The Exact Same Kid
Alex Conroy who released his brilliant, infectious and highly anticipated new single 'Like A Child' on August 22nd.
The Exact Same Kid is the moniker of Dublin born songwriter Alex Conroy, with his lyrically-driven blend of upbeat indie rock, The Exact Same Kid takes a tongue in cheek look at some of life’s more bittersweet themes of love and loss, of memory and of finding joy even in the most mundane moments. Originating on the folk scene, he found himself overly focused on using language cleverly, rather than the meaning he was trying to convey. Taking inspiration from a wide range of artists like Kurt Vile, Lou Reed, War on Drugs and Courtney Barnett, among others, The Exact Same Kid uses everyday language to craft songs that are more honest and better connect with his listeners.
Alex has performed alongside acts such as The Ghandis, Clara Byrne, Apella, The Blizzards, I Have A Tribe, Cathy Davey and Neil Hannon. Ultimately growing uncomfortable with the stillness and isolation that comes from being a solo artist, the desire for a bigger sound and more collaboration led to some years of experimentation. The Exact Same Kid is the result, a heavier indie rock sound that still retained the lyrical focus of folk music.
Blink 182 - All the small things
Blink 182 are probably the main reason I got into music. I had a friend who was obsessed with them and he started learning to play guitar, so I did too. I listened to them so much as a teenager that I think the music is ingrained in me, and I can still hear it in the music I’m making now all these years later.
Tallest Man on Earth - Love is all
Tallest Man on Earth opened my eyes to what just one guy and a guitar could do and I went deep trying to emulate him - right down to his gravelly singing voice. The guitar playing here is beautifully intricate, but doesn’t get in the way of the vocal. The words are oddly dark but uplifting, and the rise and fall of the song is just perfect in my mind.
Doc Watson - Windy and Warm
I am obsessed with this song and have been since the day I heard it. I have to get inside it. I play it every single time I pick up a guitar. It’s a compulsion. It’s been maybe ten years and I still can’t match Doc note for note. Even though my music sounds nothing like this it’s heavily influenced my guitar playing style. Chet Atkinson played it first but Doc Watson played it best.
Kurt Vile - Loading Zones
Kurt Vile likes to say he’s the master of the turnaround. In the space of three and a half minutes he goes from saying that Philadelphia is dirty to ultimately deciding it’s beautiful. I love how this song is just about knowing your home town so well. It’s dirty but it’s beautiful - you own it and you know where you can get away with parking illegally. This song has attitude to burn, but it’s got that signature KV laid back lean too.
Delicate Steve - Butterfly
Delicate Steve is like if a band made the guitar the lead vocalist. All the music is instrumental but it feels like there are lyrics there in a language you can’t understand. There’s no wrong place to start with Delicate Steve, but this track off his first album Wondervisions to me is one of his best. Loud, repetitive and full of joy.
Hiss Golden Messenger - Biloxi
I’ve never been to Biloxi, but this song makes me feel like I have. It’s classic feel good Americana done right. The lyrics strike the perfect balance of personal and universal - I know that he means what he’s singing and that it also means something to me. There’s also a thread of people here that runs through some of my favourite artists - Phil Cook, Tallest Man on Earth, Bon Iver, May Erlewine - everybody’s talking. You make your own community.
Blake Mills - Hey Lover
Blake Mills really knows how to drive a song, I’m hooked from the opening riff. There’s a looseness to this song that’s really refreshing, it’s not super polished and you can tell he’s just having a blast with the whole thing. The lyrics are sweet and there’s a bit of humour to them. I think I just really like it when an artist can be emotive and funny at the same time.
Andy Kaufman - Rosemarie
This is going to seem like an insane inclusion, but if you can get past the obvious ridiculousness it’s actually a really nice version of this song. This is another one that I immediately picked up the guitar to learn. I’m a sucker for the falsetto and there’s a chord change in there that I’ve stolen and used several times in my own songs!
Demis Roussos - Forever and Ever
Again with the falsetto. I think I first heard this when Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon featured it on their show The Trip. Sure it’s a little bit goofy but there’s something else there too. The arrangement gives it a really lush feeling, like being wrapped up in a big velour sheet on a shag pile carpet. It’s weird in all the right ways. Yes it’s cheesy as heck, but I still love it.
Frank Sidebottom - Guess who’s been on match of the day
I wish I wrote this song. Comedy? Performance art? Who knows. I’ve thought about Frank Sidebottom on a level that’s probably unhealthy. A living cartoon character with a papier-mâché head who loved his home town and wanted people to know about it. But past that there’s a great story of someone who just did his thing regardless of who was watching or not. He released magazines, comics, made his own merch and never relented - he stayed true to who he was…or maybe wasn’t. As long as you’re having fun then nothing else matters. It’s Franks’s world and we’re just living in it.