Genre-blending five-piece band North of Fortitude answers 10 Questions

North of Fortitude are a genre-blending five-piece from Ireland’s Midwest, officially formed in 2019 after years of collaborating in various bands and jam sessions. Pictures: Bluebird Photography

Five-piece band North of Fortitude answer 10 questions about their music, inspirations, and their greatest achievements

North of Fortitude are a genre-blending five-piece from Ireland’s Midwest, officially formed in 2019 after years of collaborating in various bands and jam sessions. Their diverse musical influences converge to create a dynamic, soulful sound rooted in strong songwriting and fearless experimentation.

Frontman Ronan Murphy brings a deep love of electronic, dance, soul, and R&B, while guitarist and backing vocalist Rick O’Sullivan draws from 90s alternative, classic rock, and hip hop. Bassist Mario Lucic, with a foundation in punk and hardcore and a flair for funk, blues, and classic rock, pairs seamlessly with powerhouse drummer Rory McNamara, whose style is grounded in classic and hard rock.

In 2025, the band welcomed El Culloo on keyboards and synths, adding a fresh sonic dimension. A classically trained pianist and vocalist with a background in sound engineering, El’s presence has introduced new textures and depth to their evolving sound.

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Known for their explosive chemistry and genre-fusing energy, North of Fortitude channels their creative synergy into both the studio and the stage.

Tell us about the members of your band
North of Fortitude is made up of 5 enthusiastic musicians who each bring something unique to the table. We’re a close-knit group who love how we collaborate. Ronan Murphy on vocals, rhythm guitar and keys, we’ve got a powerhouse Rory Macnamara on drums, Mario Lucic on bass and backing vocals, and Rick O’Sullivan on lead guitar and backing vocals. Then we have the latest addition to our band El Culloo on keys and synths. El is the baby of the band the only girl amongst five lads, God love her. She adds a great new sonic sound and is well able for the boisterous environment. What connects us most is our shared commitment to honest, emotionally driven music.

Where does your love of music come from?
For each of us, it started early. Whether it was hearing old records at home, watching iconic performances, or jamming with mates in school — music always felt like more than just background noise. It became the way we processed the world. Over time, that love only grew stronger through playing live, connecting with audiences, and writing songs that mean something. We have had amazing reactions to our music whilst it’s not a million listeners a week the people who do hear it always say there should be and that keeps us going.

Tell us about your musical style
Our sound blends alternative rock and soul with elements of post-punk, indie and electronic music but we always keep melody and meaning at the centre. There’s grit in what we do, but also moments of quiet vulnerability. We try not to box ourselves in — we just want the music to feel real and hit you in the chest.

What are your biggest inspirations?
We draw from a wide mix, from bands like The National, Artic Monkeys, Biffy Clyro and EDM like Underworld trip hop like Massive Attack and Tricky and the depth of artists like Glen Hansard or Jeff Buckley. Lately Fontaines DC and Kneecap have been blowing our minds. Their message is so strong and matched with a steel-like integrity. But beyond that, we’re inspired by life itself: the highs, the losses, the late-night conversations, the feeling of standing still in a loud world.

What advice would you have for someone starting a career in music?
Don’t wait for perfect. Start creating, even if it’s messy. Play live as often as you can — it sharpens you. Surround yourself with people who are honest and hungry. Most importantly, stay true to what you want to say. Authenticity cuts through more than anything. Never write songs to please other people. Ai is doing that now anyway. Write them for you and no one else.

What are your biggest achievements to date?
Some standout moments for us were from fans talking to us after gigs. We had someone tell us that our song Zorclone was helping them through a tough time. That was incredibly special for us. Stuff like that can really lift your whole week you know. Deep down, we all want to do something to help people. But every message from a fan, every new person singing our lyrics, are achievements too.

What challenges have you experienced?
Like most bands, we have faced our share balancing day jobs and band life, creative disagreements, gear breaking mid-set! And of course, the pandemic put things on pause when we had lots of gigs planned. But it also taught us resilience and made us more focused on what matters. It gave us more time to write too so that was positive from it all.

What exciting projects are you working on now?
Right now, we’re deep in preparation for our live show putting ourselves, and especially El, through the paces to bring the absolute best performance we can deliver. We’re diving into new software and hardware, fine-tuning every element to make sure this show is the most immersive and unforgettable yet.

What can we expect in the future?
 It’s just going to get madder, More music, more shows, more risk-taking. We’re not interested in doing what’s safe, we want to evolve and challenge ourselves. Expect releases that dig deeper emotionally and sonically. We’re also keen to do a tour of Ireland.

What’s your favourite thing about Limerick?
The spirit. There is a raw creative pulse in Limerick that’s unlike anywhere else. People support local art, look at the Cranberries for example they reached global success all starting with support from locals. Limerick people are fiercely proud, and there’s an honesty here that we love. The music scene is back thriving again, look at Dolans, Pharmacia and the Commercial just to name a few, we’re focused on playing these venues this year. Rick did the great Limerick run and spoke about the amount of support from people just in their gardens spraying water, kids offering jellies to runners. There really is an amazing community spirit. Oh, and Chicken Hut, Luigi’s, and Donkeys, obviously.

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