With their new single ‘Space Invaders’, Cavan four-piece Indigos Ego are making noise about the housing crisis, and a lot more besides. Jason Barnard caught up with the band to talk landlord anxiety, dynamic range, and why sweating profusely is the only way to end a gig.
The housing crisis is a very real topic for many people in Ireland as well as in the UK. How did that topic evolve into a fully formed song?
We had been working with a riff for a while that felt heftier than some of our other pieces. When thinking about a theme for the song this conversation came to mind and the weight of the subject seemed to fit the music perfectly.
Anne, you’ve said you hope ‘Space Invaders’ can break down barriers for the band. What barriers are you most hoping this song helps you cross?
Like every band that’s releasing material we want as many people as possible to hear it because we believe deeply in what we’re producing. This song shows off our heavier side but is also fuelled by some of the melodic breaks we feel we do really well. Anne’s delivery is sharp and the message is strong, we hope it demonstrates to listeners the dynamic range we’re capable of.
Your influences span Smashing Pumpkins, Tori Amos, Biffy Clyro and Manchester Orchestra. That’s quite a broad and mix. How do those artists show up in your music without it feeling derivative?
Between the four of us we have a very eclectic mix of influences. When we’re in the room together we can only play the way we play.. our own individual musical experiences seem to find a place somehow! We’ll reference a particular band or singer if we’re trying to create a particular atmosphere or emotion on a track, and that can help set us on the right path again.
‘Dark Waters’ was released in July 2025, what did the response to that debut album teach you that you’ve carried into the making of this second record?
We very quickly had a collection of songs that we felt would make a really cool album so we set about structuring, completing and rehearsing the songs quickly. With the help of Liam McCabe and Martin Quinn in JAM Studio we recorded ‘Dark Waters’ relatively fast and pretty much in one go! This time round we are taking more time with the tracks, we’re experimenting more with pace and feel and we’re trying to be more open with trying new things. We’re also recording the songs in batches of 3 or 4 so it feels like this will be an even more complete collection.
Indigos Ego formed in mid-2024 in Cavan, that’s a relatively short runway to a debut album and now a second one in progress. How has the band dynamic developed so quickly?
We have all known each other on the local music scene for years so we’ve been really comfortable working together. In terms of the dynamic, the more time we spend playing and writing together the easier it gets to understand each other’s strengths and artistic choices. We get on the same page with the songs much quicker now because our sound is becoming clearer to us as the weeks pass, we know what we’re trying to achieve in a more unspoken way than before.
With three members each contributing to vocals, how do you navigate that creatively?
Anne is lead vocal and we’re blessed to have someone so talented as our main singer, however some of our tracks require a male voice and Marks sits so well on songs like ‘Catman’ and ‘Couch’. Barry has a great ear for harmonies that blend effortlessly in to choruses and outros. We’ve always enjoyed bands that use harmonies to accentuate their music and it’s something we’ve leaned into naturally.
What is the music scene in Cavan like?
The scene in Cavan is fantastic right now! There is so much great music coming out of Cavan. Folk, trad, rock, indie.. Death Metal! you name it! We’re lucky to have the support of great venues like the Town Hall and Ramor theatres. The Cavan Arts Festival is packed with talent every summer and Blessings Bar is the place to go for live music at the weekend.
Does being from there influence your identity as a group?
Absolutely, we write about what we know and we’re all immersed in the culture here. We get inspired by the musicians we see starting out here and we’ve been influenced by a lot of the bands we’ve seen come through here over the years.
Do you have plans to tour or play live, and, if so, what can audiences expect from an Indigos Ego show?
We want to play live as much as possible, that’s where we’re at our best. It’s difficult to find opportunities as an original band but we are actively hunting for them! We played two fantastic shows in the Townhall Cavan last year and at the big tent during the Arts Festival. We feed off the crowds energy and try to leave everything out there on the stage. Sweating profusely and smiling from ear to ear is how we like to finish our gigs!!
