Lochtá* was born in lockdown last year when childhood friends Owen Williams and Joe McGuigan decided to combine forces.

Owen is a trad musician who many will know from his time in Scran and his work with Mera Royle and Joe is a DJ and producer.

They have now put out two EPs: Noa/Shenn, which was released last year, and their new release, Snaefell.

When the pandemic interrupted Owen’s work, leaving him without anything to do all day, he turned to Joe, who was in his two weeks of isolation having come back from university studying sound design and music production.

Over the following fortnight they put together four tracks; Ayrn Nane, Chanter’s, Vive la Loïc and Sally.

The resulting EP perfectly meshed their two styles, and they realised they were probably onto a winner.

Now they have released a new set of tracks for music enthusiasts across the Isle.

Island Life caught up with Owen to talk the new EP and the inspiration for the project.

’It’s our second EP, we did our first one last summer.

’That was kind of a lockdown project, to keep us busy, and this new one that we’ve just put out was just a collection of tracks we’ve done over the years, for fun really, just as something to do.’

The lads went to school together, and have harnessed their musical abilities over the years.

’I kind of grew up playing Manx music, and Joe is a real expert with the computer,’ Owen said.

’So it’s just natural, it’s what we’re both good at I suppose.’

The five tracks on the new EP; Pressed For Time, The Golden Harp, Hoirrean Hò, Hallowed Lands and Teeval beautifully blend Joe’s modern electronic sound with Owen’s traditional music on flute and other instruments.

Like most people in the last year, the pair had to utilise video conferencing software in order to get anything done.

The novelty of recording an album via Skype was not lost on the pair.

Owen said: ’Yeah, we’d have Skype set up.

’It made things difficult but you know, that’s how it had to be.

’It took some getting used to, but we managed.’

When asked if they have any plans to tour the new music, Owen explained that it all comes down to logistics.

’We haven’t been able [to organise any shows] because Joe’s over in Liverpool and I’ve been over here for the past year working, but fingers crossed.

’We have been trying to figure out a way to do it.

’It’s kind of tricky because half of it’s on the computer and half of it is recorded instruments, but we’re figuring it out.’

For fans of the pair who will be keen to hear more from Lochtá* in the future, never fear, there will be more music at some point.

’We do have plans [for more music] but no concrete dates or anything.

’We’ve got quite a few unfinished ones we could spend a few hours on and get up to scratch.’

l The new EP, Snaefell, by Lochtá* is available to stream on Spotify and Amazon Music now.