Captain Moonlight Interview: "I just couldn't take skirting around the issues any more."
national |
arts and media |
feature 
Sunday May 20, 2007 15:38
by d'other
As the wank of the Primetime party leader's debate recedes behind us and the main parties continue to slit each others throats each and every day in a pantomime scramble to the centre, these days it seems, finding even a morsel of inspiration in mainstream Irish politics is as hopeless as expecting coherence from Trevor Sergeant. Thankfully there is one man desperate to avoid the Primetime approach to politics. Ladies and gentlemen, enter Kilkenny's Captain Moonlight...
In this interview the Captain discusses voting, musical influences, Shannon, Shell to Sea and the relationship of Hurling to the anti-capitalist movement. He's also responding to comments and discussing the article.
MP3 download
'Keep to the left there lads...'
Related Links: Previous story on the Captain. | Alec Empire Feature | Captain Moonlight events on Indymedia | Indymedia Election Stories |
Moonlight's guttural rhyming patterns strike like a lyrical hot poker into the heart of Celtic Tiger Ireland to expose alcohol crippled lives, sharp cultural clashes of class and a deep seated alienation from politics as done, that "same auld, same auld shite." For a flash last year Moonlight received a glare of attention for a track called "Dirty Cunts." The track scratched the face of our gombeen elite with hip hop beats and a visceral abuse tempered with some precision angered comments on developers and corporate Ireland. Keen as usual to avoid a critical discussion about politics, most media obsessed about his dirty, dirty cursing and treated him as a once off hip hop oddity instead.
Moonlight is a very capable musical voice for a slowly growing Irish social movement, a transmission point for social woes that rarely get adequate treatment in the mainstream media, and that is hip hop at its most traditional. Here an Indymedia contributer catches up with the good Captain about politics, that track, voting and the demon delight of booze.
"Party People" is very much about that moment every four years when paristical politicians come knocking on our doors again promising us all sorts of things - "opening wounds just to cut a ribbon" - as you put it in one track, so with the election around the corner, how is Captain Moonlight coping with the circus and will you be voting yourself?
Well to cut to the point, I won't be voting. The simple fact is there is no reason for me to do so. This is not a cynical claim where I don't want to be involved in anyway other than that of a critical bystander. It's that there is no prospect of any real tangible change within the political system. You might get an individual who has his/her heart in the right place but is following the route to the same conclusion. If you get elected what if any significant changes can you instigate? We have parties canvassing for election who are led by people who not only have the motivation of power for its own sake, but they are the mouth pieces for business and wealth.
For instance, locally here in Kilkenny you just have to look at the main electoral prospects. The current TDs are themselves (in the majority) businessmen who have a higher quota of property and wealth than the average Joe they claim to represent. How are they going to initiate change to the benefit of most when they themselves are the ones who would most likely lose out? And when you live in a mediated society there is little or no prospect for the relatively impoverished to get elected as the money isn't there to fight any sort of a campaign. Again there are exceptions but these are a rarity to say the least. This is the problem with what we call a democracy. It can't be truly democratic if by its very make up it is there to benefit the "haves" in a much more significant way than the "have nots."
Also, how can we claim to be a democracy when the majority itself has been undermined by its own elected officials. Take the American Airforce use of Shannon, it's clear that the majority in this country are against its use yet the Irish government under some sort of covert/overt (take your pick) pressure have simply ignored the will of the Irish people by letting a state who are prosecuting a murderous war use our facilities to do so. To me Bertie and his cohorts should be locked up in the Joy. It might teach him two lessons. That he's not above the law and that the state of the prison system is a crime itself.
"Dirty Cunts" is pretty blunt in putting across the "true state" of the Irish political elite but it caused some controversy, a lot of this focussed more on the use of the word "cunt" than the political sentiment within it - how did this make you feel at the time?
To be honest I wasn't surprised as there seems to be the double standard of Irish society raising its ugly head again. The word is quite commonly used in the every day vernacular. Yet I just put it in song and it seems to split people (many of whom agree with the sentiment) over its use. It doesn't bother me as I think in time it won't make much of a difference. I said it as I just couldn't take skirting around the issues any more. It's just not worth taking the Primetime or Questions and Answers approach. For me, dialogue is in itself a farce at this stage. Everyone's talking, but no one is doing a fucking thing about it. That's the motivation for "Dirty cunts."
Its as much an assault on the Irish public for their indifference to making change happen themselves while at the same time remaining indignant to the way these gangsters are running the cunt-ry. Why is the health service fucked? Why are the Shell to Sea campaigners still struggling? Why are those natural resources in the hands of multinational corporations and not the people of Ireland? Why is Shannon being used as a stopover for warmongers? Why do so many struggle to get a mortgage while so few are buying up all the land? The answer to these problems lie at the doorstep of the public and their unwillingness to act.
When did you start making hip hop and was it always politically tinged? Do you think music makes a good vehicle for your politics?
I started writing in 1988 (a long time ago now) I was into groups like Public Enemy, BDP, Eric b and Rakim, Ice T, and Paris. This had a huge bearing on my ideas as it influenced and excited me much more than the more bragging oriented style of other artists. I also developed a great interest in punk groups such as Crass, Conflict and SLF in the nineties so this was bound to have an impact on what angle I would come from. Music does make a good vehicle for what I do as hip hop has in its make up the perfect format for saying something that maybe other forms don't reach. For instance you can say something in the way you mean it much easier. Punk achieved that also. It based its music much more on the message and delivery and achieved a unique approach of its own in that way.
Do you think initiatives like Rock The Vote do anything to tackle people's cynicism towards the mainstream of Irish politics or are they completely missing the root of the problem?
It's like I said before. The vote might count as to who gets hold of the reigns, but at the end of the day its a choice you are given from options that are pre-selected for you. Why don't these groups encourage young people to protest,to take action? If ye want to make your voice count then don't wait for elections. There are plenty of ways to initiate change, and they don't have to be in accordance with standard procedure. Whether through civil disobedience, strike actions or more creative means, there are far more effective ways to bring about a better Ireland.
Outside of politics you go on about boozing a lot and being "scuttered, fucked all night," - do you think we have a problem with booze, that "demon delight" as you have it in Ireland and where does it come from?
The "Demon Delight" is a double edged sword. It seems like a glorification of drinking but in fact highlights the many different aspects and effects of it. I think as to whether we have a problem with booze is something that needs to be measured on individual merits. On a personal level, the drink culture is crazy, but i am not in a position to be pointing fingers, unless I've about 6 pints in me, then I'll point at whoever I want, and none of ye fuckers can stop me. Ha ha...
For many you might seem like a political bolt out of the in the Irish music scene, many might even be surprised there's an Irish hip hop scene - never mind one with a political conscious - is there anyone else out there in Ireland making music with a focus like yours and is the scene strong and what do you owe to groups like Scary Eire?
To be honest,there are others who are doing as much to challenge the way we think in this country, take Jinx Lennon and a number of underground punk/hip hop groups. I just had a moment with one song that created more of reaction because of the manner in which it was delivered. There is an underground that has far more energy than the likes of Snow Patrol or the Thrills or any of that muck out there. Scary Eire are the original Irish hip hop group. They perfected more so than influenced how I would write. I had already started to develop my style when I heard them first, but they were far more advanced in every way. There were other groups back then, like Ghost and Jay who were influential. It certainly has had a good impact on a number of modern Irish acts. I suppose the ones I most associate with this tradition are Collie, Urban Intelligence,and a few others are now starting to emerge.
Some of your lyrics describe people as "cogs in the wheel instead of spanners in the works" and go on about how "while the tiger consumes its prey we barely let out a roar," this is all fairly pessimistic stuff. The track "Great Depression", targets the left accusing it of "talking such shite in the snugs and boozers, having a drink to their delicate nestings, living on the rep of revolution" - are you frustrated with the prospects for radical movements or fight backs in Ireland now that we've gone through this Celtic Tiger or just pissed off with the political organizations that claim to voice the discontent thats there?
A little bit of both. There are people out there who do an awful lot to highlight and provoke change, in fact they are doing more than they should need to, as if this society was more inclined to activism then individuals would not find their time all consumed with a greater workload to stand up to the lies and deceit that exists in our little fiefdom. However, some groups start off as protest movements where many of their self appointed spokesmen will be the electioneers in the decades to come. I have seen people using events for there own ends and trying to hi-jack incidents for self publicity. They are the future gombeens of the bananaskin republic.
You're a big fan of the hurling, as its an amateur association, a game where they "play for no cash, we've nothing to lose if the stock market crash" - but the track that celebrates the sport "now we're hurling" is more about encouraging people to get up and fight back than anything else isn't it?
"Now We're Hurlin' is at its heart an anti-capitalist song. The approach is taken from a sideline rant perspective as I am a bit of a hurler on the ditch meself. I suppose it is a bit of an attempt to inject energy in the psyche of people that is missing from this society, but again I'm not naive or arrogant enough to think that a song is what changes peoples minds or will in itself infuse a deep seated radicalization of the population. It is as much a reflection of how some people (myself included) feel about the situation we find ourselves in. I'm a writer and I don't see anyone in the general publics eye saying anything that I find inspiring so I try to manufacture my own little piece.
Is it just yourself that makes the tunes or are their other people with you and what will Captain Moonlight be up to in the near future?
I'm actually not the producer of any songs on Agroculture pt1. There are three people who were the creation behind the music.I had a guiding hand in much of it but it was they who really made it work. J Slyde from a band called Blue Ghost produced "Marble City" and "All I Know" and Danz produced "Dirty Cunts" and "Super Horrors." The rest were made and the album mixed and engineered by Mick Jones. As for the future, I'm currently finishing off Agroculture pt2 which should be out in June. Am producing a couple of songs on this meself with contributions from Danz and Mick,but the bulk of the album is being produced by Dave Holland. It will have a much different sound but the edge is much the same.
Comments (30 of 30)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30Kids, listen to me. Pop music changes absolutely nothing.
Get out on the street and do something concrete to help change the status quo. But understand that buying the latest radical tracks (or products of any kind) and making record companies (etc) more money and thinking how radical you are is a really stupid pointless way to rebel. All you are doing is assuaging your conscience and gratifying yourself at the same time.
If this is all you do then you are really just a part of the disease.
"Kids, listen to me. Pop music changes absolutely nothing.
Get out on the street and do something concrete to help change the status quo. But understand that buying the latest radical tracks (or products of any kind) and making record companies (etc) more money and thinking how radical you are is a really stupid pointless way to rebel. All you are doing is assuaging your conscience and gratifying yourself at the same time.
If this is all you do then you are really just a part of the disease."
am not sure i follow yer point.first of all,pop music changes nothing is fair enough,but is that putting what i do in such brackets,am i pop?cause last i heard i wasnt either signed to a major label or in the charts,or are you tarring everyone who makes anything that can be considered to be music with the same brush.i think you'll find that i made a similar point in the interview.as to the rebelling point.the simple fact is people have been inspired by art throughout time,so dont knock it.i was first taken by public enemy and crass taught me a lot more in how to think outside the box than chomsky.if then i go to an anti war protest,is it not fair to say that music did have an effect?(at least the literal aspect).i agree with yer sentiment that getting out on the street is the key and certainly the self gratification that some people(many in fact)get from just playing a song is a pretty much pathetic stance if thats the extent of yer rebellion,but you have ta be introduced to alternative views in most cases before you start to think for yourself.most people will find an artistic expression to be the thing that sends em to the bookshop to by literature,that in turn inspires them into different mediums that can lead to an activist life.art might only be the spark.but it can and sometimes does have one that might illuminate someones life far greater than an internet rant.
You can hear more Captain Moonlight tracks here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.vi...60002
He may not be voting, but for what it's worth he's very popular among members of Sinn Féin. We'll be making sure he gets a big grant or something when we (inevitably) take power...
Actually it is very easy to do,but at the moment,kilkenny is unfortunately a part of ireland,so down there is very much up here.when i was living in dublin and galway,it was much easier to attend protests whether anti war,may day gatherings,reclaim the streets or against garda brutality,or any other you care to mention.ive just become a father for the first time and quite honestly the last while has been very restricting.however i dont see why such an argument needs to be made,if what im doing is not in itself its own stance.i have been involved in raising money at benefit gigs in dublin for anarchist prisoners and court cases involving the shannon "saboteurs",as well as for social centres amongst others.I never claimed to be the spokesman for any group or movement.i merely made a point that it is a reflection of how some(if not many)people feel.i'll try to be a better revolutionary in the future.so i ask your forgiveness
Yours sincerely,
Berties love child.
I liked Captain Moonlight's ideas. I didn't think the music was very interesting though... liked the lyrics but the beats were too simple. I hope they use the cunt track as the opening theme for Newsnight in the future. Has Cpt.Moonlight tried negotiating with RTE on that point?
Captain Moonlight, Keep up the good work... Sounds good what u doin and sure some people will always knock it! Fuck the begrudgers.. capitalists, socialists and other groupings.. sure they dont have a clue..
I wil be voting, not cos it can change anything, just because its part of my rights (such as they are) in this modern celtic ireland. We are all responsible and only us can change it!
I remember Scary Eire from living in Dublin years ago.. and also the mighty TD Terrorosist.. "Gimme peace or i'll fuckin kill ya" How much has changed??
Anyway, yeah, you a brave and true man.. keep on keepin on..
Saoirse anois...
Rossport, Shannon, Tara... who do these people think we are, and do we (i, us, u) have any answers or alternatives to offer!!!
Still, bad mayo performace today "we still not hurling"..
Onwards and Upwards..
Bertie Ahern is a dirty cunt, Mary Hearney is a dirty cunt, Ml Mc Dowell is a filthy cunt, Micheal Martin is a nasty cunt, the PDs too- they're all cunts, FF are almighty cunts,FG they're arseholes & cunts, tellin us the truth really is a cunt!
Any enterprising people who would drive through every street in Ireland & play this song plus Party People?" Wake people up- "be a cog in the wheel or a spanner in the works!"
Brilliant creative gutsy stuff! The first good laugh I've had in this election fever farce, and lightens the heart to hear a true description of the rape of this cuntry. Have a listen on the link above...
Great to hear music that speaks of these times. Very few doing that..Paul O Toole is one of the few others.
Calling people he doesn't like "cunts". How incisive! This guy is obviously possessed of awesome powers of political analysis.
It is only Indymedia that would give the views of this juvenile rantopath the light of day.
I mean......just read the nonsense this twit sprouts. For gawd sake. If this illiterate bedsit malcontent is regarded as some sort of prophet by the Irish left, no wonder it it morally and philosophically bankrupt.
I heard "Party People" on the Myspace link above: brilliant... aboslutely fucking brilliant. (No I don't know this guy or anyone associate with him, but I wish I did). The Indymedia.ie featured track didn't excite me because of the (I thought) slightly boring klezmer vibe (a pale shadow of what can be achieved compared to e.g. Piggy's "My Emma Goldman"), but "Party People" is perfect.
a true classic
http://www.nialler9.com/blog/media/Captain_Moonlight_-_...s.mp3
c/o Bertie Ahern is a Dirty C**t @
http://www.nialler9.com/blog/2007/05/06/bertie-aherne-i...y-ct/
funny, i only played it the other night near barcelona for a few ozzys en route to g8 in germany, friends of the direct action against apathy lad from belfast who was down under recently.
I think Captain moonlight is deadly! Music and lyrics have definately inspired a lot of people to politics. It's a brilliant form of expression and communication, just as good as magazines or protest placards or pamphlets.
If it weren't for certain bands writing certain songs I possibly wouldn't give a shit about the things that I do, or be aware of many of the issues that I'm aware of and work against. If one accepts that music + politics= really important for offering alternatives to young people, then this is a rare instance of politics potentially getting a look in in a sphere of popular culture (hip hop) that has more of an appeal to greater numbers of Irish young people than the genres (e.g. punk/hc) that traditionally eschew alternative political values. Even if you don't agree with the cunting delivery, I think it's important to acknowledge the value of this shit.
Captain Moonlight is great. Hope that more people seek him out, we need more not less angry musicians. Hope to see him in Dolans in Limerick next Saturday.
yea pop music can change the world, just ask bob geldof, middle class politic's for middle class people. i wonder will moonlight be playing at liveearth......
And continue your second and further preferences for Frank Stein and the radical alternative, the wabbitte party, then retire to bed and listen to the Captain as a protest.
Get out on the street and do something concrete to help change the status quo. But understand that buying the latest radical tracks (or products of any kind) and making record companies (etc) more money and thinking how radical you are is a really stupid pointless way to rebel. All you are doing is assuaging your conscience and gratifying yourself at the same time.
Surprised actually at the level of moronic commentary sprouting up around this interview, so donned some of you are in blue cap-ism that any articulation of radicalism outside some red mast newspaper no one reads must be treated as a deep seated personal affront.
I mean the idea that people want to "rebel," like we are some sort of bold children seeking to piss off our parents through the accumulation of radical commodities in the context of this interview is so far off the mark to make me laugh. Where did you come up with this idea? Was it through one of those books you read? Oh wait, there's a commodity - quick burn it, don't let those captialists make money as you assuage your conscience.
Do you really think the actual point social change comes about is from waving placards on the street like some dumb ass radical martyrs speaking in tongues and shouting at weekend shoppers? Does it ever occur to you that there may be other factors aside from your weekend A-B stroll; the transmission of ideologies, the formation of political actors through a shared world view and many more that really are the point where social change etches itself out?
Or like a primitivist would you rather we destroy all commodities, even the irritant cultural artifacts of capitalism because they some how contain the evil of the social relationships producing them within them, like a satanic talisman?
The French Riots and Hip Hop: Staright Outta Clichy: http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/tx/documentaries/straight_ou...shtml
Straight Outta El Alto A revolutionary hip-hop scene emerges in Bolivia: http://www.utne.com/issues/2006_139/promo/12411-1.html
You have a very limited conception of what "doing something" means.
You assumed I just meant ineffectual protesting. That says more about your mindset than mine.
And I don't read red topped newspapers all that much. Sorry I don't fit your stereotype as well as you would like.
My comment on "rebelling" was somewhat tongue in cheek. You'll notice I said "kids".
Stuff your silly straw man!
When you grow up a little you stop listening to pop music so much and wanting to rebel to annoy your parents and eventually you just take a cold look at the disgrace that masquerades for a society and if you look at it long enough and think about it a bit, you are likely to come to the conclusion that capitalism is at the root of most things that are wrong.
I'm not taking mr moonlights music as a personal affront. I don't feel strongly about it at all. It's not worth the effort, thats my whole point.
Pop music mostly just bores and occasionally irritates me and IMHO it is a waste of time and largely worthless except as mindless entertainment when you really have nothing better to do with your time and want to just do nothing, or as something to stick on in the background while you do something more active and worthwhile but which does not require your full attention.
I merely wanted to point out that it's even less effective at bringing about change than those placard waving protests you assumed I was suggesting. And it is a classic trap that people fall into.
And blaring loud music that shouts "bertie is a cunt" and singing along with it reminds me so much of the 2 minute hate from 1984. Channels the anger out in a safe way and sells product at the same time. Beautiful. Thats why the establishment loves pop stars
Capitalism likes us to buy stuff, thinking we are radical
Capitalism likes us to watch lots of movies saying how awful it is.
As long as we don't actually do anything.
All I wanted to say is that listening to pop is not enough, even if they say "cunt" a lot. Thats just another trap. Just get out and be the change you want to see in the world. If you don't actually do something, you might as well just listen to kylie for all the good it does.
If as your comment suggested, the main reason for you doing this is turn kids on to activism and to be the spark that gets kids up off their asses to do actually something concrete and real to help bring about change then I'll say fair enough.
It may very well be that it is occasionally the spark that gets people actually doing stuff. If so, then I guess in those instances it is a good thing. If you actively push this "get out there" angle in interviews and lyrics then I guess that's a good thing too.
I merely wanted to emphasise how pointless pop music is on its own without action. Glad you agree.
Still can't help thinking of the 2 minute hate aspect though! :)
cant imagine how you can compare the two minute hate to this.firstly that is state imposed.my song isnt.i think i give fair reason as to why that chorus is there.i dont know any of these politicians personally,i just know what they are doing,and yes that makes me angry,but neither am i wallowing in some grandiose notion of my importance to this.there is a big difference to an individuals reaction as opposed to a state imposed one.i.e one is forced on the collective,the other a response by an individual.unless you are trying to pigeon hole emotions into a single category,this bracket doesnt hold.
as to the point you made previously of mindless entertainment.thats your opinion and just as i have expressed,some find it mindful.and anyway havin a bit of fun is for me the crux of the matter in general.the problem is its hard to be enjoying life when so many are miserable.it still doesnt mean that we cant make art that both points the finger as well as poke fun at these wankers ruining the future.it doesnt have to be perfect,but if it sticks in the spokes and cause a talking point,then thats a start.
I'd never begrudge someone doing something that they enjoyed. Knock yourself out. Life is short brutish and meaningless so have fun playing tunes and entertaining folks mindlessly while you can.
Just go easy on using the "Art" word and hyping it into something it is not. It's just pop music.
Think of me when you are doing a live show and hitting a crescendo of "bertie is a cunt" with your audience worked up into a frenzy and singing along!! :) Of course it's not a safe communal release of anger.
Seriously, best of luck though, even if we may disagree on stuff. I know quite a few musicians and it's hard to make a crust these days in your profession.
we've already discussed whether its mindless or not,so your trodding old ground there boss.
i dont think im hyping it into anything its not.it is an art form,whether you think its valid,good or shit,and whether you approve or not is irrelevant to me
i'll think of you with loving affection when i sing out berties name,.
and finally,thanks for the best wishes.it would be easier turn water into wine than fashion a crumb out of this.
yours meaninglessly,
the mindless entertainer
your sportsmanship or sense of humour captain! Good luck!
Who knows, might even stick on a tune of yours (in the background of course! :)
How dare you call our Prime Minister a count?
You're hurting me lovely Mary.
Tanks a lot.
This is a funny thread, people are so unbelieveably condescending sometimes.
When you know who d'other is this thread is particularly funny. The bloke has done more for the libertarian left in Ireland than most people and shock horror he, oh my god, he, i can't bear to say, he, what would Connoly say, he's into music and radical culture.
Actually what Connolly would say would probably be similar to this: "no revolutionary movement is complete without its poetical expression. If such a movement has caught hold of the imagination of the masses they will seek a vent in song for the aspirations, the fears and the hopes, the loves and the hatreds engendered by the struggle. Until the movement is marked by the joyous, defiant, singing of revolutionary songs, it lacks one of the most distinctive marks of a popular revolutionary movement, it is the dogma of a few, and not the faith of the multitude."
As for captain moonlight not being 'Art'. Art being an end in itself, i.e. being anything other than a form of communication, is when art becomes devoid of any socially useful or progressive content. I think someone put it better than me when they said: "When art, which was the common language of social inaction, develops into independent art in the modern sense, emerging from its original religious universe and becoming individual production of separate works, it too becomes subject to the movement governing the history of all separate culture. Its declaration of independence is the beginning of its end." The less Captain moonlight aspires producing 'Art' and the more he aspires to producing good music that means something to him and that says something to his listeners the better.
please tell me your not saying that im concerned about producing art for arts sake?
He may be a dirty cunt but he's OUR dirty cunt
No I was saying that your producing good music that means something to you and that says something to your listeners. And good on ya for doing that. I was saying that people like ProgrammedRebelConsumer who complain that 'it's not Art' are full of s***.
Some new Captain tracks are up over at http://www.nialler9.com/blog/2007/09/10/return-of-the-b...rmer/
Mc Captain Moonlight
You are a man after me own heart.
About bloody time artists started saying something again in Ireland..
And this guys rocks it with clever lyrics , hooks and beats..
Not since the old Rebel folk songs has Irish culture been truly represented ..
Keep kicking those Fat Fianna Fail arses Captain !
God knows it needs to be done!
Ruairi
:)
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.vi...24057
Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.