DAVID J Haskins (producer, writer and spoken word artist) is the former bassist with Bauhaus, who spearheaded the post-punk alternative music scene of the early ‘80’s with a string of innovative albums and singles.
In an online event happening this Thursday April 15 from 7pm, David J will take part in a public online interview and invite students to submit audio as part of a new exciting collaboration.
The new project was created by Armagh based writer / storyteller Steve Lally and invites students to submit “Covid-Sounds”, recorded audio from the immediate surrounds of their locked down world. Sounds that may have evaded them before this forced pause, or those they ignored until reflecting on them.
Steve Lally has worked as both an artist and storyteller throughout Ireland for over 15 years. He writes his own material along with telling folk tales from Ireland and around the world, recitations, myths, legends, story songs, participation stories and arts based workshops.
After coming up with the idea for a project, Steve Lally contacted David J to ask him if he would be interested in leading the project. Steve engaged with Ray Burke at college radio station Wired FM, and this unique project was realised. There will be a public interview (webinar) and a collaborative social experiment. David J will pick his favourite track and bring it into the studio to professionally produce it.
David J Haskins is a San Francisco-based British musician. His band Bauhaus is credited by some with founding the goth movement. For many, the band’s defining moment is a song that is ranked as a classic and feasibly the pinnacle of the entire gothic scene and beyond, the nine minute plus epic slab of industrial dub that is ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’, featuring the lyrics of David J.
In an article by the Guardian titled “Bauhaus invent Goth, they said “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” would have been just another piece of post-punk experimentation had it not been for the lyrics…”
After the demise of Bauhaus, David went on to form the psychedelic band ‘Love and Rockets’ with two other Bauhaus members, guitarist, Daniel Ash & drummer, Kevin Haskins. They were hugely successful, whose debut single hit gold status in Canada, followed by a top three US single with ‘So Alive’ which the band capped with a million selling album and sold out stadium tours.
A highly acclaimed songwriter, often personal, often observational, all of these qualities are evident on his nine solo albums. David has worked with artists such as Jane’s Addiction, Amanda Palmer along with comic book maestro Alan Moore (Watchmen V for Vendetta), Avant-Garde Artist ‘Genesis P. Orridge’ (Throbbing Gristle & Psychic TV) and best-selling writer Hubert Selby Junior (Last Exit to Brooklyn, Requiem for a Dream).
The online interview is an opportunity for students and the station to engage with one of rock’s most influential and renowned musicians.
Host Steve Lally will discuss the great influence that Bauhaus and other works by David J had on his own writing and performance of stories. David will also be asked about the various musicians and artists who influenced him over the years.
The process will be documented, and broadcast on Wired FM. The project is supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the Sound and Vision fund.
“The Bauhaus Effect” will take place this Thursday April 15 at 7pm at LSAD (online).
Tickets to participate in the event HERE
