Biography
With nine members at present, the Kildare-born and Dublin-based collective Super Extra Bonus Party resists easy classification within any single musical style. Their sound merges intricate, glitch-laden electronics and an assortment of live instrumentation—ranging from guitar, bass, and drums to trumpets and synths—yielding results that stretch across ambient pop textures, breakcore intensity, indietronic dance-rock grooves, and hardcore Portuguese rap without losing momentum.
The group originated in November 2005 when Newbridge natives Mike Donnelly and Cormac Brady, previously operating as the production and turntablism duo Illegal Kids, recruited multi-instrumentalist Fatz (Stephen Fahey on bass, guitars, and trumpet) and later Gavin Elsted (guitar and drums). Their first output, the Super Extra Bonus Party EP, appeared in May 2006 via Dublin’s Alphabet Set Collective. The well-received recording showcased Brazilian MC Rodrigo Teles, who joined as the fifth member after the band’s debut album the next year.
Alphabet Set also handled the April 2007 release of the self-titled LP, which the musicians tracked amid day jobs inside a Dublin kitchen. The record included contributions from ambient pop artist Nina Hynes, Channel One vocalist Paul O’Reilly, human beatbox performer White Noise, and two members of Kildare rock band Kill City Defectors. Strong reviews followed, leading to tours alongside Bonde do Rolê, Cadence Weapon, and the Go! Team; the roster grew to nine with the arrivals of guitarist Steve Conlon, drummer Gary Clarke, producer Seán Corcoran, and visual artist Niall Byrne.
Early 2008 brought a Choice Music Prize nomination recognizing the finest underground Irish releases of the prior year. Super Extra Bonus Party prevailed over Delorentos, Kíla, and Cathy Davey, securing the award and its €10,000 purse. That April they issued the Everything Flows EP, which paired the title track—featuring Channel One’s Paul O’Reilly—with remixes by Cadence Weapon, Nouveaunoise, and Jape, and commenced work on a follow-up album. A set of remixes drawn from the first LP was also slated for release sometime in 2008.
The group originated in November 2005 when Newbridge natives Mike Donnelly and Cormac Brady, previously operating as the production and turntablism duo Illegal Kids, recruited multi-instrumentalist Fatz (Stephen Fahey on bass, guitars, and trumpet) and later Gavin Elsted (guitar and drums). Their first output, the Super Extra Bonus Party EP, appeared in May 2006 via Dublin’s Alphabet Set Collective. The well-received recording showcased Brazilian MC Rodrigo Teles, who joined as the fifth member after the band’s debut album the next year.
Alphabet Set also handled the April 2007 release of the self-titled LP, which the musicians tracked amid day jobs inside a Dublin kitchen. The record included contributions from ambient pop artist Nina Hynes, Channel One vocalist Paul O’Reilly, human beatbox performer White Noise, and two members of Kildare rock band Kill City Defectors. Strong reviews followed, leading to tours alongside Bonde do Rolê, Cadence Weapon, and the Go! Team; the roster grew to nine with the arrivals of guitarist Steve Conlon, drummer Gary Clarke, producer Seán Corcoran, and visual artist Niall Byrne.
Early 2008 brought a Choice Music Prize nomination recognizing the finest underground Irish releases of the prior year. Super Extra Bonus Party prevailed over Delorentos, Kíla, and Cathy Davey, securing the award and its €10,000 purse. That April they issued the Everything Flows EP, which paired the title track—featuring Channel One’s Paul O’Reilly—with remixes by Cadence Weapon, Nouveaunoise, and Jape, and commenced work on a follow-up album. A set of remixes drawn from the first LP was also slated for release sometime in 2008.
Albums
Singles
