Ian: Your single “Grand Affair” feels like a defining moment for WineMom, what story or emotion sits at the heart of the track?
Rosanna: I wrote Grand Affair last Christmas while going through a lot of the ups and downs that come with being a musician — the constant grind and uncertainty. I was also heading into a run of family gatherings where you inevitably hear about everyone else’s careers and successes.
At the same time, a lot of people I knew were leaving Dublin, and I found myself wondering if I should do the same. So the song became a kind of homage to the sacrifices you make as a musician, and to that very Dublin experience of people leaving Ireland to pursue their careers. It’s upbeat in sound, but there’s a real sense of reflection and sadness underneath it.
Ian: Your debut EP “Grand Affair” lands on April 24. How does the record capture this particular chapter of the band’s evolution?
Millie: I think Grand Affair captures a very specific time in our evolution. It is a really coming-of-age record that I don’t think we could have written at any other stage in WineMom’s lifespan. The title track ‘Grand Affair’ especially captures this moment in time for us as it grapples with being an independent artist in your twenties, watching as your friends emigrate, get promoted, graduate, and leave you wondering if you made the ‘right decision’. The other tracks really highlight the highs and lows of being in your early twenties whether it be coming to terms with you you’ve grown up to become (‘Way of Life’) and unrequited love (‘He was so Kind’).
Ian: What changed (if anything did) creatively or sonically for WineMom during the writing and recording of the “Grand Affair” EP?
Reese: Nothing really changed in our recording style except for the fact that two of the songs (Grand Affair and He Was So Kind) are brand new, and we decided that we really liked them and brought them straight into the studio. We took a break from gigging and releasing to get a good bit of studio time in Belfast. The time away felt long but was definitely necessary, and it feels good to be releasing a body of work finally.
Ian: You supported Jane’s Addiction at Trinity College for the final night of their European tour, what did that milestone show teach you about yourselves as a live band?
Matthew: We really learned how to tailor our set for the audience. It was our first show to a larger audience and supporting such a legendary guitar band so we spent a lot of time thinking how we could present our music in the most cohesive and authentic way possible.
Ian: Touring Ireland with Kingfishr in 2025 exposed you to new audiences nationwide. What lessons did you take from sharing stages with such an established act?
Rosanna: I learned a huge amount from touring with Kingfisher. Seeing what goes on behind the scenes was amazing — the band are involved in every detail, even down to the lighting and exactly where it should hit during a song. Their confidence and precision really stuck with me, and it’s something I really want to get to when the time comes.
It was also my first proper tour, so I learned a lot about looking after myself and my voice. From a songwriting perspective, their songs are so catchy that even if you’ve never heard them before, you pick them up quickly. It made me want to write songs that are big, accessible, and easy for a crowd to sing along to — because there’s nothing better than hearing an audience sing your songs back live.
Ian: There’s a sense of scale and confidence in “Grand Affair.” Were you consciously pushing your sound in a new direction?
Reese: Yes and no I guess, Rosanna’s writing style did feel slightly different, it was fun to push the song in different directions to see what worked. ‘He Was So Kind’ was definitely a step in a different direction, it is a completely unique sound compared to the rest of our stuff. The song fell into place very easily for us and it was a no-brainer to add it to the EP. The half-time breakdown in ‘Grand Affair’ came out of nowhere and it was very exciting for us to say ‘why not?’ and throw it in there. I’m glad we did cos it’s my favourite part to play live!
Ian: How do you balance intimate indie sensibilities with the demands of larger festival style performances?
Millie: In our two and a half years of playing live, we have performed to audiences between 20 and 2,000 people. There is definitely a little more pressure when playing on larger stages as there are more people you hope might turn their head or stay for your set. But our ethos remains the same for every show- that we want to bring our absolute all to every set we do as you never know what will come of it.
Ian: Dublin has a rich and evolving music scene, how has the city shaped WineMom’s identity and songwriting approach?
Matthew: Rosanna, our songwriter, is always telling us how much she loves Dublin and the scene and history, she’s a big fan of a sneaky one liner that only true dubs would get.
Ian: With the EP release approaching, how are you planning to translate “Grand Affair” into the live setting, or have these songs already being played live?
Rosanna: All of the songs have been played live. Everest is the oldest, and it’s a huge live track for us. It was actually a bit tricky to record because we really wanted to keep that live energy on the EP.
The other songs are newer and audiences are still getting to know them, but they’re brash rock-pop songs that translate easily to a live setting. At the end of the day, we’re very much a live band, and that’s where the music really comes into its own.
Ian: Looking towards 2026, what ambitions or new directions are driving WineMom forward?
Millie: We have been really excited to release new music this year and we can’t wait for our entire Grand Affair roll-out. We are especially looking forward to getting back into the studio as we are writing new material and are really hoping to play as many live shows as possible.
The band’s debut EP Grand Affair drops on April 24th, 2026.
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Words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic