Spotlight Sounds; Episode Seventeen with Kleio

Welcome back to Spotlight Sounds, a series by Secrets Behind the Sound celebrating the vibrant world of Irish music. Dive into the blend of tradition and innovation that characterises Ireland's contemporary music scene, featuring both established and emerging artists. Explore the influences and experiences shaping Irish musicians and join us as we delve into their creative processes, stories, and journeys. Through in-depth discussions, Secrets Behind The Sound recognises the groundbreaking contributions of Irish artists to global creativity. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer, Spotlight Sounds invites you to explore the captivating realm of Irish music—a journey into the stories, sounds, and enigmas that make up Ireland's music scene.

Introducing Kleio, a band that's quickly becoming a standout name in the Irish music scene with their anthemic melodies, catchy hooks, and driving rhythm. Kleio's roots lie in the golden era of early 2000s indie rock, a period that heavily influences their sound. The band was formed by Luke, a guitarist, and Alex, a bassist with a musical background in violin and guitar. Known for their electrifying live performances, Kleio has garnered national airtime and rave reviews from local radios and independent blogs alike. Kleio's rise has seen them play at some of Ireland's most prestigious underground venues, including Whelan's in Dublin, Cyprus Avenue in Cork, and Dolan's in Limerick.

As Kleio continues to captivate audiences with their energetic performances and distinctive sound, they are undoubtedly a must-see act on the Irish music circuit.

Can you start by introducing the Band and your musical background?

Kleio are an indie rock band with influences from bands in the early 2000s, I see that as the golden era of indie rock. Me (Luke) and Alex come from musical backgrounds, I play guitar and Alex plays bass. We met each other at a house party where Alex fancied playing in a band. Funnily I was looking for a bass player and Alex lied to me claiming he knew how to play bass. Alex is super talented and had a background in violin and guitar so picked it up quickly enough. I think it's quite a funny story and proof that spoofing your way through can work if you have the drive to follow through.

How would you define the genre you as a band primarily identify with, and how do you incorporate other influences into your sound?

Like i said we take a lot of inspiration from Indie band of old, we started out as somewhat of a Artic Monkeys tribute band but quickly found our own sound. I always wanted to be a live performing band so we try to write anthems that we feel wouldn't be out of place in festivals. Bands like Oasis, The Killers, The Strokes have really mastered that sound I think so we aim to incorporate what they do into our own sound.

You've a new single, Four, coming out on the 17th, what was the creative process behind the single?

When we started out we played a mix of originals and covers just to fill out our sets. We noticed that while our audience were enjoying our originals, they couldn't sing along because the songs hadn't been released. We decided we wanted to write a song that people could have fun with even if they hadn't heard so Four started with the bridge. When the song was finished we started testing it out with our audiences who loved it, I think it's become my personal favourite song to play live.

How do you think Irish music has progressed through the years?

I think Irish music has never been stronger, we try to gig or attend gigs as much as we can and I'm always blown away by the standard around the country. I think Irish musicians are taking more risks which has led to so many new and interesting sounds surfacing which is great to see.

Can you walk us through the creative process when writing and composing music?

When I'm writing songs, there's no real system to it I'll often just ge an idea, it might be a lyric or a riff ad I'll write a very raw piece that I've written on my acoustic guitar. I usually have a checklist of what I want to achieve with the song. This checklist changes depending on the song, although I always need to be to envisage a crowd singing it back to me when it comes together. Once it's been written on the acoustic guitar I sit on it for a few days to ensure I still like the song, and then I'll take it to Alex and we'll iron it all out from there.

In your opinion, what role do live performances and venues play in the Irish music scene today?

I think venues take such an important role in the Irish music scene, as a small band we are so reliant on venues giving us a shot to help us get some exposure that we otherwise wouldn’t get. If I were to critique I would say it’s a shame there aren’t more small venues around the country. I look at Britain and there is a proper roadmap for touring bands, whereas in Ireland outside of Dublin and Cork there aren’t many small music venues for growing bands. 

Diversity is an important aspect of any music scene. How do you think your band's music contributes to the diversity of the Irish music scene?

Like I said we write music with the live show in mind. We’re not trying to do anything complicated or reinvent the wheel in any way we just want to enjoy ourselves and more importantly give the people who pay money to see us an enjoyable night as well. I think bands like ourselves are important in the scene, we want people to come to our shows knowing they are going to enjoy themselves, have a sing have a dance and forget about work, school or whatever else they have going on for a night.

As an Irish band, what advice have you got for other artists trying to navigate the industry and find their unique voice?

I’d love to say that we can give aspiring artists a piece of advice that changes their lives, but I’d be lying if I did. We’re still learning the ropes and taking any opportunity we can to push ourselves further. I would just say have fun, being part of a band is the best thing I’ve done and even as an unknown group we’ve had experiences that I would never have gotten elsewhere, as well as giving us a real passion and feeling that we could go and make something of ourselves.

What can listeners expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming releases, collabs or projects you're excited about?

We have a few more songs coming before the end of the year as well as at least one headline show. We’re really excited about the future of the band and the direction we’re heading in. We’re back up recording in June and have so much that we can’t wait to put out in the world.

I am going to finish off by asking you, if your band was a flavour of ice cream what flavour would it be and why?

I think if we were a flavour of Ice Cream It’d have to be Vanilla. We’re nothing that hasn’t been done before, nothing exotic but also a very enjoyable flavour of Ice Cream that in my opinion is the most popular flavour for a reason, it’s really nice. I would hope that we’re a high end option you know I’d want people to look at Kleio and think “wow, those guys are like Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream”

It’s clear that Kleio’s blend of early 2000s indie rock influences and a passion for live performances have set them on an exciting journey in the Irish music scene. From their humble beginnings at a house party to creating anthems designed to resonate with festival crowds, Kleio's dedication to their music is evident. Their new single Four exemplifies their commitment to creating music that not only entertains but also engages their audience. As they continue to navigate the industry, they offer valuable insights into the importance of venues, the creative process, and staying true to one’s roots. With more music and shows on the horizon, Kleio is a band to watch, bringing a refreshing and energetic presence to the stage. Stay tuned for more from this promising band as they continue to make their mark.

You can catch Kleio live in Whelans on the 10th of October 2024, be sure to grab your tickets before they’re gone!!