Interview: The Blizzards get set for Live At Leopardstown

The Blizzards have returned to the forefront of Irish music in a big way. Following the success of their 2018 single, ‘I Need A Win’, the band are currently working on their long-awaited third album. Ahead of its release, they’ll be showcasing tracks from the album at a headline show as part of Bulmers Live at Leopardstown on June 20.

“I’m really looking forward to this show,” Louize Carroll, Blizzards bassist, tells us. “We’re still working away on the album and we have a lot of new songs that we’ve not only been recording, but honing specifically for the live show.

“This gig will probably be about us introducing a lot of those new songs. It’ll be a bit of a pre-party performance where we’ll see how they land. We’ll have a lot of the favourites from the first two albums on the setlist, but we’ll be peppering it with some exciting new stuff too.”

‘I Need A Win’ saw The Blizzards combine their signature pop-punk sound with the neo-R&B of Tebi Rex. It showcased a new side of the band.

“That song was a funny one,” reflects Louize, “because it was something that we’d written in the studio, and the way it came together was almost accidental. We knew the Tebi Rex lads, but we’d written that song originally for somebody else. Then one day we said, ‘Well, why don’t we just do the song together?’ So that collaboration was an accident – but a happy one in the end.”

Is the song reflective of the new direction that the album’s taking? “The new stuff is slightly different from where we were on the last two albums,” replies Louize. “It’s also a little bit different from ‘I Need A Win’ – this album is about us evolving. It’s still got the same elements that The Blizzards are known for – it’s still heavy, it’s loud, it’s rocky – but I think we’ve enhanced our core sound. We’re really excited to see how these songs work live.”

By undertaking some rigorous investigative journalism, Hot Press learned that Louize has her own equestrian history. In particular, she trekked across Central America on horseback.

“How did you find that out?!” she laughs. “I went to Costa Rica and managed a horse ranch there for about six months. Then at the end of my time there, I took one of the horses and rode across the country through the jungles. Nearly died a few times but made across safe and sound in the end!”

Horse-riding, she admits, has always been a big part of her life. “Since I was really small, I’ve always been slightly obsessed with horses and I think they’re an amazing animal. I actually did amateur racing when I was younger and I was really into competing, long before I went off into the wild and rode chaotically in Central America! I used to do showjumping as well, so I was mad into it. Unfortunately, I never went further with it when I got older, mainly because I grew too tall! I did go to the races a lot when I was young and I’ve always adored it. It’s such a good day out.”

Louize is particularly excited for Bulmers Live at Leopardstown and says that she’s impressed by this summer’s line-up.

“I was taking note of the announcements as they were made,” she says. “I love the line-up for this year. You’ve got Coolio, who’s going to be a real flashback. Then you have the absolutely legendary All Saints, who I’ve loved ever since I was young. I actually remember, embarrassingly, learning the dance moves to ‘Never Ever’ in school when that song came out. Although I think if I get a chance to see them this summer, I’ll maybe leave the dance moves to the professionals!”

• The Blizzards will perform at Bulmers Live at Leopardstown on June 20. For more details, go to leopardstown.com