Dirty Epics Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 10th 2010 2:43PM by Chris Mugan
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Ireland may be a nation of singers, but homegrown bands have lacked outspoken female vocalists since Dolores O'Riordan fronted the Cranberries. That is set to change with the emergence of Dirty Epics, a pop-rock four-piece fronted by the striking Sarah Jane Wai. Together, the Dublin-based outfit combine scuzzy riffs with needling hooks and Wai's strident delivery. Before their SXSW performance, the singer explained further how they plan to live up to their name.

Describe your sound in your own words.

I think it's pop with a rawness to it. There have been comparisons to Blondie, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and even Queens of The Stone Age.

How did your band form?

Myself and Richie [Power -- bassist] played together when we were in school, we decided that we missed playing and writing together and decided to form Dirty Epics three years ago. Vince [Lim -- guitarist] is the new guy at the moment but we've known him for a couple of years and Alan [Delaney -- drummer] we had the pleasure of playing with for the last two and a half years. We had a bit of 'Spinal Tap' syndrome when we first got together.

What are your musical influences?

Mine range from Kate Bush and Chrissie Hynde to the Queens, Iggy, Burt Bacharach and Portishead. Anything that has heart and passion.
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How did you come up with your band name?

Time was ticking and we had to choose one. Not very inspiring really. People can take what they want from it. A hard-of-hearing friend misheard me when she asked what we'd decided on. She said she wasn't sure if 'Dirty Ethnics' was a very PC name; quite ironic with two Asian band members.

What's in your festival survival kit?

I always have hand sanitiser in the utility belt. Buckfast is essential to take the edge off; and a few Bloody Maries the next morning.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Johnny Depp in '21 Jump Street.' I barely even remember it, but I remember thinking he was super cool, and he still is.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

I like a bit of Pat Benatar and the Weather Girls for a bit of '80s pop especially when I'm cooking.

Beatles or Stones?

Stones for sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll attitude, Beatles for weird asexual sing-songs. [starts singing] "We all live in the yellow submarine..."

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

There have been a few funny ones; flashers, slapping hairy bottoms on stage - people are wonderfully strange and I'm so glad they are.