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Hometime is the pop music project of Dublin singer/songwriter Tony Kavanagh, here’s everything that you need to know about Hometime…
What are the origins of the band, how long have you been playing together?
Despite the name, Hometime is a solo venture. The new name was chosen because of my own very ordinary and commonplace name – I needed a stronger identity. But Hometime grew out of the experience and creativity of former bands. They were an eclectic bunch, but great learning experiences.
How did you feel performing your first gig? And how was it?!
My first gig was a baptism of fire. I had been recruited to replace a singer in an established band and had to learn a very complicated set. I went out to a dark, crowded, and very smoky room. I was very nervous. Let’s just say that I probably should have worn brown trousers! But by the second song, I was into it and the audience seemed OK with the new voice and face behind the mic.
What should people expect when they check you out? How would you describe Hometime?
The Hometime set is all original. Pop with a dark, adult edge and a hefty serving of electronics. I don’t do much in the way of ‘happy’ stuff but the tempo is still mostly up.
The new music scene is bursting at the seams with fresh talent, in what ways do you feel that a band has to stand out from the others trying to build a name?
The million-dollar question! Standing out can be a double-edged sword. Commercial radio doesn’t want different. TV doesn’t really want different either. Critics and mags and blogs will champion the different but converting those cool “brownie points” to commercial success is a massive challenge. The quality of the songs is the bottom line. No matter how out-there your image, no matter how unflinching your attitude, people quickly lose interest if the songs have no real heart. Even among the alternative set, there are trends – everything from looks to sounds. Bucking those trends and avoiding snobbery would probably be important.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
It’s early days for Hometime. My album is nearly ready and, as of now, there are just three singles out there. The first one, GRATITUDE, dropped in January last year. The pandemic slowed everything after that but I managed to get THE SOUND OF HEARTBREAK out later in the year and, just a couple of weeks ago, IT BEATS LIVING ALONE came out. They’re all on Spotify and Bandcamp (hometime.bandcamp.com)
What band out there at the minute do you feel that you would be best suited to open for?
Hard to say. Possibly somebody like Chvrches, Hurts, or Prides, maybe?
Who do you feel is the next band to break out?
There’s so much talent out there – and it’s so diverse – that it’s hard to predict. I’ve seen so many “next big things” just peter out. From Ireland, I think Pillow Queens are worth keeping an eye on.
What are your first musical memories? And what was the light bulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
I finally talked my parents into getting me a record player when I was 12 – we weren’t a musical household. I just plunged myself into music. All of my pocket money was spent on records. I clearly remember becoming obsessed with one particular song that I ended up writing one in a similar vein. Naturally, my teenage first-try was pretty awful but I can still sing it from start to finish! After that, I found that song ideas kept coming into my head.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
I saw Dublin band Eden in a tiny venue. Their gigs are great fun. They’re friends, but I am also a fan. Parenthood has gotten in the way of a lot of gig-going, though.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
It’s a 1962 album called “The Girl From Greece Sings” by Nana Mouskouri, a cool jazzy set produced by Quincy Jones. Her style moved in a very schmaltzy direction over the following years but this album is great. I think it might even be her first. The opening song “No Moon At All” is fantastic.
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
I started out on Twitter with the express intention of promoting music and connecting with people in the same field. But I got totally distracted by political shenanigans in the meantime. I’ve tried to refocus, so people can feel free to chat with me there – I’m @hometime_music on both Twitter and Insta. (But I hate Insta! I can’t get my head around it. But I’ll keep trying.)
