Isolation Anthems | Problem Patterns

"Just a bunch of women, screaming in a room', so says the tongue in cheek depiction Belfast's Problem Patterns make of themselves on the bands social media.

In reality, their frustration at injustices within our society, a disregard for the Earth and one another has put these four women at the forefront of a DIY punk resurgence in Northern Ireland. The revolution is bolstered by an ever growing scene of energetic indie/punk bands including Strange New Places, Gender Chores and New Pagans among others.

The release of riotous new single 'Gal Pals' in February arrived in tandem with a storming performance at Belfast's 'Output Festival', prompting Stuart Bailie to proclaim them 'the best band in Belfast'. With momentum building, the announcement of And So I Watch You From Afar's equally audacious and brilliant 'Ok?' Festival (a mental health fund raiser with a massive line-up) appeared next on the band's hitlist, when the Covid-19 outbreak struck. Now rearranged for October (tickets are still valid, but if you don't have yours yet click here!), we thought it was the perfect time to catch up with bassist/vocalist/guitarist Ciara King and see how Problem Patterns are coping with the madness.

"We all fully stan eachother" - Problem Patterns

Hi Ciara, thank you for chatting with us. How you keeping?

Hey man! Well, it’s been weird. I’m normally in full time employment and a full-time musician simultaneously so the quietness has been bizarre. This has put my life in the washing machine on full blast but I’m trying to stay positive and focus on the great things I have done rather than the things I currently can’t. I am enjoying the surplus of time I have now, to create but it’s nothing without the rest of the band. I am missing my girls so badly right now. They’re my rocks (and my rolls respectively)

It’s been a remarkable rise for Problem Patterns over the past two years. If you could go back in time and tell your late-2018 selves about everything you’ve done since then, how do you think they would react?

I think we’d probably cry (we’re big soft punks). It’s been pretty wild. We genuinely had no expectations other than to play some D.I.Y punk shows for a few pals and we are incredibly grateful for everything that happens. The band was really just something that we all needed as women & musicians to address our shared grievances & experiences in life. It’s genuinely changed my life and I never dreamt of playing in a band with such incredible musicians and people. I am blown away by them and their talents & insights every day. In short, I’d be equal parts shocked & stoked!

Fired Up ~ Problem Patterns Live: Photo by Claire Miskimmin

Problem Patterns have never shied away from discussing important human rights issues or fighting for causes you believe in. How intrinsic are those beliefs to your music?

They’re everything. We’re just passionate about human rights and fighting for the underdog. It’s probably the thing we have most in common. Our songwriting process normally comes from either a funny conversation about something tongue in cheek or a topic we are very annoyed about haha. It’s a very fluid process but our beliefs are at the core of everything we do. We’re all feminist, queer women, so we share a lot of similar experiences or ideas about life. Some of our songs are more personal to the person singing but still relate to us all in our own way. It doesn’t have to be political but sometimes it just is .

How proud are you to be involved with ASIWYFA’s ‘Ok?’ show in the Telegraph Building and how triumphant will the occasion be post-lockdown?

I was sitting in a café when we got asked to play and I genuinely almost dropped my phone from trying to furiously pass the news on the others. It was an instantly unanimous yes from us all. The line up is insane and many on that line up are people we look up to. The real pride in being asked comes from the cause though. Poor mental health suffering is something incredibly close to the heart of all of us in the band. We’ve all had our struggles and have watched people close to us suffer. We are delighted to raise money for such an important cause, and we appreciate being invited to such a monumental moment. I’m thinking by the time this isolation is over, it’ll be like a huge family reunion for the NI & Irish music scene.

('OK?' Belfast Festival 2020 / Now rearranged for October)

Watching Problem Patterns perform, the unity and spirit of the band radiates from the songs and all four of you up there. How long did it take to establish such a connection together?

Thank you! It really didn’t take long. We are cut from the same cloth in many aspects for sure. We were all young emo girls with fringes at some point, so I think that plays a huge part. I guess, we have the same ideas about music and the topics we write about but there is just a genuine love there too. I don’t know how to describe it but there’s no room for doubting yourself in Problem Patterns. The support from each other is so strong and I think that’s where the bond comes from. Growing up playing music with only dudes, I was a little intimidated. There’s something about a room of women who completely have your back and genuinely want you to do your best. Sometimes when I’m on stage, I look around and think “damn these guys are so fucking cool” and then smile loads. We all fully stan each other. I don’t know, we’re just obsessed with each other, I guess.

You started life as a karaoke covers band called ‘Cover Grrrls’. At what point did you realise you wanted to start writing your own songs? How difficult was that transition?

As much as we love karaoke, it’s not as fun to be the machine (who knew?). Nah, for real though, we had a group chat and at the time, the Ulster Rugby Rape Trail was happening and we were so distraught by the way it was being handled. We got incredibly fed up with the treatment of women in these situations. We wanted to throw up. So we decided we should write a song about it and we did. Our first practice unleashed a lot of energy & passion that we’d been holding in for so long & the rest really fell into place. We had more things to say, more topics to discuss and it just happened. We believed in the power of multiple frontwomen and multiple stories. We had all separately been musicians for years, it felt natural. Nobody stopped us (yet) so we’re still here haha.

Do you have a favourite Problem Patterns song?

Honestly, it’s like picking a favourite child. I love the stank of mediocre man, playing it live is always fun. We can barely take ourselves seriously when we’re prancing around and Alanah’s grotesque performace floors me everytime. However, I think I love Gal Pals the most. It’s been the biggest bonding song for us and seemingly everyone else around us. For the music video, we gathered some of our best pals to dance around and act silly for a few minutes. I remember us all sitting on the ground cross legged writing the verses and laughing. It will always have such fond feelings for me. I also dig that it’s political but wrapped in a cute poppy bop.

Stuart Bailie marked Problem Patterns out as ‘the best band in Belfast’ recently. How does it feel hearing those sort of comments?

Man, it’s literally so god damn cute. It’s overwhelming and incredibly sweet. It’s a huge bold statement to make but Stu’s super sick and it means the world. I’d definitely wear it on a t-shirt though, if he wants to go halfers on printing some?

Do you think enough is being done to encourage young women to make music?

I think people are trying their best and certainly people like Charlotte Dryden (Oh Yeah Centre) & Dolores Vischer ( general badass woman ) are living heroes and do everything they can in supporting and encouraging young women in music and it’s incredible. It is my dream to do just that. If I had a money tree, I would start a programme for getting more young women introduced to it because it’s not for lack of passion or interest. It’s lack of confidence and if you’re reading this and don’t think you can do it. You absolutely can and I will help you. Me and many many other women in music, so let’s do it. Get your instrument out & do it for yourself, nobody else!

Events like Girls Rock School NI based in the Oh Yeah Centre is set up to directly encourage young girls to get into music

And finally Ciara, we’re living in a unique time in human history right now. What sort of advice would you give to anyone finding life under lockdown particularly tough?

Be kind to yourself. Don’t worry about anything other than surviving and staying well. Check in on the people you consider family. Buy your freelance or self-employed friend’s art, merch, singles, homemade jewelry etc.…If you can’t buy it, promote it. Share it, like it, shout out of your bedroom window that “insert band name” are your favourite band so your neighbours will stream it. Drink water. Watch “Tiger King” and then message Problem Patterns on instagram for at length discussions. Stay safe and practice kindness. Take everything I say with a pinch of salt.

Taylor Johnson

Problem Patterns - Isolation Anthems: