Longstryde is a band that has been waiting a lifetime to happen. Centred around the core of brothers Tommy and Ricky, it took an almost chance encounter to unite the brothers and form what would become known as Longstryde.
The fruits of this labour, ‘Superhuman’ marks the band’s debut single and already establishes the band as a vital new voice in the Irish music scene. A project that goes beyond being personal or cathartic but delves deep into family, interpersonal connection and transcending the barriers that we ourselves or life places in our path as we strive to achieve.
Family is a red thread that runs throughout the band. Tommy’s journey began in atypical circumstances, finding his voice by training as a choir boy then graduating to operatic roles in the prestigious Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, National Concert Hall and Gaiety Theatre.
However, these achievements did nothing to satiate Tommy’s desire for something more visceral, honest and raw. Elder brother Ricky has been crafting songs since his early teens, taking inspiration from the slew of music that filled their household and studying poetry and film to help sharpen his storytelling skills. Then pulling from the soundtracks that accompanied them.
All these disparate elements helped form the filter through which Ricky views the world, allowing songwriting to become an expression of how the brothers make sense of the world around them and express complex emotions.
The name ‘Longstryde’ again has familial origins. It was taken from the brother’s grandmother, who yelled in support of Ricky as he competed in sprints. The name took on a wider meaning for the brothers, becoming a mantra of determination and to succeed despite whatever obstacle might disrupt their path.
In contrast to their empowering debut single, Superhuman, Longstryde have delivered us a song that falls deeper into an opposing nature of self-destructive behaviour. To the listener, Wishing Well paints a picture of a trap door to their own garden of solace. A trip that comes with a heavy price of self-sabotaging behaviour. It represents a place where the best of us turn to when we feel the need to succumb to an inescapable draw, where we seek out our desired fantasies and where our addictive nature draws us further into cycles of repetitive error. A habit we all feed when we seek temporary relief. Wishing Well calls to mind our own compulsion without coercion. Our personal wonder drug. The artwork represents the innocence and the example we leave behind and the habitual traits we pick up as we navigate life.
This song is indeed autobiographical. An anthem for imposter syndrome and unaffected imperfection. In Wishing Well, Richie tells a story of his own naivety:
“I’ve always had a guileless capability to be misled and most attempts to realign myself have been spoiled by apprehension and negligence. A tendency to back myself into a corner to fight my way out, only to recoil before I take the gold. I’ve been thriving off my own repetitive cycles since I was young and uninitiated, so I know what it means to lack good judgment and to be stung by the more heartless among us. ‘I’m outweighed by the same old demon’.”
The message behind Wishing Well loosely touches on themes of Alice In Wonderland. Chasing the white rabbit down the well. We know what happened next. Wishing Well acts to take you back to Wonderland. The place you hide when your true colours aren’t showing. The return to the proverbial Well artfully entices you to name your poison and name your price. It offers no remedy.
Wishing Well was written by Richie Redmond. It was with great ease the meaning of this song was conveyed to lead vocalist brother, Tommy.
“The purity of thought behind these lyrics elicited my own flaws and shortcomings. The anthemic chorus is bound to strike a chord with those of you who have dug yourself out of a hole, or the bottom of a glass”.
Wishing Well features Tommy on lead and backing vocals, Richie on leadand rhythm guitars. Brother-in-law Andre on bass and Alex on drums.
Recorded and Produced by Michael Rogers at Sun Studios in Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland.
Mixed by Michael Rogers at Pine Copse Studio, Dundrum Dublin 14, Ireland.
Mastered by Adam Haggar @ Mount Olympia Mastering, New York, NY, USA.
