I Spy Little xs for Eyes

Forged in the bohemian kiln of art college, you might think that two alternative types would shrink from describing their band as borderline pop. But Bennie Reilly and Davey Moor are very open about their happy-go-lucky harmonies and indeed have unashamed aspirations for mainstream radio. “I think we’re the kind of music that’s right for it,” Davey says with an optimistic grin, “I’m not ashamed to say that!”

The couple are one-third of indie folk outfit little xs for eyes – a band who, unusually, are made of equal parts boy and girl. Their bittersweet, off-kilter sound comes from three female vocalists floating atop a host of quirky instruments that include glockenspiel, mandolin, ukulele and psaltery (which, apparently, is an old style harp). A tentative EP was released in 2007, but this year saw them bring to fruition a full-length debut. After a four-year gestation, S.A.D. has already proven itself to be an album well worth waiting for.
“We work kind of slowly,” laughs Davey, “But it’s not a bad thing. We craft songs as much as possible.” Bennie explains why the process may have taken a little longer than expected: “It’s kind of difficult because there are six of us in the band, and everyone’s got their other careers going on,” she says. “But also, we’re not the type of people that churn out a song a week. It kind of just happens when it happens.”
They managed to release their album on CD thanks to benevolent fans who’d pledged their support online. Fund It – a website that arrived in Ireland this year – facilitates crowd funding. In exchange for pledges that started at €8, the little xs offered varying rewards such as a copy of the album, limited recordings and gig tickets. The highest reward was a personalised gig for €500, which one keen fan took them up on. Much to the band’s surprise, they achieved their target pretty quickly.
“Three days!” they both tell me with enthusiasm. “We had three weeks and we got it in three days,” Bennie adds. “It was great because we got a little bit extra then as well, which we really needed. It was really positive and encouraging.”
Once they had their album funded, they set about promoting the hell out of it with gigs that included their second appearance at Hard Working Class Heroes. “It was great to play this year because it came at the perfect time. We got such a good slot as well, playing last on the first night. So we got a good crowd and it got people talking. It was the right moment.”
Although they perform as a six-piece, the songwriting reins mostly fall to their hands. The duo are quick to assure me they never write together – “We did once, but it didn’t really work!” – instead bringing separate songs to the band. “I think ideally I’d much rather work by writing everything,” Davey admits, “but it’s just not practical in a band, and it’s not really fair when you’re playing with others.”
The sense of sharing the limelight with bandmates seems important to them both. “There’s a sort of magic that happens sometimes when you bring a song along [to the band] – it’s happened for a few songs on the album,” says Bennie. “Like ‘Gone Gone Gone’ is one of them, where everyone just started to play, and that was it. That was the song. It was really exciting for everybody.”
S.A.D. was recorded between the summers of 2010 and 2011 – two pretty crappy Irish summers by all accounts. It’s no surprise, then, to find a healthy dose of melancholy in the lyrics. Was there a certain time of year the album was written about, by any chance?
“Kind of end of the summer –” says Davey.
“ – and into the autumn,” finishes Bennie, in a forgivable display of coupleness. “I mean, all the songs are tinged with sadness but then I like a good pop song,” she continues, “So the songs like ‘Summer Never Comes’ or ‘November By My Side’ and ‘In The Light’ are a bit more directly about the seasons. And then you’ve got ‘In Glue’ which is a song about the sadness of a really good relationship.”
Which is something the two of them clearly have. Forming a band with your partner is, well, risky – but the two songwriting styles have a good synthesis. Davey’s tracks give a different pace, with more wandering instrumental parts. “I like long outros,” he says, “but Bennie’s really keen on finishing it after this number of bars – that’s her pop sensibility coming in. So that’s a definite difference – I like to meander a bit!”
The band has a positive momentum propelling them into next year, with plenty of plans afoot to promote the band. “We’re hoping to play in Limerick and Galway and Cork, so we’re working on a little tour,” says Davey.
“We’re going to make a video as well, for our next single,” Bennie promises, “and we’re hoping to get some festivals next summer. That’s 2012 – I think it’s about hard work. And, hopefully, a lot of fun.”

little xs for eyes will be playing the Mercantile on December 23. Their new album S.A.D. is out now.