Staff WriterMinikimono spoke to Arveene, a pillar of Irish club culture who has remixed for The Prodigy, Calvin Harris, Mr Oizo, Kelis and Felix the Housecat, championed equal opportunities for artists long before it became a talking point, and remains as humble as he is hungry to see Irish music thrive.
Arveene has been part of Irish electronic music for decades, not just watching the scene evolve, but actively helping shape it. From working with promoters as a teenager in the ’90s to DJing, producing and creating spaces for people to come together today, his relationship with Irish club culture runs deep.
What I love about Arveene’s perspective is that it comes from having lived through different eras of the scene. He remembers a time when underground clubs were packed across the country every weekend, but he’s equally excited by the new generation of Irish artists now making their mark internationally.
For Ireland Music Week, I spoke to him about what we’ve lost, what’s happening now, and what Ireland needs to do if we want electronic music, and the culture around it, to truly flourish.
You’ve been part of Irish electronic music since the ’90s. What was the scene like when you first came into it?
Vinyl only, exciting, D.I.Y., so many nights and gigs. Nationwide, it was busy with clubs all over Ireland. I was 15 and working for promoters, doing posters, flyers & driving DJs around. Ireland had a really strong scene.
The Roxy in Waterford, the GPO in Galway, Horans in Tralee, the TF in Castlebar, Sir Henrys in Cork. The Nerve Centre in Derry, The Art College in Belfast. Dublin had the Temple of Sound, The Pod, The Kitchen, The Ormond Multimedia Centre and loads more. Tens of thousands of people every weekend in underground clubs nationwide.
Looking at it now, what’s been the biggest change in Irish electronic music since then?
The fall in numbers. Numbers of people into the music, numbers of venues. I think the lack of venues, the smoking ban and the licensing laws really killed off the momentum in that period. It made it harder to do things. Fewer venues, fewer punters, less money. The lack of different spaces means there are fewer options for punters and promoters. Our archaic licensing laws make other countries more attractive. People left, and I don’t blame them. Berlin, New York, London, Paris, San Francisco. You can see the draw. We have to change the laws.
Do you think Irish electronic music is having a moment right now?
Yes, we have loads of young talent touring the world, on the biggest stages. From the underground to more commercial. It’s hard to fathom that we close clubs early when we have acts that can fill massive arenas. Dance/electronic is the number one released music in the world. Festivals are dominated by the music. It’s not viewed in the same way as guitar music, bands, folk, trad or classical.
What do you think is still missing for Irish electronic artists to really break through?
I think they are breaking through, but without much help or infrastructure. We need to support the industry more here and give people a reason to stay. Better clubs, more funding for the community, improved licensing laws to allow promoters to do better shows and more of them. Venues for all ages and scenes are needed. It’s the basis of any culture to have spaces that allow the art to flourish.
What role can platforms like Ireland Music Week play in giving emerging electronic artists greater visibility and opportunity?
Ireland Music Week can help bring the community together and also create platforms for artists to find labels, managers, agents, etc. Shining a light on the rising talent, it’s something I would really like to see more of. We could showcase electronic more at night… IMW by night. I’d love to see that. Let’s see.
Five years from now, what would you love the Irish electronic music scene to look like?
I’d love to see more spaces open. With better laws and licensing. Lots of young producers and DJs having clubs and spaces they can play late into the night at. They are essential if we are to find the next David Holmes, Shit Robot, KETTAMA or Jazzy. Otherwise, the talent will leave for pastures new, where electronic music is taken more seriously as an industry. Techno is a recognised career path in Germany.
And finally, is there anything exciting you’re working on at the moment or have coming up that you’d like to share?
I started a club night which is more like a mini festival called 333, which has been growing legs. The next one is Nov 28th in the Devlin. It’s a unite-the-tribes party; DJs from all around Ireland are performing. There’s more to come next year, so keep an eye out for that. I’m working with David Holmes & Andy Bell (Ride/Oasis) on my first Arveene solo artist album. Loads of collabs with singers and musicians on there.
I’ve also been working with the Diaspora Department to help open doors for multi-heritage, Traveller, LGBTQ+ Irish in the UK to apply to the ESP fund. We’re going to be touring an event with performance company Wake the Beast around Irish-populated cities in the UK, bringing together people from the Global Majority and groups not represented enough in the fund, giving people space to share their stories and explore their Irishness. A lot of people who come from multi-heritage backgrounds feel like they’re not part of the diaspora. In a time when the world is fragmenting, unity is key; our differences should unite and inspire us, not break us apart.
What stayed with me most from this interview with Arveene is the idea that talent isn’t the problem. Ireland has it in abundance. What we need are the spaces, infrastructure and support that allow that talent to grow here.
Electronic music has always been about more than what happens behind the decks. It’s about community, experimentation, freedom, creativity and bringing different people together. And at a time when Irish electronic artists are increasingly finding audiences around the world, it feels more important than ever that we recognise and support the culture happening on our own doorstep.
The talent is already here. We just need to give it the right support to nourish it and help it grow.
