Sionnach Langan, age 12, and Daisy O’Brien, age 13, are learning music through Music Mash Up, a partnership music project established between Music Generation Cork City, Foróige, COPE Foundation and Voices of Cork Choir. They are also both currently attending the Music Mash Up summer camp.
Sionnach:
I joined Music Mash Up about 2 or 3 years ago. The only instrument I knew then was ukulele but they asked if anyone would like to try bass, and I had never done it ever before. Now I play bass (guitar), piano and I sing. I got a keyboard for my birthday.
Daisy:
I was going to the clubs in St Joseph’s Youth Centre in Mayfield and one day a volunteer just came in and was like ‘Is anyone interested in coming to music every Wednesday?’. I never imagined that I would play the drums. When I walked in I was thinking of playing the piano or the guitar, and then Davie said ‘we’ll all have a go at the drums’, and when I tried them I loved it! I kind of zone out when I play, it’s a good experience. I like playing upbeat songs that have drums all the way through.
Sionnach:
I sing in the Music Mash Up hip-hop choir in Mayfield, run by Clodagh. I had never really done singing before, and it’s fun! We’ve done some Michael Jackson songs and other pop songs.
Daisy:
We’ve done performances at the City Hall, St Luke’s, Mayfield Library and at SeaFest. My mum and dad came and they were really surprised because, like I hadn’t told them much because I didn’t really wanna make them think that I was this rockstar drummer or anything! So they were really surprised that I could actually like play the drums!
Sionnach:
My mum and my cousins came, and they thought it was really good. I play music a lot at home too. My dad doesn’t play music, but my mum does kinda like experimental music. She likes people experimenting with sounds, or like hip-hop and stuff.
Daisy:
My brother Joe plays guitar and piano. When I got my drums at Christmas we were jamming. My dad listens to a lot of music, so I grew up listening to a lot of rock music. I like The Who and the Arctic Monkeys.
Sionnach:
I love Pillow Queens. I went to see them with my parents, and I’m going to see Ariana Grande in September with my mum.
Daisy:
I think Music Mash Up is a really good experience to have basically at your doorstep. For me, it’s like a 3 minute drive.
Sionnach:
It’s not like other kinds of music lessons where it’s really expensive and you don’t have your friends with you. Here you have your friends and you can have fun!