Month: March 2017

Following the success of their recent single, ‘Battles’, Columbia Mills return with their new single ‘ Head Start’, taken from their upcoming debut album, produced by Rob Kirwan (Hozier, U2 & Depeche Mode)

REVIEWS:
“I once remarked that Columbia Mills were on the verge of something special and I was wrong, because it seems they had been there all along”. — The Last Mixed Tape

“Columbia Mills can be described as “darker angrier sound than the aforementioned artists, combining the guitar attack of The Jesus And Mary Chain’s austere shoegaze and hints of synthpop into a sound the group themselves define as Indietronica” — GoldenPlec

“A delicious melting pot of 80s and 90s influences and manages to sound both completely new and utterly familiar” — Ceol Collective

Upcoming Gigs
Limerick – Kasbah Social Club 31/03/17
Cork – Cyprus Avenue 01/04/17
Bray – The Harbour Bar 06/04/17
Dublin – Whelan’s 13/05/17
Groove Festival, Killruddery House, Bray – August 2017

Gary Harding and James McGuire, two young men from Dublin, have made a substantial impact with their synth speckled, indie guitar drenched pop-rock since their birth in late 2013. The pair, who play live as a four-piece, have headlined sold out Dublin shows, made notable festival appearances and have been invited to support Echo & The Bunnymen, White Lies, St. Raymond, Embrace and Rae Morris. Substantial national and regional airplay of their two Stephen Lipson produced EP’s followed, in addition to national TV and critical acclaim.

Darling began working with rising producer Philip Magee (Kodaline, The Script) early in 2016 recording demos and it quickly became clear an album would soon be ready.

Gary says “The goal was always to put together a body of work that represented who we are. This is a record about relationships. It’s about the two relationships that define and have defined the last decade of my life. When I listen to the record that’s what I hear.”

Lead single Bright Light Switch has been Today FM’s Homegrown Heroes track of the week, appeared as a first play on 2FM’s Eoghan McDermott show and has been playlisted by A&R Worldwide’s Sat Bisla on his Passport Approved radio show across 60 stations worlwide from KROQ in LA to FLUX FM in Berlin and been added to multiple Spotify playlists. Darling play live in Gibson Guitars Studio store in Berlin in March and release second single ‘It’s Only Love’ soon after.

Pre-order “Darling” the debut album now http://smarturl.it/darlingalbum

http://www.darlingmusic.ie
Facebook / Instagram / Twitter – @darlingmusic
YouTube / Soundcloud – darlingofficial

Daithi reveals the title track from his forthcoming EP ‘Holiday Home’, an intense instrumental techno track inspired by late night driving on county roads in Ireland.

Daithi on ‘Holiday Home’: “I do a lot of driving late at night after playing shows, and driving home to Co. Clare feels very solitary. There’s something interesting about playing to a room full of people, and then suddenly being completely alone in the middle of nowhere, with only your thoughts and some tunes to keep you company.”

The track follows the theme of Daithi’s new EP, which utilizes self-recorded natural sounds and samples based in Irish culture.

“Every sample should have a back-story, every song should be personal. The main rhythm in this track is a recording of an 11 year old bodhran player who won the All Ireland fleadh in the 90s.”

Available on Spotify on 31st March.

Daithi has also announced an extensive Irish tour, bringing his famous improvised live electronic show all over the country:

Sat 15 April: Nellie Freds, Dingle
Thurs 21 April: FourtyOne, Navan
Fri 28 April: Roisin Dubh, Galway
Sat 29 April: Abstract (Opium Rooms), Dublin
Sun 30 April: Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Sat 20 May: Levi’s, Ballydehob, