Lily Aron, Ailbhe Barry, Hannah Kelly, and Emma Brandon make up the Irish girl group Florence Road, that mix rock, folk, and pop music into melodic tracks. They’re known and loved for songs like “Hanging Out to Dry” and “7563,” amongst several other tunes. The group stopped in Toronto for their sold-out show at the Drake Underground and spent a few days in the city filming a music video for their upcoming single “Wish Upon You” and getting ready to take the stage. We caught up with them just before showtime, and they spoke to us about their friendship, childhood, upcoming music, and touring around the world.  

How do you think your childhood shaped the kind of music you make and your relationship with each other?

Lily Aron: Wow. I think it definitely shaped it a lot because I, I grew up in a house that was full of music. My dad plays music, my mum plays music, my siblings as well. So I think having that around me at all times, I never kind of thought that I couldn’t do it or that I couldn’t make music. So I just kind of was naturally in an environment where I was like, “Yeah, I’m gonna write a song.” So I think that definitely, for me anyways, was always there.

Ailbhe Barry: Yeah. There was a lot of just, like, listening to music in my household, of every genre. My dad’s a big metalhead, so that was around me a lot growing up. That, I think, yeah, just always being surrounded by music was very big for me, having it to hand all the time.

Hannah Kelly: Same…

Emma Brandon: Yeah, also, same.

You made history as the first all-female Irish band to reach number one on Irish radio. What did that milestone mean to you?

Aron: It’s huge. I think it was, it was like a very big moment for us because, you know, we’re, we’re an all-female band. And so I was kind of surprised that we were the first. But then you think about it and you’re like, you know, there isn’t that many all-female bands. So it’s like, we’re so honored that, you know, we’re the first.

What’s the biggest thing that you’ve learned since your music started gaining a lot of traction online?

Aron: I think that you can never predict what people are going to love. Like, you can, like, you can personally have a favorite song, but people, people will always love different ones. And I think it’s always really, like, refreshing to see that when we’re playing live shows.

You’ve played alongside some really big names. What have you learned from watching artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Wolf Alice perform?

Aron: I think their resilience and their, you know, their ability to get up time and time again and do, like, sixteen shows in a row and have such a great work ethic and, like, smile on their faces. Like, it’s really was so incredible for us to see all that.

Brandon: And their crew as well. Like, to be loading in day after day. It’s incredible.

Aron: A whole machine. Yeah.

Barry: I was the same. The crew, like, seeing how such a big show gets put together is, so cool.

Kelly: Yeah. And how it can only really function in an environment where everyone respects each other and is kind. Like, you can’t really bring an ego in. Yeah.

You’re performing in Toronto tonight. What are you most excited about performing for a Canadian audience?

Barry: The last time we were here, the audience were great, and we did, like, a little meet and greet after the show, and we were opening for The Last Dinner Party, and it’s the closest I’ve ever felt to, like, Justin Bieber, because we walked out and there was a table, and, like, there was a table, and we walk out and there were just loads of people, and I was like, “Oh my God.” I was like, “This is incredible.” Yeah, it felt insane because we were, like, raised on this. I was like, “This is amazing that I, like, just, like, their energy.” And everyone was so lovely and so cool that I can’t wait to see that again tonight.

Brandon: Yeah, I love Canadians.

Kelly: We need to set up a meet and greet like that for after.

How long have you been in Toronto for, and what have you been up to?

Aron: We’ve been here for, like, two days, I think. Yeah. And we have been shooting a music video for our new song that’s coming out next Friday.

Barry: Very cool.

Aron: That’s my, that’s my happy dance. Yeah, so the song is called “Wish Upon You,” and it’s, it’s a love song. You know, it’s gonna say it. It’s a love song. And I think it’s such a fun challenge to write a love song that isn’t cringe. Like, I always navigate, or I always gravitate more towards writing songs that are, you know, of anguish and, like, sadness. And I find that so much easier because to be dramatic is, is really fun. So it was really satisfying to write a really nice love song. And, you know, I think it can be the person you’re in love with or, like, a song about your friends or, like, I think you can kind of take it. Love is such, like, a thing that everyone feels in their lives. So. And it’s so fun to play live. It’s really fun. And just, like, dance around. And we’re gonna play it tonight as well.

What do you guys do together when you’re not making music?

Brandon: We play a lot of Nintendo Switch, specifically Mario Kart. Yes.

Barry: Yeah. And we watch a lot of Grey’s Anatomy. Yes.

Aron: Yeah.

Barry: Real.

Brandon: We like to cry a lot.

Barry: Yeah.

Brandon: Yeah.

Aron: Cristina.

Barry: Yup.

Are you already planning for the next chapter? If so, what does that look like?

Aron: Yes. So we are very busy. We’re busy doing things, writing, writing all the time. And we are, like, so incredibly excited about the music that we’re making, and we cannot wait to share it when, when the time is right. We, we can’t tell you when that is yet, but, yeah.

When you eventually look back on this phase of your career, what do you hope that you remember?

Kelly: I think, I hope that we remember kind of, like, how kind of nitty-gritty it was at the start, like traveling for hours in a van or, like, doing load-outs super quick after a stage ourselves every night. Just the price, like, that, I think.

Barry: Yeah.

Brandon: The joy and happiness 

Aron: I was gonna say the joy.

Brandon: We’re just always having fun. It’s like a sleepover every day, so it’s pretty sick.

Barry: I’m hoping the joy, like, sustains, though. I hope that it’s not something like, “Oh, back when we had joy.” I’m hoping that we will get happier.

Aron: “Back when they could be in the same room.”

Barry: You know, playing Mario Kart, like.

Is there anything else that you guys want to add?

Brandon: I love Toronto, love Toronto.

Aron: Go watch the music video because we filmed in James Park and James Garden, so you should recognize it.

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