Local drummer in total Bliss after debut single’s release

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Local drummer Keelan Bliss has spoken about the surreal experience of releasing a debut single with his band, Citrus Drive.

The son of Ericsson engineer John Bliss and Slimming World Athlone director Pauline Bliss, the 23-year-old attended Athlone Community College before completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Galway. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education at University College Cork.

“I come from a musical family, my mum was always heavily involved in the musical society, and my sister Olivia is a brilliant singer; she got Mum’s voice,” Keelan shared, noting that he inherited his Dad’s love of rock music.

While Keelan had been taking formal piano lessons, his curiosity led him to his true calling as a drummer. He first picked up the sticks while rehearsing for a school concert.

“There was a drum set there, so I decided to give it a go. I had never played drums before. I started playing a beat, and some of the other students began to join in. From then on, I just started teaching myself through YouTube.”

He spent every spare moment refining his skills, bringing his passion with him to Galway, where he took a leap of faith and auditioned to join a band. It was then that Keelan’s journey with Citrus Drive began.

“I saw a flyer outside the engineering building and decided to go for it,” he said.

After a series of other auditions, which Keelan described as sounding “like pots and pans”, Keelan got his chance to display his talent, and it was an instant match. “From there it was myself on drums, Nick Kos as the lead singer, Darragh Fahey on bass, and Daniel Scully on lead guitar.”

When it came time to choose a name for the band, several contenders, many of which would later become song titles, were thrown around. But it was a viewing of the film Scarface that ultimately inspired their official name.

“At first we were called Full Metal Jacket, but it didn’t have a good ring to it. We spent two hours tossing out names from 21st Century Fox to Viper V Gen. But when Nick suggested Citrus Drive, we all agreed that was it.”

The band’s debut performance was held at The Ol' 55 Bar in Galway, organised with the help of DJ Green.

“That was our debut, and they put us on as headliners,” Keelan recalled. “At the start of our set, there were about 30 to 40 people in this tiny pub, and by the end, people were spilling out the doors. My mother nearly got kicked out because she was screaming so much!”

The band started with covers, saving their original songs for last. “That feeling of adrenaline, seeing people connect with you and cheer you on, it was unreal. That was our first taste of success.”

Since then, the band has performed at Galway staples like Cooke’s and McGettigans, developing their distinctive rock sound, inspired by legends like The Beatles and Metallica.

Citrus Drive released their debut single, ‘Desert Heat’, in May and quickly gained momentum with a growing fanbase.

“It was so weird to see our song on Spotify,” Keelan said, recalling the surreal moment of the first official release.

“We got a lot of positive feedback, which was great because we felt the single captured the sound we were aiming for.”

The band plans to release three more singles in the coming months, ahead of the release of a debut album later this summer.

“We’re currently mixing and mastering the tracks. I’ve been travelling from Cork to Galway on weekends for these 10-hour sessions - it’s been intense.”

Keelan has been juggling the music-making with his educational pursuits, and has been undertaking his teaching practice.

“I remember getting our next single back while I was on the school bus with my students. I put in my headphones and tried not to look too excited, but I was absolutely gassed!”

Keelan has extended his gratitude to all those who have shown support for the band so far, with a special thanks to DJ Green for giving them their first on stage experience, and producer Billy Sinnott from Perch House Productions for his work on the album.

“It’s all been so surreal,” he added. “Once the album is out, maybe I’ll have to do a hometown gig!”

To follow Citrus Drive’s journey and stay updated on the latest releases, follow the band on Instagram and YouTube @CitrusDriveBand. The debut single ‘Desert Heat’ is available now on streaming platforms.