Kneecap have spoken about “getting back to their roots” for their next album in a new interview – check it out below.
Speaking to NME this week at Reading & Leeds, Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara of the Irish rap trio sat down and spoke about what fans can expect from their next album.
Speaking about new music, Bap said they were already working on new material. This will be the follow up to their June-released album, ‘Fine Art’, which earned a five star review from NME.
He explained: “We’ve already started. We’re working on different collaborations, working with different genres, different languages. We’re going back to the music now, because we’ve been doing the movie for the last six months – talking, talking, talking, talking, talking. Talking about music we don’t mind, but the movie has been very strenuous. We want to go back, make music, have a bit of craic in the studio, and get back to our roots.”
Chara added: “…We definitely want to go back into the studio away from everybody and just do music for a while. Nothing sounds better at the moment.”
The band performed an explosive set at Reading last Friday August 23 – a performance that saw them incite moshpits and call for freedom and peace in Palestine.
They performed their set on the same day as their Michael Fassbender-starring movie Kneecap hit cinemas in the UK. Hailed by NME as “not only one of the standout films of 2024, but arguably one of the best music biopics of all time”, the movie has been submitted by Ireland for the Oscars next year.
The film depicts the rise of the Belfast trio and their personal and political scrapes with authorities along the way, with the band playing themselves, alongside Michael Fassbender as Móglaí Bap’s father Arlo.
Speaking about their chances of getting to the Oscars to NME, the band’s Chara added: “Most countries get to make a nomination from their country, and we were Ireland’s nomination. We’re in a long, long list, then we need to make a longlist out of 100 films, which goes down to 15, and then down to five. There’s a long way to go and I’d be very surprised. Hopefully bribery works. I’m trying to find out who to bribe!”
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year, making it the first Irish film to do so. It went on to clinch the NEXT Audience Award at the festival.
In a glowing five-star review of the film, NME wrote: “Just like their insane live shows and debut album ‘Fine Art’, it’s one hell of a laugh. However it’s also full of heart; telling a real working class story as a call for unity without punching down or patronising. Anyone who compares it to People Just Do Nothing or The Young Offenders can get in the bin.”
“Unapologetically ballsy and brave, Kneecap has no business being as good as it is – not only one of the standout films of 2024, but arguably one of the best music biopics of all time. So, with much thought and time to percolate, here’s your full analysis: Holy shit, fuck me, what a film.”
Kneecap will also be opening for Fontaines D.C. at a massive Finsbury Park concert on July 5, 2025, alongside Amyl & The Sniffers.
