Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with Ledher Blue
When Pedro and Zé, the mononamed Portuguese duo behind Ledher Blue, found themselves in Dublin, the first question that Zé asked was: “Why am I here?” Soon enough, though, he would learn that fate doesn’t offer straightforward answers. However, as he began to settle into this strange new emerald land, he saw the same old problems reaffirmed. Amid the sham of inequity and wry resistance, he began to feel at home.
Dublin is imbued with the same underdog spirit as Pedro and Zé’s northern Portugal hometown of Guimarães. Like the namesake Newcastle midfielder, it is dogged, passionate, and filled with flair. The same can be said for Dublin. So, when Zé arrived there, he found his artistic outlook emboldened. Alongside Pedro, he had an idea of how music should sound when he was back in Guimarães; now he had an enthused certainty.
Dublin is enjoying a moment—driven, in part, as a response to the incumbent hardships that come with the city’s sadly portentious housing crisis. Ledher Blue’s music rides the wave of happy defiance rising up. Their latest album, Fait Drivers, is resplendent with gritty indie riffs, flecked with heady counterculture age psychedelic oblivion. The quick-fire spit of the sharp rolling lyrics is reflective of the grit that the group have always been reared amongst.
The dawning moment of inspiration is palpable throughout the record, as the group said of finding their feet in Dublin, “Not only the message was so clear it seemed to dazzle but also the universe, the habitat of each song was drawn,” says Ledher Blue.
Continuing: “We felt rain during ‘Dublinesque’, the popped dark smoke from old cars for ‘Sorrows of the Amended Hearts’, the lady on the bus in ‘Craic’, the winey red out of a absolutist cape emerged on ‘Èlan’ with libertarian scarlet blues and shadowy greens, we heard the people talking in the pubs of ‘Fun’, we could distinguish the whiteness of their teeth; it stopped being a group of songs and became something else. Complete. Portugality embroiled in Irish thread. A message for all but about none, a concept for the unknown based on the past, a tale without morals.”
It’s certainly a florid outlook, and it pairs brilliantly with the old, blunt Britpop-like sound they offer. So, with that paradox primed for questioning, following the release of Fait Drivers, we decided to quickly catch up with the band, make use of their rapid nature, and bend their ear for ten minutes.
Quick-fire Questions with Ledher Blue:
1. What song would you want played at your funeral?
“‘Better Days’ by Graham Nash. Pedro sent it to Zé when he was going through a nasty breakup, and it helped numb the pain. So, the shoe fits.”
2. What ‘classic album’ would you happily delete from history?
“Well, this question led to some tough debates, and it was very hard to choose. We decided to settle it with rock-paper-scissors — whoever won would choose and take all the blame. Zé won, so don’t be upset at Pedro for this answer: Every album where Phil Collins sings. All of them should be erased from history. Just listen to Genesis when Peter Gabriel was singing. That’s all.”
3. What’s the most defining feature of Dublin art?
“The undying belief against serfdom and lust. Sorry for the shameless plug.”
4. Where is the best pub in the world?
“Prost! In Guimarães. Not only is it the place we got drunk more often, undeniably, but we recorded the ‘Craic’ videoclip there, so it makes the most sense. If not, Prost! Then Peadar Browns in Dublin, where we would discuss the album every night while writing and producing it.”
5. What has been your favourite album of 2025 so far?
“Who Let the Dogs Out by Lambrini Girls. We believe it’s going to be an instant classic like Dogrel, Brutalism, or Comfort to Me. It’s so vibrant and raw and pure, and honest. We were, and still are, in awe.”
6. What song is the best entry point to Ledher Blue?
“It really depends on where you’re coming from. We believe we have a peculiar style that jumps through musical genres while remaining original and honest — that’s what we strive for. Our musical tastes are very different; we often enjoy things the other despises. Our fluidity comes from that disparity and from our commitment to create sounds that both of us like. It’s normal for one of us to prefer a song the other isn’t crazy about, but we make sure everything we release is enjoyed by both.”
“That being said, we would never want to play just one specific style; it is too static and hinders creativity. What we strive to create is a habitat where our ideas flow freely, independent of the previous song, but on the same musical landscape. Depending if you like the beach or mountains or staying in, the entry point would be different. We can’t really answer this one with detail.”
“So maybe, Fun.”
7. What is your go-to comfort movie?
“The Big Lebowski — and not just because we can’t stand the Eagles either.”
8. If you had to get a lyric tattoo, what would it say?
“‘I thought life would be freer than this.’ Don’t bother searching it — it’s an unreleased lyric. Maybe next year it’ll make more sense. To be more diplomatic, though: ‘Life ain’t always empty.’ I’d have loved to write that one-liner. It’s so simple and full of intent.”
9. If you had to compare Ledher Blue to a film, which movie would it be?
“Dr Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.“
10. What is the best hangover cure?
“I’ve scientifically tested a lot of ways, and the best cure is this (and it’s economical, too): Wake up and drink a can of Coke with ice. Go for a swim in cold water — Praia do Taboão works like a charm. Heat yourself back up — a short, hot shower works best. Then have a cold beer. You’ll be up and running in no time.”
11. You have an hour to kill at home. What are you getting up to?
“We would both just read. Literature has been the most important thing for the band, helping cure heartbreak, anxiety, or idleness. Grab a new poet, explore the Soviet classics, laugh at Kierkegaard’s irony, or try for the N-th time to understand Being and Time or Finnegans Wake. And if not, just read trash novels. It’s better than all the shit you write on your phone.”
12. Who would be your dream collaborator?
“Right now, Dan Carey. He’s produced, and sometimes mixed, the best albums of the past few years. It seems like he makes everything work for a record or encourages artists to take that extra step. The work he’s done recently is just unbelievable. No doubt, Dan Carey.”
13. Can you recommend an album that most people haven’t heard?
“Chega de Saudade by João Gilberto. We believe it was Miles Davis who once said João Gilberto could read the newspaper and it would sound amazing. Chega de Saudade is Gilberto’s debut album, showcasing his amazing vocal prowess. The title track, ‘Chega de Saudade’, is a strong poem by Vinicius de Moraes. Even if you don’t understand Portuguese, it will take you to another dimension. Sadness hugging Love. Like Babies and Rottweilers.”
14. What is the best Haribo?
“Tijolos. You know those pink bricks with white in between and sprinkled sugar.”
15. Are The Beatles overrated?
Pedro: “Absolutely not.”
Zé: “Absolutely yes.”
