all pretty quickly with a sketch and compressed library images, all gestural collages of the song themes. The album art is made by the artist Morgan Sheridan, depicting two figures driving down a winding open road.

In what ways do you think your Irish background influences your sound and lyrical themes on this album?

It influences our competitive nature. In Ireland, you are only as good as your last punch thrown or witticism uttered.

What are your thoughts on the current indie music scene, and do you feel a sense of community among fellow artists?

There is lots of great music coming out of Ireland, of course. We are even lucky enough to be friends with a few great musicians. It is so hard to make music that is worth anything to yourself or to anyone else, so in that general pursuit, we feel a great camaraderie with all other artists.

How do you plan to translate the emotional nuances of Mocashno Days into your live performances?

First off, thanks for picking up on the emotional nuances. We beef up the live show with some nimble drumming courtesy of Cosmo Clarke. And we give it a good go.

How has your sound evolved from your debut album to Mocashno Days?

There is a bit of a darkness to Mocashno Days that was present on the first EP. We hope to continue to follow that darkness until maybe, just maybe, we see the light.

What do you love right now?

As of writing, @g.e.r.a.r.d.j.o.r.d.a.n’s joyful Dublin pranks. He never crosses the line. Also Prince’s appearances on Sesame Street. Ste has been loving listening to Korn’s self-titled album on the train into work, and he wants to eat more Chinese breakfast. Isaac loves being well again after being sick.

What do you hate right now?

Isaac hates subway takes and all Guinness discourse. Ste hates people guarding seats on the bus with bags. He is in transit a lot.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

Ste listens to Elliott Smith’s Either/Or pretty much every day. Isaac is still listening to Kid Creole and The Coconuts’ Tropical Gangsters. In some ways, bog band is a combination of those two artists, for better and for worse.

When someone hears your music for the first time, what do you hope sticks with them?

All we ever wish is to dazzle and delight. Adieu.