BRINGING THE BUZZ: ANDREA HORAN

Creator of Tropical Popical Nail Bar,  Andrea Horan, is a doyenne of style and sass, an entrepreneur, activist and an all round savvy sounder. Andrea founded The Hunreal Issues to encourage women to get involved in political issues. She is a cofounder of the No More Hotels movement and the fight to Make Clubbing Culture. She waxes lyrical on “Escaping The Economy of More” which challenges society's definition of success and is co-host of the cracking United Ireland podcast with Una Mullally.

1.       Walking the streets of the city is just plain ‘weird’ right now. What is your vision for Dublin’ when we get out of this covid mess?

I always remind myself that the city belongs to everyone, no one has more ownership over it than anyone else.  And with that in mind, it would be so brilliant to see it cater for everyone.  That goes from the basics of what the ppl whose job it is to provide amenities including seats, bins, toilets - we've relied on the private sector to provide public amenities and services for so long and the pandemic has really highlighted to just what extent.  I'd also like to see it be a city that is alive all the time so that it's not just retail and services focused.  We need to have people living in the city so it would be great to see over shops transformed into homes.  And finally, we need to see a city that caters as much for people who don't get up early in the morning.  We can no longer see activities that happen after dark as simply a nuisance.  I've been so energised watching the work of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce.  

2.       You have been very vocal about clubbing culture in Dublin and the vital part it plays. How would you define clubbing culture and why do you feel it's so important?

For me, clubbing culture can be boiled down to connection and optimism.  When people go out to a club,  they're always ready to have the best time possible.  The dancefloor creates a seeming utopia where all barriers are broken down and it becomes this democratic space where colour, creed, or beliefs don't matter.  The space around the dancefloor provides opportunities and inspiration for growth, creativity, new relationships, new ideas, and learning.  These are all things we should harness rather than trying to quell and manage. 

3.       What is giving you the buzz these days?

Potential.  It's my buzzword of the moment for sure. So much was taken away during the pandemic for so many people but what was sometimes invisible was the potential that was stripped from some people's lives.  When you work and create and make not just for the output that you make, but for the experiences and connections and energy swaps along the way, the potential of what may come, that was really heartbreaking to lose.  For example, we made the Clubbing Is Culture doc that is now being shown in the V&A.  Amazing example of output but the energy potential of actually being able to go and see it in the space, part of the bigger exhibition; meeting the other people involved in the show; being part of the experience has been taken away and that's a huge part of why you create.  

So to feel the potential start to seep back in, to see my business open up again, to see Circus running test club nights in Liverpool - to see the potential of what is to come.  That's giving me the buzz.

4.       What do you think is the single biggest issue facing our society right now? (aside from the obvious, of course!)

The selling off of all of our 'assets' to global investors.  I'm a (very) firm believer that an economy should fuel a society and not the other way around.  We've seen numerous full housing estates being sold off to investment vulture funds in the height of a homeless crisis because of tax breaks.  There is a political ideology that is favouring investments over people's lives and the potential to buy somewhere to live.  We're creating a society with a warped sense of success - based on accumulation and hoarding rather than creating a quality of life for every citizen. 

5.       What do you miss most, getting your nails done or going to a club?

Ohhhh curve ball.  What about getting your nails done in a club, the collaboration we all need.  Dark rooms and flashing lights - the ideal environment for perfect nails! I think both of them are as important to me and not because of the outcome of either, dancing and glam nails, but because of the interactions and energy exchanges that are created by attending either.  I just want to be part of an energy ecosystem again!