Irish band TooFools is made up of Steven McCann and Lorcán O’Dwyer, who are just starting their professional music career. This is their take on the USA:

When we think of America we think of New York City, Frank Sinatra, The Simpsons, Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe, Tarantino, The Golden Gate Bridge and … Baywatch.

American culture and media has affected our band in so many ways. Television programs like Friends and The Simpsons have helped shape our generation.

As Irish people, we have a strong connection to the States due to the abundance in emigration throughout the past few hundred years. Still many of our friends and relatives are emigrating to America to make a new life for themselves.

It is very hard to deny the overwhelming influence of American musicians and artists. We are both heavily influenced by artists such as Chet Baker, Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock, as well as double bassist and composer extraordinaire, Charles Mingus. Also, The Talking Heads, A Tribe Called Quest, classic American R’n’B, MoTown and soul artists such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Chic, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, et cetera cannot be denied as a huge influence on us.

Right now we are loving LA’s experimental music scene: artists like Flying Lotus & Thundercat. Other modern American artists we are digging right now are Kendrick Lamar, D'Angelo, Warpaint and many, many, many more.

Lorcán has not yet had the chance to experience the US but his brother, who has lived in and out of Florida over the past few years, has been kind enough to keep him in good humor with a steady supply of America’s own Dunkin’ Donuts coffee beans - something which is very hard to come by in Ireland!

America has played such a crucial role on our lives, even if we are unaware at times. We’re two lads from Ireland hoping to get the band over to the States as soon as we can and show Lorcán what the hell a chili cheese dog is!

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