Dublin based art rock band Fosfín (Irish and Icelandic word for phosphine) release their debut EP mutant. Fosfín was founded by Brazilian born, Dublin based Paula Moura, and in 2023 drummer and percussionist Meg Bruce (Tone Deaf, Gag Reflex and Shark School) joined the lineup for the recording of the EP. The band’s music fuses distorted guitars with harmonic and syncopated rhythms, drawing influence from Brazilian popular music. mutant was mastered by Mike Montgomery at Candyland Recording Studio. He is one half of the duo R.Ring alongside Kelley Deal (The Breeders). Their debut album Ignite the Rest resonated deeply, and their podcast of the same name further amplified its impact. Kelley and Mike broke down their songwriting process, also discussing their approach to recording, mixing and self-releasing. This reignited a passion for all things music.
Paula expands on the creation of debut EP mutant:
“The songs were written over many years, making it difficult to pinpoint a unifying theme beyond my deep desire to create music, no matter what. For the longest time, I believed I couldn’t release music because I wasn’t a good enough musician, didn’t know enough people to start a band, and couldn’t afford studio time. At some point it occurred to me that I didn’t want to have these thoughts holding me back anymore. I think that the process of recording the EP (partially at home) with my friends and self-releasing it was my way of proving those doubts wrong.”
The four track EP reflects the fusing of ideas alongside the desire to experience different soundscapes to reflect the individual subject matter of each track. Paula shares the following on each song:
“‘intro’ is now older than I was when I first started writing it! Over the years, it’s gone through various arrangements – even had lyrics at one point! It’s now an instrumental piece that carries a nostalgic feel, in Brazil we call it saudade, which is often tied to memories of home, love, or the passage of time. It’s a bittersweet emotion, reflecting both the joy of experiencing something beautiful and the sadness of its absence.
‘mutant’ is a newer song, inspired by my experience as an immigrant. Ireland has been incredibly welcoming to me, but it troubles me that others who share my roots are sometimes treated differently. This song was my attempt to use my privilege to say something about that.
‘retornello’ is a fun, quirky song about a vampire. Bring on death disco!
‘venera’ reflects the difficulty of finding the right words. At the time, I was struggling to write lyrics in English, so I let the guitar tell the story instead. Initially, I worried that no one would want to listen to a five-minute instrumental, but it’s performing better than we anticipated! It has more listeners in Athens than in Rio, where I’m from – how wild is that?”
Fosfín are currently rehearsing and writing new material with the aim of playing live shows in 2025. The release of the debut EP mutant is the first step, starting the year on a creative high.
For more information on Fosfín please check instagram and bandcamp.