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Trick Mist shares new video ‘Flagbearer’

June 23, 2022

Irish songwriter, multi instrumentalist and producer Gavin Murray, aka Trick Mist, shares new video for ‘Flagbearer’, June 22nd.

A short documentary style film directed by Bob Gallagher (Lankum, Villagers, Gilla Band and Junior Brother) that follows Vala Kjarval, great granddaughter of famed Icelandic painter Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval, on her journey around Iceland on a mission to get to know her great grandfather and one of Iceland’s most well renowned artists.

This is the second installment of a unique music video and podcast series called ‘Tracing Places’ (funded by the Arts Council of Ireland) that involves 4 artists making 4 videos for 4 new songs and an adjoining 4 part podcast series hosted by Trick Mist.

Participating artists are: Katie Ball (member of Just Mustard), Bob Gallagher (directed videos for Lankum, Villagers, Gilla Band, Junior Brother), Donal Dineen (David Gray, Katie Kim, ‘This Ain’t No Disco’ Music Series) and Graham Patterson (The Mary Wallopers, Junk Drawer, Bleeding Heart Pigeons, Post-Punk Podge & The Technohippies).

The new single ‘Flagbearer’ is a song centered around the experience of his grandmother’s wake and the traditional rituals around Irish death.

About the song Murray says “My Nan was ‘waked’ in her home-house which I hadn’t been to in years. The experience was so intense. Going back there and being confronted by my childhood memories of the house mixed with the whirlwind nature of a traditional Irish wake. 

A wake is a great Irish ritual. I think it’s something we do well. The song is an ode to that as well as to her. A wake is a very interesting construct. I was privileged to observe it and its full potential for duality due to the circumstances of my nan’s death. (She was 96, from a rural area and her death would not generally be described as ‘tragic’). A wake can marry sadness with merriment. It also confronts the physical aspect of death in a very tactile way that can be both comforting and shocking. I also found this beautiful contradiction of being in a situation that was a big life event and just chatting absolute small talk to people in that situation. A big moment marked by chatting rubbish. It’s amazingly human, hilarious and somehow fitting. 

Writing the lyrics for the song was a therapeutic process. The words just emerged from my unconscious mind. It offered me the opportunity to explore this unique Irish tradition and to honour my nan’s presence in my life as our close relationship moved into a new phase.”

About the project Trick Mist says…‘I’ve been working with these amazing artists in an unusual way. The artists were given full creative control over their art, making music videos based purely on their reaction to the song. Basically how it worked was I would send the artist the song and the lyrics. That was it. I would offer no directives. I see the video when it’s finished. 

‘When the works are completed I will host a stand alone 4 part podcast series. Each podcast will essentially be a discussion with the artist about the work created, their ideas behind the video, their interpretation of the song and my ideas behind the song.”

His arsenal of original samples and storytelling lyrics combined with gestures towards traditional Irish music and experimental electronics create a captivating, immersive and meditative musical space.

Trick Mist to date has released a full-length album via Pizza Pizza Records, an EP and multiple singles. His music has amassed significant acclaim with coverage from many sources including The Irish Times, The Irish Examiner, Nialler9, The Thin Air, RTE 2FM, RTE RnaG, Piccadilly Records and Amazing Radio.

Live, his shows are an intense, dramatic and ambient affair. Performances at Other Voices, Electric Picnic, Output Belfast and supporting Just Mustard on their sold out UK + IRE tour in 2021 have cemented his reputation as an unusual and compelling live performer.

Trick Mist

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