Kneecap: ‘I was in the toilet, throwing up creme de menthe, and I look up and see Michael Fassbender’

The members of Kneecap, a punk-rap band from Belfast consisting of Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, and DJ Próvaí, made their way to New York City during the fall season. They had already performed two shows on their tour of the United States and Canada, which took place in both Toronto and Boston. During their stay in Boston, a nearby Irish pub opted to organize a meet-and-greet event and merchandise booth for the band after their show sold out.

During their journey across the United States that month, they performed at numerous venues that were completely sold out. The crowd was a mixture of young American rap enthusiasts, homemade Kneecap T-shirt-wearing punks, young Irish immigrants, metalheads, and older Irish-Americans who were captivated by the unique Irish-language hip hop music trend. Additionally, there were young people sporting Kneecap bucket hats, young women holding Tiocfaidh Ár Lá banners, and shirtless men eagerly reaching out on stage for a swig from a bottle of Buckfast. Following each show, a crowd of people would rush to the T-shirt booth, enthusiastically waving $20 bills.

The fact that this group has become more prosperous since they launched their debut single, Cearta, back in 2017 demonstrates that their style can appeal to a broad audience. They perform rap music using both the Irish and English languages. Similar to many other hip-hop artists, they craft lyrics that narrate their experiences, background, and the customs they are a part of.

They enjoy creating a spectacle by turning their mural unveiling in Belfast into a community event. They disregard the controversy that politicians, journalists, and radio talk show hosts create. They claim that these individuals do not grasp the underlying message of their songs or comprehend the culture from which their art originates. However, they have become cynical of the repetitive controversy and are amused by it. They even refer to criticism from unionist politicians as free publicity.

The time has come for the rap group "Kneecap" from West Belfast, who are often referred to as "low-life scum."

Although their team may be little, they are quick on their feet. The one leading them is Daniel Lambert, who successfully manages one of Ireland's most popular music groups, co-owns the notable Bang Bang restaurant in Dublin, and holds a key position as the chief operating officer of Bohemian FC. Lambert has recently accomplished the signing of Kneecap to Heavenly Recordings, a British independent record label that has released music from recognized performers including David Holmes, Saint Etienne, Beth Orton, Doves, and Manic Street Preachers.

The photograph showcases Móglaí Bap, DJ Próvaí, and Mo Chara.

Following their tour in the United States, the band performed at the Airwaves music festival in Iceland and the renowned Pitchfork festival in Paris. In the upcoming week, they have scheduled performances throughout England. In a few weeks, they will conclude their year with concerts in Dublin, Derry, Belfast, and Cork.

However, it feels like the present schedule is just the peace before an upcoming major event.

In the summertime, they finished shooting their very first film, which takes inspiration from their life story. Alongside Kneecap's inaugural acting role, it also includes a surprising choice for the cast- Michael Fassbender. The movie, helmed by Rich Peppiatt as both its writer and director, was picked out for Great8- an exhibition organized by the BFI and the British Council at the Cannes film industry event. This particular display has featured the likes of Aftersun and Saint Maud in the past.

Introducing the latest music sensation: Kneecap - a group with a distinctive sound that combines rap with a touch of amusement, hailing all the way from Ireland.

In the year 2023, Kneecap produced and composed their maiden album with Toddla T, who had previously collaborated with Aitch and Stormzy. Mags Mulvey was granted the award for best video design for her outstanding work in Minimal Human Contact, a play written by Móglaí Bap, at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards in March, which received critical acclaim.

It's difficult to not get the impression that Kneecap will experience a significant rise in popularity once their movie and music album hit the market in 2024, transforming them from a budding Irish group making waves globally to a major sensation.

Before their Bowery Ballroom concert, the group met up at Two Doors Down bar in Manhattan's Lower East Side to cure their hangovers with some cans of Modelo beer. It has been a year of significant progress for all three members. They were continually writing and recording leading up to the album's production. However, the quality did not meet their desired standard. Fortunately, they connected with Toddla T, who helped them out tremendously. When they arrived in his London studio with 15 tracks, they ended up not using any of them. Everything flowed naturally, and they started over, which turned out to be the best decision.

