On Our Radar: "I see Scustin as a universe more than a traditional artist or band"

You’ve worked in different musical projects before this – but how did Scustin come about?

Scustin was born out of the members of a band called *ROGUE!, and a want to be more ambitious with our songwriting, performing and creative output. And, perhaps, to push a few boundaries. I see Scustin as a universe more than a traditional artist or band.

What (or who) was the inspiration behind your debut single ‘The Killer’?

Let’s just say The Harbour Bar in Bray has a lot to do with it. I hope that, as the project progresses, the characters will become quite relatable, particularly to Irish people. The overarching theme is “pub talkin’”. I think one of our favourite pastimes as Irish people is getting pissed and just chatting shite. It’s almost cathartic for some people.

Whether that’s a healthy thing or not, I’m not sure, but it certainly is an interesting concept for us to explore. In terms of who inspired the track, I can neither confirm nor deny just how rooted in reality these characters are – but we definitely think they will be relatable.

You're fusing a funk sound with this eccentric storytelling – how did you settle on that approach?

George Clinton and David Bowie are massive inspirations, in terms of how they managed to create their own universes, embody characters and create a vaudeville-like experience for their audience. We’re all very into funk, soul, R&B, hip-hop and disco – or anything with a groove – so sonically we automatically moved towards that area. We also love dancing, so any excuse to have a boogie, really!

I’m also a die-hard fan of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and how they tell stories, so I take inspiration from them. A show about five questionable people that hang out and own a bar together is remarkably relatable to me. Also the Marvel Cinematic Universe has influenced the band in terms of how the movies and characters can both connect and stand alone. I’ve always wanted to apply this in a musical context.

Tickets for Scustin at Sin É, Dublin this Friday, February 25, are available here. Take a look at the video for 'The Killer' below: