Blue Fish Diamond are a Dublin based indie folk band. In 2018, they released their debut album From Dark to Light, which Hot Press Magazine described as ”essential listening for those who like their music powerful and heartfelt”.
Since then they’ve released several singles and music videos and will be releasing their second album Frozen Stars on the Night on 28th October 2021.
Blue Fish Diamond’s music has been played on radio stations around Ireland, including on RTE Radio 1. Their more recent releases have also caught the attention of radio presenters in various European countries, the United States and Australia.
Their latest single Song for Love is now available on all streaming platforms.
The band picked 10 cracking tunes that have influenced their style and own songs.
Paul Simon – Still Crazy After All These Years
This is a beautifully crafted song. Paul Simon’s use of jazz harmony and the unexpected twists and turns from a musical perspective are key elements of what make this such a great song. We’ve tried to emulate aspects of his approach in some our songs.
Tom Petty – Free Fallin’
We’re big fans of Tom Petty. The jangly 12 string guitar sound is so central to Free Fallin’. The repetition of the main guitar riff is hypnotic, constantly driving the song forward against a steady backbeat that seems to want to hold it back.
Townes van Zandt – If I Needed You
As a band we reckon we have a bit of folk country music in our DNA! We have drawn inspiration from this heartfelt Townes Van Zandt song, both musically and in terms of the vulnerability of its lyrics.
Tedeschi Trucks Band – Midnight in Harlem
This is a great blues rock song that has had an influence on how we’ve approached some of our own song arrangements. The drum pattern is so laid back and the lead guitar playing is awesome. The lead guitarist Derek Trucks has a particular style, alternating between individual notes and slide guitar in the same musical passage. Hammond organ caps off a perfectly chilled sound.
Squeeze – Up The Junction
Up The Junction has come up in numerous band conversations in the past. Its raw new wave energy really appeals to us. Its influence can be heard in some of the new music that we have in the pipeline. We put a lot of emphasis on lyrics in our songs and Up The Junction provides a textbook example of brilliant lyrics.
Van Morrison – Into The Mystic
The lyrics of this song are so poetic and mysterious. They almost speak to a different world, wrapped in spirituality with no limits in time or space. And like all Van Morrison songs, Into the Mystic has a serious groove!
Big Thief – Masterpiece
The first time we heard this song we fell in love with it. The line “This place smells like piss and beer, can you get me out of here?” captures the dark essence of the song. Distorted guitars and anguished vocals carry it through from start to finish, punctuated briefly by an out of tune guitar solo, but yet it’s impossible to stop listening to the song until it reaches its conclusion.
Burt Bacharach – What The World Needs Now
This classic hit from the ‘60s is a great example of the songwriting talent of Burt Bacharch and the incredible voice of Dionne Warwick. The lush instrumentation of the track really suits the sentiment of the song, with soaring orchestral strings and brass parts featuring prominently, a style we’ve drawn on for some of our more recent releases.
Laura Marling – Held Down
The vocal harmonies in Held Down by Laura Marling are beautiful. The way that they are layered up and the vocal registers that they reach really enhance the song. Vocal harmonies are a defining feature of our own sound and this song by Laura Marling has provided some inspiration for us.
The Band – The Weight
This is a great song on so many levels. The musicianship of The Band and how they interact with each other is amazing, including the lead vocals and vocal harmonies. The melody of the song is so catchy too and the lyrics are full of imagery and mystery. Iconically inspirational!