The band spent three weeks recording their new album in the studio. Although it was difficult to discard a lot of their work, DJ Próvaí believes it helped them to refine their skills. The creative process for Toddla T, Mo Chara involved starting with a beat and building ideas from there. This led to the album being centered around the concept of a bar, where the music is often interrupted by singing, traditional music, conversations with the bartenders, and the use of drugs in the bathroom. The first single was removed from RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's pre-watershed playlist due to its drug references.

During the recording process, Móglaí Bap and the group realized that working with Toddla T allowed them to see themselves in a different way. They appreciated having an outsider's perspective and seeing someone embrace and value their culture. Móglaí Bap mentioned that they hold their culture close and dear to their hearts, but it was refreshing to look within and see themselves through someone else's eyes. It was exciting to witness Toddla T's genuine enthusiasm and passion for their music and culture.

In order to make their feature film, the team spent a significant amount of time taking acting classes. Initially, they felt a bit uncomfortable with the first few exercises but eventually, Mo Chara began to really enjoy the experience. He found it to be therapeutic and realized that being present is crucial when it comes to acting. DJ Provaí also had mixed feelings about the whole experience. He found it disorienting to play an exaggerated version of himself but also realized that it was essentially pretending to be himself.

During a shoot, there was also the practical side to consider. Mo Chara explains that a driver would come to pick you up from home, provide your own trailer, and food would be brought to you. However, despite the perks, Mo Chara had mixed feelings, stating "I hated it. Actually, no, it was amazing. But by the end of it, I was completely exhausted."

At the beginning of filming, there were some problems. Móglaí Bap explained that they spent two months preparing for the shoot by staying focused, staying healthy, and not drinking. However, on the night before the shoot, they drank too much. The next day, they were hungover in Dundalk with a crowd of 60 people staring at them while they dug a hole for the first scene. Despite the tough start, they realized that their preparation paid off when they saw how well they all performed on camera. They were all comfortable and confident in their roles.

During the downtime of the filming, some truly bizarre moments occurred. One instance involved a singing session with Michael Fassbender, which happened to coincide with the arrival of former Celtic coach, Neil Lennon, sporting a noticeable black eye. DJ Provai remembers feeling particularly unwell at the time, and when they stumbled upon the unexpected pair in the bathroom, they couldn't believe their eyes. The whole situation felt too surreal to be true.

The situation outside the Bowery Ballroom is unfortunate as individuals are desperately searching for extra tickets. However, inside the venue, Rolling Stone magazine is present to capture photos and conduct interviews with the talented band. Móglaí Bap expresses their joy in traveling throughout the United States and connecting with individuals who speak with both Californian and Donegal, Tory Island Irish accents. DJ Provaí radiates with excitement as he talks about the experience of having American fans passionately sing along to their Irish lyrics.

The musician known as Grian Chatten from the band Fontaines DC has lent his voice to their song titled "Better Way to Live". This was captured in a photo taken by Toddla T.

Several artists have expressed their admiration and support for Kneecap. Their newest track, Better Way to Live, showcases the talents of Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC and Tom Coll on drums. Both musicians are fans of Kneecap's rap group, as is Radie Peat from Lankum and Øxn, who has also shared her involvement in their upcoming album. David Holmes, a renowned producer, recently told The Irish Times how crucial Kneecap's music is, describing their live performances as extraordinary. He even compared their energy to that of NWA in west Belfast.

David Holmes shared that he had the privilege of witnessing the true nature of Sinéad O’Connor. He described her as highly intelligent and possessed a remarkable sense of humor.

Ireland seems to focus more on their use of the Irish language than other countries, especially since their pop music is becoming less Anglophone. According to Móglaí Bap, the youth culture and language in Ireland are changing. The effects of colonization made people feel insecure about their own culture because of how it was treated. Speaking Irish wasn't cool when he was younger because everyone else was speaking English. However, people in Ireland are shifting away from that mentality and younger generations are less concerned about fitting in. They are embracing their language and culture more openly.

According to Mo Chara, he has always had confidence in himself, however, currently he feels unstoppable. It's evident at the Bowery Ballroom where the crowd is wild with energy, signifying that Kneecap is showing the same level of domination.

Kneecap will be performing at 3Olympia in Dublin on Tuesday, December 12th, and Wednesday, December 13th. They will also be playing at the Nerve Centre in Derry on Thursday, December 14th; Ulster Hall in Belfast on Thursday, December 21st; and Cork City Hall on Friday, December 29th.