VULGARITHM IS FOR FANS OF RIFFS AND CLUB CLASSICS ON STEROIDS. ANDY "DIRT" MCGURK TAKES THE BEST METAL RIFFS OF THE EARLY 2000S, MIXES IT UP WITH 90S DANCE MUSIC, AND ADDS A UNIQUE TOUCH OF CRUSHING BEATS. IT IS FOR FANS OF MUSIC WHO CRAVE ORIGINALITY AND FRESH IDEAS, AND FOR THOSE WHO SEEK TO ESCAPE. AT THE END OF 2019, ANDY "DIRT" MCGURK WAS IN BLACKHAWKDOWN WHICH IS GOING ONE DIRECTION, BUT ALSO HOLLOWTECHNIC WHICH HAD BEEN GOING FOR 10 YEARS. IT WAS IN AND OUT OF BAND LINEUP CHANGES, HAD RECORDED MANY ALBUMS FROM HOME, BUT IT WAS GOING NOWHERE ELSE. HE NEEDED A FRESH START, A FRESH IDENTITY AND A FRESH SOUND, VULGARITHM WAS THE PRODUCT OF THAT DISCOVERY. VULGARITHM IS HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND SINCE 2020, SO JUST AS DIRT WAS ABOUT TO BRING IT TO THE LIVE SCENE, COVID HIT. HE HAD PERFORMED A COUPLE OF LIVE SETS FROM HIS TEACHING ROOM BUT UNTIL THEN HE JUST HAD TO WAIT UNTIL LOCKDOWN EASES.
Check out Emmy's chat with him below.
E: How did the name come about?
V: It came about within a brainstorm whilst driving my car to work. Not sure how it arrived but it stuck with me instantly and then proceeded to write it down so I wouldn't forget it.
E: How would you describe your genre to someone who isn't familiar with your music?
V: I call it "Riff Rave", a new direction whereas I fuses classic metal riffs with dance grooves that are given a new purpose. But if that's not enough of a unique combination, Vulgarithm then layers drums that bang you over your head, thereby creating my new sound!
E: How did the band form?
V: The band is just myself, Andy "Dirt" McGurk, it grew out of frustration and the need for something new. Whilst I am still in another band which I still love playing with, "BlackHawkDown", I have also been in other projects over the last 10 years, including a solo project that began to go stale, I need something not only refreshing from an audio perspective, but also a visual. I found that inspiration at Bluedot festival where I saw many great dance acts such as Chemical Brothers, Orbital, Underworld etc great wonderful visuals even though they appear not to be doing anything on stage. For a solo career I felt this was really important.
E: What are some of the artists that influence you?
V: For this project, I took all the bands I love in the 2000s Rock and Metal world (Tool, SOAD, RATM, Rammstein etc) and placed them with 90s dance acts (Prodigy, Faithless, Chemical Brothers etc) to create a fresh sound. Outside of this project, Nine Inch Nails have had the biggest impact on my music.
E: If you could tour with any artist or band (still active or not) who would it be?
V: Loads of bands I'd love to be on the bill with such as NIN, Tool, Prodigy but I don't know how well I'd fit. Skindred would probably fit the bill best if I toured with anyone I think.
E: What's the future hold for the band?
V: New EP in spring "Share in the 3rd Degree" and finally get gigs together