In the past year, Smithereens have rapidly grown from a group of friends with a few cover sets under their belts, into one of Cork’s most talked-about acts. What began as a spontaneous entrance into Battle of the Bands has since evolved into a focused, creative project with original music, growing audiences, and ambitions.

Built on friendship, a relentless work ethic and a desire to put on shows worth remembering, Smithereens are doing things their own way — and clearly, it’s working

Diving into Deadlines

Though some of the guys knew each-other for a while, Smithereens was formed in 2 weeks. Name, set-list and all. “We took a smaller group of us, picked a new name and cranked out 4 or 5 songs” They settled on ‘Smithereens‘ – a fun Hiberno-English word derived from the Irish word ‘Smidiríní’ meaning ‘little bits’. That first experience pushed the group to take things more seriously and to discover how far their chemistry, creativity, and work ethic could take them. As front-man Noah explains, “It gave us 2 weeks to get serious and get together”. Clad in single use jumpsuits (“cause they look baller” obviously) and armed with a set-list full of fan favourites such as ‘I’ll Be Fine‘, ‘Cold Dead Hands‘ and ‘Gold Dust‘ They went on to win the competition that year, so clearly their hard work paid off.

Building Blocks & Exit Strategy

The track balances introspective lyrics with a powerful, slow-building arrangement that showcases the band’s dynamic range. The song’s structure is deliberate, unfolding patiently as it pulls the listener into a reflective space before building to a cathartic, soaring outro full of their hallmark sound – grit from Noah’s voice and smooth ribbons of sound from the band with lyrics any listener can relate to. “I can’t stand here, you beg me to stay“ Exit Strategy was more than just a single. It marked a creative milestone — their sound has developed and they’re moving on to new different things.

Emergency Entrance

After their successful Cyprus Avenue headliner, the lads settled into writing & recording their EP ‘Emergency Entrance‘. Songwriting for Smithereens often begins in solitude, with Noah sketching out early ideas. Sometimes they’re fully formed, sometimes it can be just a few chords before bringing them into the rehearsal room. He admits he prefers writing alone, particularly for lyrics, because “you get into your feelings,” and working collaboratively on that side of things can be difficult when “someone else won’t be able to articulate what it is cause they didn’t experience it.” But once the band enters the picture, everything opens up. Rehearsals become spaces for trial and error, rhythm experiments, pulling and pushing swing or even finding the right drum loop. It’s in the moments when everything suddenly clicks is the lads’ favourite part of the whole process. “It took us ages to find the right drum loop in rehearsal a little while ago, then Sammy did something different and it hit, the next 5 or 10 minutes after that were like crack,” Noah explains’ “We were all tweaking” Its the collaborative nature of working things out that puts the finishing touches on their songs. “I love that we shoot the nerdiness and then it doesn’t work, we peel it back and then end up in this sweet spot of complex but not too much. When it is too much, the lads will say.” ‘Emergency Entrance’ is a collection of songs born out of a dynamic that centres trust and instinct as much as technical ability. While the band continue to evolve their sound, the spirit behind these songs remains consistent: raw honesty, emotional range, and the unmistakable energy of five close friends pushing each other creatively.

The band’s ability to toe the line between complexity and clarity is what gives their music such impact in the studio and on stage, which is obvious to anyone who has watched their Wavefield Sessions on Youtube or attended a live show. They aren’t trying to sound like anyone else. Instead, they’re leaning into what feels good, what feels real, and what creates that unspoken electricity between them and the crowd. Some songs begin with buried chords from years ago, others are built entirely in the room. But each one is shaped by the same principle: bring what you have, see where it goes, and make space for everyone to shape it.

What’s Next?

Despite juggling jobs, college, and personal commitments, the band’s dedication to Smithereens remains strong. “We put in so much work on our own and then the same again together” a sentiment that captures the relentless drive behind the scenes. Their ambitions are big, and rightly so. “If you don’t back yourself, who will?” they reason. With dreams of headlining Electric Picnic, touring across Europe, and filling their calendars with festival slots, Smithereens are aiming high. And for anyone who’s witnessed their live energy, tight musicianship, and growing connection with audiences, those goals don’t seem far off — they seem inevitable.

Fast Al’s Orders

No Banjaxed interview would be complete without mentioning Cork’s favourite comfort food. For the lads?

• 1 Pepperoni
• 1 Spicy Chicken
• More Spicy Chicken & Garlic Dip

(Isaac says he could be celiac, but he’s not giving up beer and pizza. It’s too good.) Stay strong Isaac.

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