Co Down singers Just Wanna Rock

Co Down singers Just Wanna Rock

24 October 2018

IT’S a new name and a new single for Co Down rockers Orlaith Forsythe and Mollie McGinn.

The duo — who have recently been joined by Mollie’s 15 year-old sister Mamie — announced this week that their new band name is Dea Matrona.

To celebrate the name change from Orlaith and Mollie, the group have also released a new track called Just Wanna Rock.

Orlaith (18), who is from Dundrum, explained the name change. “It is of Celtic origin where Dea Matrona is the divine mother goddess which we thought was unique and we wanted to relaunch our band with something different,” she said.

“Mollie stumbled across the name when reading a Celtic mythology book. When we were discussing band name ideas with the group it was an instant favourite as we knew Orlaith and Mollie had to go.”

She added: “The new single title sums up our band dynamic pretty well. We recently made a video for it which is up on YouTube.”

The former Assumption Grammar students are influenced by music from the 70s and 80s such as Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin.

They have honed their sound by playing countless busker gigs in Belfast, and more recently, in London.

They got the chance to play on the Main Stage at this year’s Culture Night in Belfast and at Feile an Phobail’s Party In The Park. 

Mollie, also 18 and from Carryduff, added: “We have been flat out with gigs this year in the Europa Hotel, Duke Of York, Harp Bar, Hilden Beer Fest, Ards Guitar Festival, Sunflowerfest and we had our own headline show in the Strand Arts Centre. 

“We were also lucky enough to support country stars Nathan Carter and Derek Ryan this summer.”

Mollie’s sister, Mamie, has been playing with the girls as drummer for several months.

Mamie has just started studying for her first year of GCSE’s at Assumption Grammar School in Ballynahinch.

To view the Just Wanna Rock music video search for Dea Matrona on YouTube or listen to it on Spotify on https://open.spotify.com/artist/2mjBLM7k51GwUPhN1miEHY.