Dublin slouch rocker Skinner shares new EP Commander Trainwreck

Dublin DIY artist Aaron Corcoran (aka Skinner) has dropped his four-track new EP, Commander Trainwreck, today via Faction Records.

Featuring previously released singles 'Dog Daze', 'Commander Trainwreck' and 'The Slump', plus unheard material 'Gaslighter'. The project arrives after the Gunge EP on 12” vinyl, a collection of five singles released from 2019 to 2021.

Previous singles ‘Dislocation’, 'Beer Me, Jim', ‘Sometimes My Brain is Goo’, ‘Slouch’ and ‘Headroom’ were compiled on the Gunge EP, a 2021 vinyl release. The songs have received airplay from KCRW, BBC Across the Line, RTÈ 2FM and 98FM's John Barker. Plus, Skinner was picked as a Hot Press’ 20 acts to watch in 2020.

'Gaslighter' sees Corcoran take on the mindset of a manipulative figure, presumably caging someone in a coercive relationship.

"I will lock you up/'Cause I can't have those people giving you those looks/Reminding you to always do just what I say/'Cause I'm your man/I got no insecurities..." the track opens with a subtle guitar riff before a brass section fills out the background cleverly. "No, I ain't never gonna let you leave..."

While the trumpet offers traces of blues/jazz - giving the nostalgic feel of The Commitments - 'Gaslighter' builds in intensity while staying under the radar. As the song continues, the subject exonerates himself from all blame.

It's not the first time Aaron has explored tricky subject matter in his tracks, with 'Dog Daze' showing the incompetence of police and the inequality of life for young people these days. The distinctive song touches on a number of cornerstones facing people in their 20s in Ireland today - inspired by the 1975 Sidney Lumet film Dog Day Afternoon, starring Al Pacino.

About the EP, Skinner says: "It all started when I was let go from my shitty office job that I hated. At the time I thought “this is great, I’ll just take some time off and spend it writing loads of music then I’ll get a new job”, but it didn’t really work out that way. I ended up sitting around the house all day in my underwear watching stupid YouTube videos and becoming really depressed. Time is a funny thing, when you have it you waste it and when you don’t, you feel like you’re wasting it. I didn’t know what I was doing with my life.

"I was sleeping for 16+ hours a day and not seeing anyone to the point where my dreams felt more real than my reality," Skinner continues. "I think everyone around me just thought I was becoming this huge waster but the truth was that I was dealing with some complicated stuff and I needed that space to figure it out. So I invented the character of “Commander Trainwreck” as a way of embracing my situation. I wanted other people to know that it’s okay to fuck up and if you need some time, then you need some time. I think everyone needs to be Commander Trainwreck at some point in their lives."

Spurred on by the soundscapes of no wave and post-punk (he cites The B52s, James Chance and the Contortions and ESG as influences, plus Pixies and Morphine); self-production is a pillar of Aaron Corcoran's work.

Skinner performs at Irish Music Week in Workman's Main Room at 8:30 Friday 7th October.

Listen to Skinner's Commander Trainwreck EP below.