 Visit bluebirdcare.ie or call our care team today on 07491 29562 and bring care home. This is Highland Radio with Paul McDevitt. Seventeen minutes after nine o'clock on a Monday night and you're very welcome on it, you just joined us. I am delighted to say hello and welcome or next you do a guest. We go on to the name of Super Sweet Blueberries and they go on to so many different names. But Luke McGinnis and Ronan Hepburn, you're very welcome. Thanks very much for having us. That's great. So tell us first of all, Luke. When Jimmy was at the Birkins, it was Lucas McStout. And I thought this was a cover name and then I've seen you. So her name was McGinnis, so I walked that out there and now you're telling me there's Super Sweet Blueberries. So how can we find you on social media? All of the above probably. No, well that's Lucas McStout. I stole that one off my brother. Whenever I was setting up a Facebook account, it seemed like a good idea to have a fake name. But my brother had that one first and I stole it off him. But yeah, we've been gigging for the past how many years? About four or five years now. Minus COVID of course. But under the name Super Sweet Blueberries, which we got from a pack of Tesco Super Sweet Blueberries. It's a good advertisement though. It's funny with the name because that's what I was talking to the two young lads on before you. A name will come to you and it has to be different. And that's class error, that's what I mean. It's not just the what or this or whatever. But people go, what do you mean Super Sweet Blueberries? And they look at it, you know. He's got McStout and he's got people... We've had everything from spicy gooseberries, spicy gooseberries, and then bittersweet blueberries as well, which that was a very good one. Just enjoyed that. People know what you're... You're getting away to look a lot. Yeah, playing covers mainly. Middle of the road sort of stuff. But Irish folk and pop and rock and hip hop or whatever. Any full-time musicians? No, our main job is we're oyster farmers. Oh, right, okay. And a lot of foils, that's what we're at for the most part of the time. And then we're gigging pretty solid every weekend now for the summer. Are you enjoying that end of things, the gigging things? Yeah, yeah, we do. When we've got an attentive crowd, there's nothing beats it, you know. And a lot of times you're playing to the crowd, which is like the commercial stuff. That's it, yeah. And that's what people want in the day. Do you rate much? I did, not an awful lot. I wouldn't be a prolific writer, but I hope to change that. But it fits and starts, you know. And this year I decided that I was going to, this time, to actually record an album. You know, I've got enough songs in the bank that I've built up over the years. And it's about time that I recorded them and got them out there. Right. Well, we want to get the first song. So the first song you're going to do for us this evening is what? Over the Valleys. And this is your own? Yeah, it is. And the background to that is? I was travelling around along with a friend of mine. We were in Switzerland and just bumming about. We were doing a bit of Boskin. Matthew, I don't know if he'll be listening in or not tonight. He's down in Caldera. But we were in Switzerland and I was just feeling maybe a wee bit homesick at the time. So there might be a little bit of that vibe in the song. Tell me this, just as we were talking about Boskin and Switzerland. How did that go? Did it work out all right? In the run-up to Christmas, it was really good. I played, we were kind of in Bern, the political capital of Switzerland. And they've got a real cool train station there. And the outside of the train station, they've got like a big curved glass roof. So I was somewhat sheltered from the weather there. But I was going through a heap of strings because with the cold, it just snagged. Right, right. You have no Boskin over there? No, it was fine. The Swiss people seemed to enjoy it. Would you get enough out of it to keep yourself going? Yeah, we were couch surfing. And we were also, we did a little bit of work on an organic farm for a while as well. So we had a little bit of money from that and just, you know, living quite cheaply, you know. Living the dream, bud. Well, yeah. Right, listen, we're looking forward to hearing this song when you're ready. Okey-doke. I'm going to find a place that's peaceful. Twerks the mountains and the sea. And I'm leaving all because I'm dreaming of the seaside. And their faces are lost friends. The lyrics and that and then I'm on a wee journey and that's all. I'm part of it, you know. Ronald, do you play drums? Yes, I do. Oh, you do? I just thought do you play the guitar? I started on drums, but as every drummer likes to get smaller. It's easier, it's easier to work it out. It's excellent. That's, Kehan sounds really like a drummer. Yeah, it is. It's a classical, I think it is. Is that, is that, you didn't make that yourself? No, no, no, no, no. No, I bought this from Hoff Thulman. I, Thulman, I got one. I was, well, me and Jimmy started the show way back. The first couple of shows we had, someone come up with one of them, you see. And I was, well, she's watching us here. So I got one from Thulman, do me self. And it's brilliant. I can't play drums, but I can do alright and other things, you know. So it's wild handy. It's so handy. There's no doubt about that. And it's great as well, like when I'm playing gigs, there's so many people come up and look at it. It's like, how does that make that noise? Exactly. And they're like, what is it? But you know the thing about, and no harm, but sometimes drummers come in here, and they're like cosy pile, you know. And that is just the perfect sound for in here, which is dead on, you know. But how lovely song. Look, really, really nice song. And musically, who inspired you? Loads, there's, for that one in particular, myself and Ronan are both big fans of Fleet Foxes. If you've ever heard of them. Oh, amazing, amazing. Those are the states. American band? Yeah. I've described it for, it's like listening to nature. Loads of harmonies and just real nice natural instrumentation, you know. Fleet Foxes? Fleet Foxes, I... I must check them out. I like to do not somebody gives my name. Yeah. They're like, would they be like the Lost Brothers type thing? No. I don't know the Lost Brothers. But you want to check them out. So let's go down. We'll check them out. Like Donegal connection and Terai connection. They're two lads, Austin and I forget their names now. Brilliant. Absolutely. The Lost Brothers. They're not brothers, but they're just amazing. And how'd you come on then? Just be pure chance or what? Because it's not. I don't know. It was many years back. We used to play with Spring Tides, both myself and Ronan. You know, James O'Donnell. I do. James put us on to Jimmy there as well. There's a sea connection here, we all used to play. James is in the big boats and you're out in the water, aren't you? Yeah. That's it. That's it. We played for how many years, Spring Tides? I think, like, as a sixth piece, we were about two and a half years, nearly three years we played. So we... James would be quite inspired by the sort of Americana sound. I suppose we would be as well. Each of us would be like, oh, listen to this and we'd cover different songs. The Head and the Heart was a big one for us as well. I almost checked that out. James is doing well. He done well with the song contest. What a song. Fantastic. God almighty. It was just something else. The first night we played it in there. Wow. You know, it's not a song you'll ever tire of. No, definitely not. Beautiful for myself and Katharine. Just amazing. The harmonies are really good. So, social media ways, if people are looking to book you, how do they get you? Well, on Facebook, Super Sweet Blueberries. And then with the music that I'm releasing, I set up a Twitter there the other day. So I don't know how to work it yet. But it's Luke McGinn music. And then the single that I released there on Saturday, Only a Fool, is on Spotify. So people are on there. It's on all of them. And you released that. Where did you record it? In Blaspherness and Derry with Rory Donahue. Oh, yes. Very good. Very good. And you've only worked on the album. Is that a song? Would you say now it's a song from the forthcoming album? Try to describe it. Yes. Very good for sure. The albums work in progress. Do you know what the best albums are? Just take your time with it. It'll happen when it happens. The process of writing from the start for you, how does the start? Do you take the lyrics down for us? It differs, I think. Sometimes I'll be just going about my day with a little tune in my head. And I'll just be singing it. And then I'll become aware of it. Because it'll be going on in the background. Now I'll become aware of it. And then there might be some lyrics floating around. And then it's just a matter of sitting down and being in the right frame of mind. And usually it just... Do you walk away from songs? Do you go to just my land? And then maybe something spies you later on? Sometimes, yeah. There's some songs that I'm still just getting ending down. I haven't quite got the last part. I'll usually write two verses in a chorus or something. And then just not know how to finish them for years and then get back to them. Have you a back catalogue of stuff there? Yeah, it wouldn't be a massive back catalogue. I'd say I've got probably about 15 or 16 songs that I would be quite happy to put on an album. And have you got the songs now for the album? Have you got... You know exactly what you're putting on it? Yeah, not exactly. I'd say there'll be some that will maybe get dropped out. And I would like to maybe do one or two covers on it as well. So we'll see. All work and process. Right, another song you're going to do first. We're going to take a commercial break. But next up is what? Idea of you. And it's written as your own, too. Excellent. We're stay tuned. We have the super sweet blueberries live in studio and we'll be back after this break. Don't go away. Your voice, your station. On Highland Radio. We all want to live in a more sustainable world. So let's start by living in more sustainable homes. SSE Airtricity makes it easy. With the Generation Green Home Upgrade. Our award-winning one-stop-shop initiative partners with experts in insulation, heating, solar, windows and doors to make your home more energy efficient and cost effective. We do all the hard work for you. 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From short courses to masters, work hard and thrive with a flexible learning experience designed to suit you. Apply now at atu.ie slash flexible. ATU, develop the skills you need to stand out. Do you need a little extra help staying in your home? At Bluebird Care, we offer a wide variety of Qmark-approved personalised home care services across Donegal. And our fully trained and committed staff will always meet your care needs with kindness, compassion and dignity. To get your personal home care assessment plan, visit bluebirdcare.ie or call our care team today on 07491 29562 and bring care home. There you are. Welcome back. I've gone a half past nine on this Monday night's sessions and as I say, we're going to send Ron Heppern our live institute with us. And we're going to perform another original and it's called, again... Idea of you. Idea of you. In your own time. Okay. Well, that's amazing. Your vocals in that are pure class. Thanks very much. That's just something else, really, really brilliant and that'll be featured in your album. It will. The bass sound comes there. How do you get that? It works out. If you hit anywhere at the lower half of the box you get more of a bass sound and you hit anywhere along the top. The snare strings at the top on both sides. So that she gives you the snare pop sound. That's the best horn of her, you know? Yeah, well this is specifically designed to make the bass sound louder. It's a bit wider so it's more you know, and a live setup whenever it's mic'd up, right? Sounds like a real kick drum. It really does. I'm amazed because I have an interest in that but it doesn't go no further than the horn, you know? That's something Ronan told me on the way up in the car that I didn't know is that he taps the bass with the tips of his fingers. So it's a bit more of a solid. When you use the palm of your hand it sounds a bit flat but when you use the tips of your fingers you get more of a good thump of it. It's brilliant. It really, really is. Now it's just it's a drum kit as far as you know and you're looking at it, you know? That song was just brilliant. Have you met any rock type songs prepared for the album? Yeah, there's... that would probably be... I would have called that a poppy song, Dirtbag Pop. But yeah, it has a rocky vibe to it. And then there's another one, Chicken Wing like a funk sort of rock number I would say. Those are recorded already and finished, Chicken Wing and Idea View. Have you added much on to that as to what ways? Yeah, that one, we have some trumpet and it works really well. It just blows the sound. So quite pleased with that one. I look forward to this and it really does. You can get the finger out and get the fingers here. Where are you gigging now? What's your next gigs? The next we're in Rosados and we'll go on Saturday and then the Treehouse and Muff on Sunday this weekend. And then off. It's close to nearby. Do you travel far? What's the music? Not too far. We played a couple of gigs in the north and we were in Letter Mac Award there a wee while back. McCreedy's and Ballet Castle but mostly after Covid after the lockdowns and all lifted we had bars locally, got in touch with us and said can you play and we just took a load of bookings locally. How did the lockdown choose you guys? Did you go on live streaming? We did one I was living with a couple of my friends at the time which was great but we did one little live thing for St Patrick's Day just as the lockdown has started and our internet connection I think probably let us down for that so we didn't really we didn't carry that on and for the bulk of it I had kind of stopped playing Hard to get motivated again It was for sure because the music took an awful slap just overnight that was basically it and a lot of careers depend on us I felt for a lot of people and a lot of people had a long time getting over and as you say then once somebody mentions bookings you go yes go for it of course four on a Sunday but I suppose if you're working if you've all your things going on it's better to have the local gigs unless you're chasing a dream or something because the travelling is alright but when it's part time you want to stay as local as you can this album is going to regret and as I say how long have you been working on this album well the songs some of them will probably be as far back as 10 or 12 years ago but I had made it my new years resolution a couple of years I think to record an album but this year I'm actually doing it I had just I had never got the finger out in the studio but with the sound of that it's definitely overdue do you see when you're gigging do you throw in your own stuff or is it you play to the crowd commercially mostly we'd probably play to the crowd but Ronan would get me to play some of the original I'm a big fan of this music I really enjoy listening to it and over the valleys would be one of my favourite so I'd be always egging him on to play it but he'd be a bit reluctant just sometimes the crowd doesn't they're looking for the the songs they know it would be nice obviously to play to the crowd that want to hear your music open mic nights or whatever say the club you or something where you have an attentive audience that are not that there's anything wrong with an audience that have such good music you want it to be heard so anyway this on to our third song and this is the final song you're going to do for us only a full this is the single that's available now on Spotify this is your own as well and it's available on Spotify Spotify and all that Amazon music and Apple music and wherever you find your music under what name if you're looking only a full and it's look me in look me in look that's amazing it really really is that's my first time to hear it so I'm looking forward to checking out the Spotify to see if there's much of a difference your music absolutely brilliant really genuinely enjoyed that brilliant session back to you in the car again you don't play you don't bring drums you play that yeah I use this in the live but I'm actually I was thinking about the idea of buying a jungle kit like a small drum kit for the bigger gigs but still obviously have this but this we have a very good setup with this here we've got you know it sounds nice yeah it does it's the best one I've heard now so well done come here run on and look thanks very much for coming up thanks for sharing your music and listen we just want to hear more your music and please let us know when the album's out maybe we can launch it up here we're doing a night up here the doors open right absolutely and if you're out and about in Movil this is Rosettos and then then go along in here and they're called super sweet blueberries nothing else not the strawberries or the spice bears or anything at all come here thanks very much that's absolute delight having you and long may your music continue and your writing and brilliant stuff thank you very much indeed and when we're finished with you there's only one song I can play Charles Jales and the Rise on Highland Radio