Trasa catches up with boys from the Original Rudeboys to find out why this Dublin based band are the new hot act on the Irish music scene….
O.R.B (formerly known as Original Rudeboys) are set to return with a bang to the Irish music scene with the soon be be released album ‘All We Are’ hitting Itunes later this month. Therese Walsh music editor of the College Tribune caught up with Sean ‘Neddy’ Arkins to chat with the rapping dubliner about the Irish music scene, new albums and why the boys are set to continue their success.
Ned is fresh from the studio having just after finishing recording their second studio album ‘All We Are.’ When asked what he’s been up to lately excitement overtakes his tiredness “I’ve just been listening to the whole album daily – just stressing about every little detail but now that its up and ready to preorder we’re getting excited and just waiting for it to drop and see what the fans and public think of it.” The album features the massive hit Never Gonna Walk Away, healing which has enjoyed over 3,000 plays on Irish radio, and recently won Song Of The Year at the Meteor Choice Music Prize in Dublin. Excitement bubbles through Ned’s voice as he talks about this time last year when the former Original Rudeboys hit it big time both in Ireland and abroad. Their first single Stars in my Eyes was famously recorded at a drinking session in Dublin and saw massive success casting the lads firmly into the limelight. O.R.B have toured extensively since the release of their debut album, including major festivals in the UK and an Australian and European arena tour with The Script in 2013. It’s this new world view which informs the mature songwriting on All We Are. The unique O.R.B have a gift for true tales from real life and they never shy away from telling it exactly how it is.
“As soon as we released our first album we were doing a number of Irish festivals including main stage at Oxygen – along with some in the UK festivals like Leeds, Reading and T in the park. There were so many festivals we got to do on the back of the first album so if this one is successful we’ll be doing some more this summer.” Their success saw The Script take notice them while touring, “the script heard about us when they were on tour in the US and were like ‘get these lads on tour with us.’” At first we just did two small shows in Ireland with them – and we got on so well with them and they asked us to come on the world tour – and like you don’t turn down a world tour. We get on so well with the lads from The Script – I mean they live five minutes from us and we’re great friends now.
Irish music in general is doing well for itself at the moment and O.R.B and their New single, the euphoric Feel It In Your Soul is already a fast growing airplay hit. Ned reckons that “Irish people are natural storytellers and I think this is why as a race Irish peoples music is so popular.”
‘The olympia is my favourite venue for sure – It’s just a big aul venue and there is always a great atmosphere,” he added.
O.R.B has sold out the olympia three times in 2013 and are more than likely going to going to sell it out a few more times before 2014 is out. The lads Rob Burch – (vocals & guitar), Sean Neddy Arkins (rapping, vocals & percussion) and Sean Walsh (guitar, vocals and ukulele) are known for their down to earth Irish-feel lyrics and their songs are all written from a real life viewpoint. ORB famously turned down supporting Chris Brown last year when he played the O2, “we just couldn’t sing for him- it wasn’t an attack on him but we have morals and some of our songs are about domestic violence.” It seems that these guy’s morals are as real as their lyrics. With the album ready to go and their songs growing ever more popular the newly names O.R.B are looking forward to the future. Here’s to another great year lads.
To launch the album; they will be playing a very special intimate show at The Grand Social in Dublin on Saturday 3rd May. Tickets at €20.
