“Don’t talk about Niall!” Aoife Power says jokingly when I begin to ask about his departure from the band. The pandemic made many people reassess their future, and whenyoung guitarist Niall Burns was no different, having decided to leave the band to go to university to study psychology.

“We were all struggling,” says Aoife. “With anything creative you have to be in it 100% because it’s not an easy ride. So I think he’s made the right choice.”

Andrew agrees: “It would be awful if he was still in the band now and didn’t really want it. It’s all good, it’s very amicable. He’s looking on at us now as a proud Dad kind of vibe.”

The pandemic led to other major changes for whenyoung including a move to New York label, AntiFragile. Percussionist Andrew Flood, openly admits how this came to be.

“During the pandemic our previous label Virgin EMI had a big overhaul and dropped a lot of acts, including us!”

Beginning as a band called Sisters in 2012, they became whenyoung in 2016 when things really began to take off for the band. Tirelessly gigging, they played support slots with artists like The Libertines, Garbage, Declan McKenna and Bloc Party, then signing to Virgin EMI. They were on a steep trajectory towards success, so it’s easy to see why the pandemic had such a significant impact on them as a band, and individuals. But the stark change in their sound on their new album, Paragon Songs, can’t be as simple as having their guitarist depart from the lineup?

“People probably think that but Niall was still there when we decided to make that change,” says Aoife. “We wanted to write it differently. When you’re playing a lot of gigs with other indie rock bands it can feel a bit samey. So, we decided to get some synths in!”

whenyoung - Paragon Songs

Multiple tracks on the album address self-criticism and self-love, including ‘Shame Train,’ ‘Rubik’s Cube’ and the utterly hypnotic single, ‘The Laundress.’

“I did quite a bit of journaling in 2020 when we were doing this album,” Aoife reflects. “I was having a bit of a meltdown, I was like, ‘I need to look after myself’. Writing songs helps you figure out what’s going on in your life.”

2019 was a big year for the band. They released their long-awaited debut album, Reasons To Dream, and played a host of festivals including SXSW, Body and Soul, Latitude, Tramlines and TRNSMT Festival.

“We’d been going at such a fast pace, you don’t absorb everything,” says Aoife. “Writing out why you feel sad about this or that is really helpful. Figuring out why I’m so hard on myself in certain ways. Honestly, I feel like this album helped so much.”

Asked about what ills her, Aoife shoots back, “I worry about not being good or successful enough. Probably the things that everyone feels but doesn’t talk about too much.”

On the album’s penultimate track, ‘Unchained,’ Aoife addresses some of the pressures she felt whilst still signed to Virgin EMI.

“There were definitely people in our lives in the music industry who weren’t providing the best support,” she resumes. “Elements of that were really tough and maybe someone stronger than me would have been able to deal with that better. I kind of blame myself for not being able to put up with it. I know a lot of women have to deal with certain comments or pressure so it’s not just in my head. It does exist but it was really hard being in a band with two guys and them not feeling the same pressures. Sometimes you feel like you’re imagining it.”

Pressures of how you look?

“Yeah, yeah,” she nods. “Because I’m really sensitive it was really difficult for me. Now I feel...”

“Unchained!” Andrew jumps in.

“I’ve just become more confident in who I am,” Aoife nods. “As soon as I turned 30 I felt a big change. It’s kind of a bit like, fuck it.”

While I’ve known the two were an item since I first met them in 2012, drinking cans of Tenants in the Muswell Hill flat the band shared with a good friend of mine from Limerick, it’s never been mentioned in any interviews or press that they’ve done, until now.

“You’d be surprised at the things people don’t ask you,” says Aoife. “We weren’t exhibiting affection in public, it would have been unfair on Niall, so we just kept our relationship a private thing.”

“We’re like the White Stripes, you know,” Andrew teases. “With the band stuff we do like to keep a certain amount of privacy.”

I take the hint, but ask if they can indulge me and tell us about how they first met. Aoife is first off the mark.

“Castlegregory, 2007. The August bank holiday weekend,” she says.

Andrew doesn’t hesitate to answer either: “The first time I saw Aoife she had a guitar on her back going into Peter Dee (a music academy in Limerick) and I was like, ‘Who’s that?’”

“That’s when he was checking me out before we actually met,” Aoife teases.

“Our bond was music,” says Andrew. “I was like ‘You like Blondie? I don’t know anyone who likes Blondie!’ This was still the era when coming across music wasn’t easy. The more shared outlets you have the easier it is. Especially if it’s something creative because then you can inspire each other.”

“We’re really aware of each other’s strengths and they’re very different,” Aoife reflects. “They compliment each other and we’re really lucky with that. You have to be best friends first: that’s essential.”

“You have to be aware of your own shortcomings,” Andrew says with a grin. “Just don’t be a prick!?”

“We’re lucky that we’ve grown up and wanted the same things - that doesn’t always happen,” Aoife reflects.

“One of us could have been more clever and said, ‘I’m going to study accounting and actually make some money’” Andrew laughs. “But that didn’t happen. We were both naive enough to pursue it.”

After ten years of living in England, they decided to move back home to Ireland. Returning just yesterday via-Irish Ferries, they are quite literally fresh off the boat and heading for Doonbeg, a small coastal village in West Clare.

“It’ll be quiet and that’ll be a big change,” says Aoife. Andrew looks excited at the thought of setting up their own studio there: “We’ll make it work and be happy.”

Are they looking forward to being part of that community and taking part in informal sessions with local musicians?

“A huge part of us moving back was to be part of the Irish music scene. We’ve never had that, we’ve always kind of been outsiders,” Andrew notes.

“I played fiddle when I was younger, I’m awful but I’d love to get back at it and it would be so nice to take part in sessions or even just sing or watch,” says Aoife. “That’s the most magical experience ever. I would actually way prefer that than going to a gig. That kind of intimate experience is unbelievable.”

There will be plenty of opportunities for that being based in West Clare but how do they quantify success at this point in their career?

“Success is being able to continue,” Andrew ventures. “Ultimately it’s creating music that we are happy with and proud of. Everything else is a bonus.”

“Being able to continue without struggling majorly, without having to sacrifice things like starting a family,” says Aoife.

While whenyoung have always adopted a DIY approach to their music and career, are they planning any entrepreneurial ventures as they embark on their new life in Ireland?

“We’d give anything a go,” Aoife laughs. “We’re absolute cowboys! We’ve done landscaping to substitute income and really enjoyed it. There will be more varied work on the side that we’ll have to do in Clare – we’ll see if landscaping plays a part. We might get into farming!”

• Paragon Songs is out now via AntiFragile Music Recordings. whenyoung play Night + Day Festival on Saturday June 24.