Artist Interview: Mr Pink
Hailing from Northern Ireland, Mr Pink are a genre-blurring band who bring equal parts fun, fire, and unpredictability to the stage. Their sound spans funk, grunge, metal, and even a little K-Pop—refusing to be boxed into one genre. With a name as bold as their sonic palette, Mr Pink are carving out their own space in Belfast's vibrant music scene. We caught up with them to talk band origins, sweaty gigs, songwriting rituals, and why bathing together is non-negotiable.
Q. Mr Pink is such a memorable name—what's the story behind it?
A. Most people think the name is a reference to Reservoir Dogs or that lovely song by Level 42… and they're right—ish! Mainly, the thinking behind it was that the name doesn’t immediately suggest any particular style or genre. It could apply to anything, which is how we try to approach music. Doesn’t matter what it is—if it feels good, do it! Musically speaking, of course.
Q. How did the band come together—what's the origin story?
A. Everybody at some point has played in the same band with each other over the years. Ciaran and Mark were in a band together back in 2007–08. Ciaran and Michael were in a band called Green Monkey. Mark and Michael were in Thrones of Roll, and Mark and Adam were in a cover band together. Then one day, to quote Spinal Tap, “We looked at each other and says, ‘We may as well... join up, y’know?’”
Q. Belfast has a rich musical history. How has the city shaped your sound or attitude as a band?
A. Individually, we are very much a product of our Belfast upbringing (except our singer Adam, who is from Crossgar—please don’t hold it against him). While our sound is mostly informed by music from outside Belfast and Ireland, there’s no denying the city’s rich musical history. We’re constantly inspired by the incredible local bands performing right now—artists like Running Out the Clock, Triggertone, PTRNS, Zeal Machine, Gush, Virgins, Sheela, The Boat Sank, and many, many others.
Q. For readers who haven't heard your music yet, how would you describe your sound in three words?
A. Sonic ear candy.
Q. Who are your biggest musical influences, and how do they show up in your work?
A. We’re influenced by so many artists: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, Nightwish, Peter Gabriel, Muse, Blur, Pearl Jam—to name a few. We love genres like grunge, funk, disco, and K-Pop! Our sound is pretty fluid—one song might be a pure funkathon, and the next a full-on metal headbanger. Something for all the family!
Q. Can you tell us about a track that feels especially personal or pivotal to you as a band?
A. Psycho is one of our oldest tracks. When the band was in its infancy, the song was built around a riff Mark came up with. We kept it simple but effective—leaning into full-throttle, edgy energy.
“Psycho is a raw emotional response to a difficult relationship,” says Adam. “What makes the song for me is that feeling of finally letting go and saying how I actually felt rather than bottling it all up. Kind of a healing process in a way.”
We found early on that this song really connected with audiences, so we recorded it—and it became our fifth single, released on May 29th.
Q. What's your songwriting process like—does one person take the lead, or is it more collaborative?
A. We feed off each other—and not in a cannibalistic sense. Someone will bring an idea, and the rest of us just lock in and add our own twist. Structurally, our songs are pretty simple: intro, verse, chorus, repeat, breakdown, insert face-melting guitar or bass solo, verse, chorus, outro. But once the foundation is there, it’s time to add the nuance—the je ne sais quoi—the embellishments that take it to another level.
Q. You've played some great local venues—what's your favourite Belfast gig memory so far?
A. There have been loads, but one that stands out is the Metal to the Masses Battle of the Bands final at Voodoo.
We’re not strictly a metal band—it’s just one part of what we do—so we didn’t expect to get past the first heat. But the response was amazing, and we made it to the final, headlining to a sold-out crowd.
A band name like ours doesn’t scream "metal," but we think we surprised a lot of people! We didn’t win overall, but playing to a full room and gaining new fans was a huge win in itself.
Q. How do you balance staying true to your sound while also experimenting and growing?
A. Our version of balance is mostly imbalance—we thrive on experimentation. At the core, our sound leans funky, but we’re always exploring different avenues: metal, grunge, pop, jazz, whatever feels right. Sometimes we nail it, sometimes we don’t… you be the judge!
Q. What's something fans would be surprised to learn about you?
A.
• Adam (singer): is learning the hurdy-gurdy—yes, really!
• Michael (drummer): got his first drum kit from Travis Barker of Blink-182.
• Mark (guitarist): has an irrational fear of tea and coffee.
• Ciaran (bassist): is also a professional painter of buses.
Q. Do you have any pre-show rituals, superstitions, or must-haves before hitting the stage?
A. Before a gig, it is imperative that we bathe together—and we do it often. As the old saying goes, “A band that plays together, bathes together.” We’re pretty sure we heard that somewhere. Highly recommended.
Q. What's the most unexpected place or moment you've found inspiration for a song?
A. Mark claims he was accosted by Eddie Van Halen in a dream, where Eddie played him a killer riff for a Mr Pink song. When Mark woke up, he’d forgotten it—so he wrote something else. That song became our fourth single, Unknown, and we’re very proud of it.
Q. What role does visual style or aesthetic play in your identity as Mr Pink?
A. Our visual style is pretty tame—we let the music do the talking. Not in a pompous way—we’re just too poor to buy matching pink suits! Mark has a pink guitar strap he uses often, and Michael owns pink drumsticks he never uses.
Q. If you could collaborate with any artist—living or dead—who would it be and why?
A. Freddie Mercury. Because... he’s Freddie Mercury.
Q. What's next for Mr Pink? Any upcoming releases, tours, or plans we should watch for?
A. We’re planning to release two more singles this year. The next one, Cry Wolf, will also have a music video—which is in the works right now!
We’re playing July 18th at the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast, supporting Wild Heat, and we’ve got more shows to announce soon. We’re also heading back into the studio this autumn to record more music—so stay tuned!
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