Busy year for Lisburn’s Rams Pocket Radio

The year started with an arena tour with Snow Patrol, followed by time in the studio recording a debut album and next up, following a headline tour of the UK and Ireland, the band are tuning up for their first tour in the United States next month.

Initially coming to public attention with debut EP Dieter Rams Has Got The Pocket Radios, RPR performed an acclaimed set at Glastonbury 2011’s BBC Introducing Stage. Dieter Rams Has Got The Pocket Radios, was playlisted by BBC Radio 1 Introducing and saw spins from the likes of Huw Stephens, Fearne Cotton, Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac.

‘Dogs Run In Packs’ EP followed in November of 2011 and featured songs that are meticulously crafted and effortlessly epic, mixing elements of pounding, piano-based pop with heavier rock sounds. The title track’s bold piano hooks grabs the listener from the get-go, with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol choosing “Dogs” has his “Track of the Month” in Q Magazine. 1+2 was released in February. Driven by a nagging guitar riff and a simple but memorable chorus, 1+2 was written, says Rams, “about making yourself vulnerable to help someone, and the things that can happen as a result.” 1+2 is, moreover, Rams’ most immediate and accessible piece of songwriting to date, sitting nicely against some of the EP’s more experimental moments.

In June of this year, RPR released a brand new boxed set of his previous 3 EPs entitled ‘Trajectories’ which features the 3 previous releases: Dieter Rams Has Got The Pocket Radio, Dogs Run In Packs and 1+2. Meanwhile, RPR played support slots for the likes of Darwin Deez and Marina and the Diamonds. RPR supported Snow Patrol on their extensive European tour – taking in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and France. A UK tour with Get Cape Wear Cape Fly followed, with RPR winning over new fans all the time. 2012 saw RPR playing festivals all over Europe, including Dutch festival Eurosonic, Germany’s Rock Im Park, Switzerland’s Gampel and Greenbelt in the UK. Peter was invited to perform for President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain’s Garden Party and is gearing up to embark on a six week tour of the US with American band Gungor.

“So many unexpected things have come up,” said Peter, lead singer with Rams Pocket Radio. “The Snow Patrol tour across Europe was just immense. It was amazing to see what it is like to perform in so many different countries. To be playing in arenas and large venues was a lot to take in.”

During all of this, Peter has been hard at work with producer David Kosten (Everything Everything, Bat for Lashes), putting the finishing touches on his debut album – due for release in early 2013. “The album is all finished but it will probably be next year before it’s released,” continued Peter. “It includes songs from Trajectories, as well as some new songs that people will know if they have heard us live.”

Before jetting off to the States to play in Nasville and tour with Gungor, Peter and Rams Pocket Radio will be playing a series of local gigs, including dates in Warrenpoint, Draperstown, Bangor, Cork, Galway, Waterford, Dublin and Derry.

After taking a well deserved break, the band will be gearing up for the release of their debut album early next year. “I would like to get a couple of weeks rest but you never know what might come up and if it is something big then I just can’t say no,” he joked.