Judith Bellmunt looks at the music scene in Dublin.
Dublin - the city famous for having a pub around the corner of every street, home to bands like U2, The Dubliners, Fontaines D.C, and where live music plays day and night at Grafton Street. You would expect such a place to have not only the best nightlife, but one with the finest music. OTwo decided to put that to the test, with our survey, ‘Is your taste in music represented in Dublin’s nightlife?’.
According to our research, students’ top three choices of music genres for nights out were pop music with 35.3% votes, alternative rock (indie, grunge, goth, etc) with 20.6% votes, and oldies at 17.6%. Although all commonly played in live events in Dublin, they are less heard in clubs and discos, where techno and DJ music is on the rise. Indeed, participants agreed techno mostly dominates in clubs. One respondent noted that the Dublin nightlife scene seems to consist of techno, especially “after a certain time,” usually “later in the night”.
Although one respondent mentioned Dublin doesn’t have as much techno “compared to other European cities,” and another that it’s not predominant in “Dublin clubs necessarily,” respondents seemed to find consensus that it very much so depends on the venue; many respondents also agreed that pop music is played consistently.
Nevertheless, a majority of 70.6% of respondents voted that they don’t feel their taste in music is represented in Dublin's nightlife.
This is unsurprising when considering the plethora of other music genres that participants selected they enjoy listening going out - the breakdown of genres enjoyed include 5.9% funk and disco, 5.9% techno and electronic music, 5.9% classic and mainstream rock , 2.9% industrial, 2.9% hip-hop, R&B and soul, and 2.9% reggaeton and latin urbano. Participants mentioned that they typically only get to listen to these genres in special nights out, theme nights, or ‘niche’ bars.
When it comes to DJs, the widely agreed opinion is that their music choices can be quite homogenous - the usual cycle includes techno, top 40, UK and Irish house music, and interludes of either pop hits or rap remixes. Plenty of respondents elaborated upon this experience - comments included, “always the same type of music,” “every time I go out I feel like I hear the same 5 songs”, “same music over and over again.”
Is homogeneity in the nightlife music scene restricted to Dublin? One respondent commented that, “wider European DJ culture is extremely diverse but Ireland hasn't caught up to that level yet”. Another comment was made about DJs mainly being “white straight men” which could explain this lack of musical diversity - other cultures, and the genres of music that speak to them, may not be platformed enough within the scene.
The demand for “actually good songs and DJs” is clear - however, what that means is different for many people. Participants largely agreed on wanting more options and diversity in DJs and music. In terms of ways of making that happen, many agreed having more theme nights for different genres and subgenres would be a good idea. One respondent stated they are more popular in other European cities:
“In other European cities there’s loads of specified events that cater to house or techno or afrobeat lovers, of course for additional charges, but that’s rarely [a] problem when you know that what you're going to get is something that you're going to enjoy”.
Another respondent stated that what we need is a “willingness from venues to try to play new forms of music and switch things up.” They argue, “it’d make nights really fun, and then people will be more inclined to go out and try new things”.
Additionally, there seems to be a renewed interest in live music from students, or perhaps one that never really went away. One comment stated, “A man on a guitar is better than any DJ will ever be”. Another wished there was more live pop music in bars and pubs, accessible to students, as well as more opportunities for young and upcoming musicians to play live.
Some respondents noted that they enjoy folk and trad music in the nighttime music scene, and wish to see “more representation of original Irish performances.”
Many respondents reported enjoying the musical experience provided by bars over that of clubs. Pubs that students stated match their music taste include The Bar With No Name, Ryan’s, Cassidy’s, O'Regan's, Tapped, Pantibar, Street 66, and Fibbers - with respondents especially noting their alternative nights.
The majority of respondents agree that the type of music ranges from being “very important” in choosing where to go out for most (52.9%), or “somewhat important” (32.4%). However, it’s worth noting that this is not the case for everyone. For some it’s “neutral” (5.9%), “not very important” (5.9%), and “not important at all” (2.9%). One comment saying it's “mostly about going out with friends tbh”.
Overall, the message to clubs from students is straightforward - more live music and theme nights, and less repetitive music. DJs in Dublin need to reflect the diverse range of tastes in Dublin’s population. Along with this, cheaper prices wouldn't go amiss, with many respondents noting that the cost of nights out are, “too expensive to enjoy”. Perhaps if these considerations were taken on board, maybe things wouldn’t be so bad if you don’t like techno music.