Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Pedestrian Traffic
“Sister Mysterious” is the debut single from Pedestrian Traffic, an Irish Rock group led by Dublin Songwriter Shane Smith (Vocals, Guitar & Keys) alongside Musician Geoff Dunne (Vocals & Guitar). With influences ranging from The Beatles to The Stone Roses to David Bowie and even shades of Bob Marley, their catchy pop-infused songbook draws inspiration from their upbringing in the Ballymun flats, an infamous high-rise housing project in North Dublin.
Bassist Derek Brien lends his Ska-Punk style to the group dynamic while Drummer Graham Kane’s adds a no-nonsense foundation with classic-rock inspired fills behind the kit.
The group’s self-produced debut album is expected to land in Autumn 2025.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Figuring out how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by ear on an old Casio keyboard.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I lived in Manchester for a while as a kid, there was something in the water in that City.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
We are childhood friends to decided to collaborate and release an album of works we have had in a vault for a very long time. We feel the emssage is as relevant in 2025 as ever.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Groove-based Rock/Indie but there’s plenty of keyboards going on, so it is essentially Rock music with lots of colour.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
There is no right or wrong, only subjectivity. Release the damn song.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
We run everything in Logic Pro on Mac, but the process is the same. There’s always a Guide Vocal and my trusty Martin Acoustic that gets tracked first, followed by some Piano or Rhodes usually.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
The Milk (UK)
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
We grew up in an infamous are of Dublin, what soon became a failed social experiment and all the problems that came with it, so we always stay true to that core.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Pride, defiance is present, but there is an uplifting theme that is recurrent so although there are some darker tones, the message is always ultimately positve.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Simplicity is king.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Glastonbury is legendary.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Ian Brown – the man oozes aura.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
https://instagram.com/pedestriantrafficband
https://facebook.com/pedestriantrafficband
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
We have our debut album “Mad Chemistry” which is coming very soon. We have a lot of songs written, so if we can survive the trials and tribulations of Rock band life we will endeavour to release a second album in 2027, with a third sometime after that. We are all very determined to see this through, so I guess we are just enjoying the ride.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That we don’t take ourselves too seriously 😉
“Life’s got no meaning, just a place we’ve been in, and a home we’re cleaning for the world.”
