Ahead of the Irish finals for the Eurovision entry to take place on the Late Late Show Eurosong 2024 Special on the 26.01.2024 . Abby got to have a chat with Ailsha pronounced (El-sha) one of the six acts to compete in competition with her song “Go Tobann” the song is a commentary on Irish language education in Ireland.
So read below what Ailsha and Abby had to chat about and we wish Alisha all the best in Eurosong.
Abby – Could you tell us a little bit about yourself for those who don’t know you ?
I’m an alternative rock/metal artist and video games composer from Wicklow, Ireland!
Ailsha – How would you convince people to listen to your music ?
If you like sparkly-sounding heavy music, tune in.
Abby – What can people expect from your shows ?
Ailsha – Pink, moshing, kegs and a whole lot of craic.
Abby – So, you played your debut headline show a couple of months ago, in The Workman’s, in Dublin. How was that ?
Ailsha – It was surreal to play my first sold-out headline in November. Just one year before that I had played a gig on my favourite night of the year (Halloween) to about six people and I felt so disheartened after it, so I’m really happy I kept going because the sold-out headline in The Workman’s Cellar was a riot!
Abby – You also supported Wargasm for their Irish tour dates, in Dublin and Belfast, only a few days after that. Could you tell us a bit more about that ?
Ailsha – When I made my way home after that Halloween gig the year before, I was listening to Wargasm and I found them very inspiring. It was an amazing experience to have the opportunity to support them a year later- both of the shows were so much fun and the audiences were great craic. Wargasm and their band were super sound.
Abby – Your new single ‘Go Tobann’ was just released. Would you tell us what this song is about and how you feel about it being out ?
Ailsha – ‘Go Tobann’ speaks to the Irish experience of learning the language in school only to remember a few phrases. It’s a very fun song that I had a lot of fun making but it does contain the deep message behind it that we have a lovely language that has a fading presence in everyday life. The response to the track’s release has been overwhelmingly positive and I’m delighted that people across the world are enjoying it.
Abby – What were your fans’ reactions to it ?
Ailsha – Answered in question 6.
Abby – This single is also the song you chose to submit to enter the Eurosong competition, and hopefully the Eurovision contest. Could you tell us what made you want to enter such competition, and the journey that you took to arrive where you are at now ?
Ailsha – When my new rock music started to get noticed in 2023 I had fans, friends and family encourage me to submit a fun rock song to Eurosong. My brother Peadar is a Eurovision fanatic and got the whole family into it in recent years and it was something I’d always thought about entering. I knew that if I ever entered the competition I wanted to create something that had Irish and a sprinkle of Irish music in it, and the idea for ‘Go Tobann’ came to me very quickly!
Abby – We know that there are a lot of people supporting you already, but what would it mean for you if you did win ?
Ailsha – I would be very proud to have the opportunity to represent Ireland and to bring the Irish language to Eurovision for our second time in history.
Abby – Are there any questions you wish journalists would ask you but never or rarely do ? (Please feel free to answer any questions you might come up with)
Ailsha – I’d like to be asked more about my love of music production as this is a huge part of my process as an artist!
Abby – What was your worst moment on stage, ever ? (We’d love to hear all the funny – and not so funny – stories !)
Ailsha – I did a gig a few years ago where there was an issue with my backing track (which was going through my phone). I felt so awkward that I just continued to sing over what sounded like a washing machine. People still seemed to enjoy it though!
Abby – What is your worst fear ever ?
Ailsha – Asteroids! I’m terrified of them, but also fascinated by them. So fascinated that I once studied a module in astrophysics just so I could learn more about them. So now I’m still scared of them but more so interested in them.
Words Abigael Paquet
Photo credit – Ian Mc Donnell ( https://www.instagram.com/mcgigmusic/?hl=en )