Steph O’Sullivan, from the wonderful Irish emo duo, Grreywind, joined us for a chat, sharing insights on the stories behind their music, the experience of creating with her brother Paul, and the challenges and progress for women in rock. Greywind have recently released a new EP and are preparing for a special re-release of their album “Afterthoughts”
Reuel
Hello Steph! I’m happy to chat with you today. How are you doing?
Steph O’Sullivan
I’m great thank you! We’re about to soundcheck in Ferndale Detroit and it’s our first time playing here tonight so I’m excited.
Reuel
That’s amazing! Your latest EP, Antidote, has been out for a while now. What inspired its creation, and how have your fans embraced it so far?
Steph O’Sullivan
Our Antidote EP was inspired by everything we’ve been through while being in a band and how our fans helped us through the difficult times. Our fans have embraced it incredibly, we’re touring the US right now and seeing people singing back those songs every night is a dream come true!
Reuel
Wow! Must be exciting. Your album Afterthoughts introduced Greywind to a massive audience. What do you think makes Afterthoughts stand out from other albums in the scene, and how do you feel about the impact it’s had on your career so far?
Steph O’Sullivan
I think Afterthoughts stands out because it’s authentic. It’s 10 songs of me and my brother Paul grieving our uncle’s passing so the songs are very emotional which is why people relate to it so much. We always have fans at shows tell us their stories and things they’ve been through so it’s comforting for us to know that from such a traumatic time for us something good has come from it.
Reuel
As a brother-sister duo, your bond is unique. How has working with Paul shaped your journey in music, and what do you enjoy most about creating together?
Steph O’Sullivan
Working with Paul is great! We have the same vision for what we want Greywind to be and we’ve always loved the same bands so creating music together has always been a really great experience. Paul has always helped me through difficult times in my life so I’m really lucky to be on this journey with him.
Reuel
Every musician has a starting point. What inspired you to step into the world of music, and how has your path unfolded since then?
Steph O’Sullivan
I’ve always wanted to sing but as soon as I heard My Chemical Romance for the first time I knew I wanted to sing in a rock band. Our path had been a rollercoaster but I wouldn’t change a thing because it’s led us to where we are now!
Reuel
Greywind has performed on some of the biggest stages, from Download to Reading & Leeds. Which performance has been the most memorable for you, and why?
Steph O’Sullivan
Those festivals were incredible and I can’t wait to play them again someday. My favourite though would probably be Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park in Germany. The crowd was incredible and it felt very special.
Reuel
The rock scene is changing, with more women taking the spotlight. As a woman in rock, what challenges have you faced, and what changes do you hope to see in the industry?
Steph O’Sullivan
It’s great to see more women taking the spotlight, I think times are changing (we still have a long way to go) but it is a lot better than it was. It would be nice to see more women on festival lineups, even just on tour in general. Sometimes I still am the only girl on a tour so it’d be great to have more of us!
Reuel
Your music clearly resonates with listeners. What message or emotions do you hope fans take away when they hear your songs?
Steph O’Sullivan
I’d like them to have hope. Hope is something I lost for myself for a long time so having people believe that there is a way out would be the perfect take away.
Reuel
With your US tour coming up, what can your fans expect from Greywind’s live shows this time around?
Steph O’Sullivan
A lot of theatrics, emotion and fun!
Reuel
Brilliant! Between the re-release of Afterthoughts and the success of Antidote, what’s next for Greywind? Can fans expect new music or surprises in the near future?
Steph O’Sullivan
Yes! We have lots of surprises coming, 2025 is going to be a special year for us!
Reuel
Thank you for the interview, Steph! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Steph O’Sullivan
Thank you! Keep an eye on every Greywind social media pages in the new year…
