The Alt-Pop Rockers Putting Inclusivity Centre Stage

It has been a busy few months for Renegade Zoo, a band formed through a creative arts project for young adults with learning disabilities in Londonderry.

A debut album showcasing their brand of alt-pop launched earlier this year, a summer performance at the Foyle Maritime Festival followed, before taking to the stage at this year’s Stendhal Festival.

All students at Derry’s Tuned In Project, the band describe themselves as a group of neurodivergent and physically diverse musicians.

Rapper Donna Marie Duddy, known as DM, says Renegade Zoo is “about not putting limits on ourselves”.

She adds that is is about friendship and having the opportunity to write songs.

Before joining the band, songwriting was not something she had much chance to explore.

“The lyrics come much easier than the melodies,” she says.

Philip ‘Wally’ Wallace is the Tuned In Project’s music media teacher in Derry.

He says Renegade Zoo emerged from the project’s wider work encouraging students to get involved in music.

“We realised we had a drummer and a few different players. Once we started meeting regularly, we realised we had the makings of a band.”

He says being in a band has helped the young people grow in confidence and develop self-esteem.

“What we try to do is help the students find their voice through music and make sure they know that voice is being heard.

“Everyone in the band loves it, me included. It’s hard work, but they put so much effort into the songwriting, recording and performing.”

In March, Renegade Zoo launched their debut album, Eyes on the Road, at Derry’s New Gate Arts and Culture Centre.

Singer and percussionist Sarah Jane Murray, who goes by SJ, said the album launch was one of the highlights of her time in the band.

“It was great to see everybody getting up dancing these songs that we created ourselves.”

SJ also enjoys the songwriting process and says some songs emerge spontaneously during rehearsals.

“We’ll sit together, come up with melodies and guitar riffs.

“Sometimes Wally or somebody else will bring in a guitar riff and we’ll build a song around it.”

For SJ, Renegade Zoo is about “confidence and creativity”.

“There’s times that I might sing a wrong note or it might be a bit dodgy here and there and I just know for a fact that it’s just a process, that it is alright.”

The band’s album reflects the eclectic approach to songwriting that members say defines Renegade Zoo.

Their sound draws on a range of influences, including rock, pop, alt-country and hip hop.

“A lot of our songs aren’t typical break-up songs or romance songs,” explains singer Sorcha Friel.

“A Renegade Zoo song either has a great message or can just be a bit silly.”

She says one of the tracks, Waggledance, was inspired by an unlikely source – a “random conversation about bees one day”.

Performing at this year’s Stendhal Festival has been a particular highlight of her time in the band.

“The bigger the crowd the better. I get more nervous with a more intimate crowd.”

‘More new songs, more just being ourselves’

After a busy early summer Renegade Zoo are back in the rehearsal room writing new material.

Plans are being formulated for the months ahead and the band’s members have different ambitions for the future.

DM dreams of a UK tour, while SJ believes a tour of Northern Ireland may be a more realistic next step.

Sorcha’s hopes are simpler still: “More new songs, more just being ourselves.”