Multunes: "It’s so important to have festivals like Longitude, which really support up and coming artists"

Catching up after a busy work weekend, Tom Muldoon, AKA Multunes, is preparing for his upcoming set at Dublin’s biggest outdoor festival, Longitude.

“I’m really buzzing,” the Liverpool-based Irishman laughs. “It’s amazing to be playing on such a big Irish line-up and with such massive names.”

Muldoon acknowledges his excitement about getting out in front of an Irish crowd.

“I’ve played smaller shows in Ireland and loved it,” he enthuses. “It’s such a buzz, even on that level, so I’m really excited to step it up. Longitude is so different – it’s not just a rave, like what I’m used to. It’s got so many massive international A-listers, so to be considered for something like that is special.”

Tom excitedly confirms he’ll be staying for the duration of the Marlay Park festival as an attendee.

“I’ve never really seen rap acts live, so I’m really looking forward to people like Travis Scott and Ice Spice, because it’s something I haven’t got to experience yet.”

Surely, Muldoon won’t be hanging around the festival by himself – but in terms of musical guests, he’s yet to decide if he’ll bring anyone on this ride with him.

“I’m not sure if I’m planning on bringing anyone with me actually, that could be a good idea,” Tom smiles. “I’ll definitely be playing some of my colleagues’ music in remixes, along with some of the music that I’m releasing.”

And new things are definitely coming from the artist.

“I’m working on loads of new music at the moment,” he teases. “I’m making an official remix for a big name, can’t say who yet, but I’m hoping that’ll be done by the time I hit Ireland.”

Admitting that festivals are completely different to what he’s used to, the DJ talks me through how he gets the crowd hooked during his sets.

“How I play really kind of depends on who’s playing after and before me,” Tom explains. “When I’m playing, I’m mostly playing on my own. I’m usually playing start to finish for like five hours. So, because of that, I’m able to go through the whole spectrum of genres. I’d start on house music and create the slower BPM, and then just gradually, through the night, build up the tempo and intensity.

“I’ve got a library of all different flavours of music, but in general, my style is kind of upbeat, happy dance music. Trying to keep people dancing is the main thing.”

Multunes adds that we need more festivals like Longitude.

“I absolutely think it’s so important to have festivals like Longitude, which really support up and coming artists,” he says. “As an emerging artist, you need bookings – it’s all about elevating your profile. And this is the perfect thing about Longitude. It’s a new country for me that I never really get to play, and it’s a massive festival. So, by playing Longitude, new people will get to hear me, and I get a chance to build my stock around Ireland, which is really important.”

Hyping up the emerging artists on his playlists, Muldoon considers his dream line-up.

“I was gonna say Calvin Harris, but I’m already playing on the same line-up at Longitude,” he chuckles. “Then, I just love the young up-and-comers really. People like blk., Ben Hemsley, Hannah Laing… but some of them are also playing Longitude! You know, these are people that I really look up to and respect, because they’re just young people like me, making a real name for themselves. It’s quite inspirational.”

Multunes plays Longitude on Saturday, July 1

Read the full Longitude Special Feature – featuring interviews with Jazzy, MK, TraviS X Elzzz, Fionn Curran, Songer, Joel Corry and RAYE – in the current issue of Hot Press: