Dublin based six-piece Child Of Prague describe themselves as “an Irish take on Mid-West Emo” but we dispute that. To us they are unclassifiable, making music that draws on a myriad of influences while making something unique. Watch these kids fly.
Two days before Halloween last year, I sat backstage at Whelan’s, speaking with a sweaty six-piece that made up the Dublin alternative fusion band Child of Prague, who were graciously squishing together on the available furniture, shouting over the clamour of the packed green room into my little microphone, to talk about their project after their set.
Child of Prague informally began in 2021, but it wouldn’t be until 2023 that the current line-up was solidified. With six members with backgrounds as diverse as their sound, describing their origins and how they met feels (appropriately, considering their name) like dictating a Biblical genealogy. The chronology, as it was explained to me, went something like this:
Guitarist and vocalist Jack McDonnell of San Francisco was on the same course at Trinity College as guitarist Adam Treacey of Thurles. They hadn’t spoken until one night, when they were on the same bus to a gig and began chatting, and realised they had similar tastes. The concept for a band began there.
Then, drummer Miranda Gallacher of London was introduced to Adam after her friend complimented his Speedy Wunderground t-shirt, and he mentioned he was looking for a drummer.
Meanwhile, violinist Amelia Durac of Dublin had a best friend on the same course as Adam, who mentioned to her friend that he was looking for a violinist, who passed it on to her. At the same time, violinist and saxophonist Rachel Baum of Dublin also heard that Adam was in search of a violinist, and she mentioned that she also played saxophone, which they decided to incorporate.
Finally, bassist Noah Edwards of Westborough, Massachusetts was also in Trinity and befriended Jack in first year. When he heard about the band, he asked if he could join as their drummer, but, with the position filled, they told him they only needed a bassist. Not knowing how to play the bass, he bought one, locked himself in his room, and practised.
“It started as Midwest emo with an Irish twinge to it, just because that was the combination of us two,” Jack said of his and Adam’s initial vision for the band. “But as everyone joined, everyone brought their own little bit to it, and it definitely changed.”
By their own admission, the tracks that Jack and Adam had written as a two-piece were formless and tended to meander indefinitely. As more disciples joined the covenant, their influences, backgrounds, skills, and instruments were all taken into consideration, resulting in Child of Prague’s sound becoming a focused melting pot with elements fom Midwest emo, jazz, trad, math rock, folk, and classical music.
“Having unconventional instrumentation means that maybe there’s a song that you wouldn’t think to have two violins or a saxophone on, but having to find one opens up a completely new avenue,” Miranda said of their songwriting and how their mix has helped them to stand out in the scene.
She continued, “The basic realm of music that we’re in maybe does fit well within the Irish music scene, but I say we’re lucky that we have an edge because we have to find something to do with everyone.”
“I don’t totally disagree,” assented Noah. “I do think we bring our piece. Like, if the Dublin music scene is a lit potluck, we brought mac and cheese – and that’s awesome, and everybody loves mac and cheese – but we’re just a small part of a great scene that, when looked back on, we’re very much a ‘Now’ band.”
With everyone in, they only had to agree upon a name for the collective. For the uninformed, Child of Prague is a reference to a statute often displayed by Catholics, which depicts their Messiah, Jesus Christ, as an infant, as a symbol of adoration for His sacrifice.
Despite admitting to not being very religious, Adam’s guitar was the source of inspiration for the name. “Adam’s old guitar was full of Catholic paraphernalia,” Amelia (who takes credit for the titling) recalled of its origin.
“And I remember when I first met him, he had sheela na gigs and lots of Celtic/Catholic imagery and iconography, and I remember when we were trying to come up with a name, my friend and I were like, ‘What are some pretty Irish iconographies that people know that are associated with Catholicism?’ Then I was like, ‘Oh, I know! Child of Prague!’”
“And it’s funny, because I think Adam and I also came up with fifty different names that we were workshopping in the Notes app,” added Jack. “And Child of Prague, we had in the back of our minds the whole time, and we looked at all of those, and we were like, ‘Nope, that’s the best one.’”
“The Child of Prague, the reason we all liked it was because of the story that you leave it out the night before your wedding to have good luck,” explained Rachel. “In my head, that’s the main reason.”
Throughout last year, Child of Prague released a series of waterfall singles that built up to their debut EP, Clothed in Sun, which was released back in September. The EP is a collection of two years’ worth of material.
“It was mostly individual pieces,” said Jack, on how the EP was structured. “We have a few more, but we kind of picked and chose the ones that we felt were the most cohesive and would create a nice experience when you listen to them altogether.”
The songs on the EP came from the band writing and performing in close proximity, contributing their ideas, and resulting in something that could only have been made by these six individuals in unison.
“Half of us are working and are in school, so it’s a lot,” Adam said of scheduling the band. “But I feel like now it has to be the six. There might have been a time where we felt differently, but I think, for now, we can all do the gig or we can’t. With the six of us together, it’s a much better, fuller sound.”
Last year was a busy one for Child of Prague, but also one that illustrated their growth and popularity. After the EP, the band began releasing alternative versions of its tracks, and, when we spoke, they were a week away from embarking on a large headlining tour of Ireland and the UK.
This year doesn’t signify much rest for them, either. On top of gigs across Europe on the horizon, they are already looking towards their sophomore release. “We’re doing loads of writing,” Miranda said. “We’re ready to get some new stuff.”
“I love these songs, but we have been playing them for two years!” laughed Jack. “We’re a completely different organism,” concurred Noah. “And I want to make new shit.”
Words: Aaron Kavanagh
Child of Prague’s debut EP, Clothed in the Sun, is out now. You can keep up with the band at linktree.com/childofprague.
Child of Prague will perform at The Grand Social, Dublin, on May 14th. For tickets, see thegrandsocial.ie.
