Though they have been hailed as one of the hottest new Irish acts of 2016, self-described “aggro-soul” quartet Barq are actually a band of seasoned musicians. Eagle-eyed readers will definitely recognise their front-lady, Jess Kav, thanks to her shifts as backing vocalist for Hozier and Kodaline. Seeing those artists’ rise to fame was a huge inspiration to her.

“I was with Hozier when things just started to kick off,” begins the singer. “Being a fly on the wall... actually I don’t know if that’s the right term, but to be there at the beginning of it all and that initial rise was really amazing. I found it inspiring watching someone go through that, over the course of six/seven months. I thought, if an Irish person who I know can go from an EP launch and a couple of national gigs to suddenly being the most talked about thing at SXSW and online, there’s hope for us all.”
First forming around a year and a half ago, the band – completed by Neil Dorrington, Stephen McHale and Tommy Gray – have just released their debut single ‘Gentle Kind Of Lies’. Jess informs us that the genre-splicing song is just a taster of what they offer.
“Because of my background people think of me as a soul singer, but this music takes some of my influences like Lauryn Hill and mixes that with the guys’ influences like Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine and Mars Volta. It meshes together well and it’s quite aggressive, which is why I jokingly called it aggro-soul.”
With a raft of dates confirmed over the coming weeks, the singer is itching to get more Barq gigs under her metaphorical belt, now that the dreaded first show is out of the way.
“I was a bag of nerves,” she laughs. “People say ‘Aw, you’re with your friends’, but sometimes when you’re with your friends that makes you even more nervous. Mixtapes From The Underground were headlining and they’re an amazing band. And Faye from Little Green Cars was there too and I was like ‘Oh my god, there’s another singer in the crowd, crap!’ I was shitting myself but it all turned out grand. People said some really lovely stuff.”
While their name has been on virtually every taste-maker’s lips recently, Barq’s mission at the moment is to keep making great music – and let whatever happens happen.
“We haven’t done our five year plan yet – we’re taking it step by step and trying to master the level we’re at and then progress from there. We want to gain an organic following and if the universe opens up to us, and gives us more opportunities, that’s amazing. I’ve seen some of my friends go through the fame game. Take Kodaline, for example. When I see their schedule and how intense everything is, it’s intimidating. Their time seems to be in so much demand. Do I want that for myself? Maybe... but I’m not sure. It’s not something in my plan just yet. I’m happy taking it one step at a time.”
‘Gentle Kind Of Lies’ is out now on iTunes and Spotify. Barq launch their next single in Whelan’s, Dublin on May 29.