Fish upon a star

As one third of the Fish Go Deep team behind 2006’s all-conquering house anthem, ‘The Cure And The Cause’, Tralee-born vocalist Tracey Kelliher believes the coming 12 months are an exciting prospect.

The crossover smash reached No. 23 on the British pop charts in December having rocked clubs of every persuasion all year long. 2007 now promises much live action, especially after they caught the bug with a show-stealing performance in Electric Picnic’s dance arena set last summer.
“I love getting a reaction from the crowds, and love playing in clubs where they play my kind of music,” Tracey enthuses about getting out more in the year ahead. “Nothing prepared me for the rush of hearing a crowd singing back the words to me.”
The first time it occurred was in The Gallery at legendary London club, Turnmills, and the Dublin-based chanteuse knew there and then that something big was brewing.
‘The Cure And The Cause’ had been lifted from Lil’ Hand, an album unleashed by Canadian label Ultrasound early in 2005, which Tracey K had recorded with Leeside production duo, Fish Go Deep, after their debut single ‘Nights Like These’ surfaced on Inspirit Music back in 2003.
Tracey’s singing career began “around 1999”. She was in her early 20s and in a band called Dextris, which she says comprised one DJ, two vocalists, chunky beats, old house and funk songs and lots of harmonies.
“We played in pubs and clubs in Galway and sometimes Cork,” she recalls. “When Dextris finished up back in 2001 or so, I contacted Shane (Johnson) as I had met him a few times.
“I really liked the tracks Fish Go Deep were releasing and their club nights, so I got onto them with a particular song in mind.”
When ‘The Cure And The Cause’ became the launching pad for Greg and Shane’s Go Deep imprint in late 2005, none of its three creators imagined that 12 months down the road they would be sitting in the upper echelons of the pop charts.
Its infectious lyrics – written by Tracey – struck a chord with many.
“Generally people say it represents their relationships with girls or guys,” she explains, “but I’ve also heard them say it means battles with drink and drug addiction, and others say spirituality.”
The title of the song you couldn’t escape in clubland in 2006 was inspired by an interview with Leonard Cohen that she had read, while the subject matter dealt with a brief affair its lyricist had.
“I was in situations that made me act in a way I felt I didn’t have control over – yet this person was making me feel better after making me feel terrible...the cure and the cause.”
The single’s massive crossover success was not limited to Britain.
“Places like New York, South Africa, Portugal, where there’s a good deep house scene seem to like our stuff,” Tracey reveals. “I’ve yet to get to South Africa though, that would be nice.”
The next move is to release another single from Lil’ Hand, to be followed by the live work all three are looking forward to.
“This year we're looking at releasing ‘Battery Man’ and more off the album, recording a few new tracks and hopefully touring together. I’ve been doing live PAs of ‘The Cure And The Cause’ on my own for the last few months, so it would be great to get to gig with Greg and Shane some more.”
The two legends of the Irish club scene – behind Sweat at Cork’s Sir Henry’s, Ireland’s first and longest-running house club – have been inspiring DJs north and south of the border for a decade and a half.
They currently promote and DJ at the weekly Go Deep night in Cork club Fast Eddie's, and recently released the second Go Deep single, ‘Chemical God’, which was graced by Mary Cigarettes on vocal duties.
And in February they deliver a Fish Go Deep instrumental powerhouse, ‘ESL’, on Ork Recordings, the label they co-own with the ubiquitous Swedish-based ex-pat, Mark O’Sullivan.
Studio sessions with Tracey are also on the cards.
“I'll be in Cork recording a few new songs with Fish Go Deep this month,” she confirms. “I’ve a few new ones waiting in the wings, and many more needing some time and TLC.”
It won’t be long before ‘Battery Man’ – actually put out as a single by Ultrasound in 2005 (accompanied by a DFA Remix) – becomes the focus.
The trio has yet to ink the deal for its upcoming European release, but major label interest is, as you would expect, huge.
“We haven’t signed on the dotted line but we do have someone in mind. We’ll keep you posted,” Tracey tells Hot Press.
Is there a long-term gameplan or are they going with the flow?
“Bit of both really,” she laughs. “It’s been happening a bit faster than I'd anticipated so at the moment there’s a lot that I’m just going with. It’s good – keeps me on my toes!”