On the sunniest Saturday that Download Festival has seen in a while, we had a chat with brother-sister duo Steph and Paul O’Sullivan, AKA Greywind. They’ve had a whirlwind journey of a career journey so far which has led them to Download 2017, and it’s the perfect chance for a catch-up.
Hey Greywind, you’ve just done your first Download Festival how was it for you today?
Steph: It was amazing, a packed out tent.
Paul: Today was like our twentieth live show and for it to be at Download to a packed tent and see people singing along it was crazy. It was amazing.
You’ve had a whirlwind journey and have done a lot of things that bands take years to do in such a short space of time – one of these being the release of your debut album Afterthoughts. How has the response been for you?
S: It’s been surreal.
P: This is all we’ve ever wanted to do, so to see us achieve things so early like play Download Festival, playing Reading & Leeds, and playing Rock Am Ring last week that’s crazy. We grew up watching highlights on MTV.
S: It’s been amazing.
What have you learnt on your journey so far?
P: Just do what you want.
S: Wing it basically.
P: We are the biggest proof that you can just wing it.
S: You can do anything if you believe enough.
P: Like if you told us in our first twenty shows we would have played Reading & Leeds and Download we would have said you’re insane. So just do what you want and don’t care what anyone thinks.
Can you tell us a little bit more about recording with Jason Perry?
S: It was so fun, it was really funny. As for me, he’s a singer obviously from A so for me it was so good to have like a mentor on vocals, because obviously recording an album is really daunting.
P: He’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever met so it doesn’t feel like there’s any pressure, so you do a take and you’ll be laughing the whole way through it and he’ll be like ‘we’re done’ out of nowhere. He’s amazing, I loved working with him.
If you had to choose a favourite lyric from your own album what would it be and why?
P: That’s a hard one.
S: I think “I tell them I’m fine when I’m not” I think a lot of people could relate to that.
P: We always see fans tweeting and on Tumblr and Twitter so that.
What’s been your favourite show so far?
P: Rock Am Ring.
S: Yeah Rock Am Ring last week.
P: And our first ever headline show was in London in January and it sold out so that was really special for us. We love today too and Reading and Leeds. We love all of them.
S: Every single one.
Which festival which you haven’t played yet would you love to play?
P: Warped Tour.
S: Glastonbury. Warped Tour is like the dream.
P: Warped Tour is our number one so hopefully.
Well if you’re at Download this year who knows, Warped Tour next?
S: Hopefully!
As we’re at Download what would be your favourite festival anthem?
P: Hmmm Livin’ on a Prayer.
S: The Anthem by Good Charlotte.
Finally, what’s coming up in 2017 for you?
P: We’re playing 2000trees Festival, then we’re playing Fat Lip Festival in Bristol and then we have other things we’re not allowed to say yet. We’re always working hard!
Interview By: Nicola Craig
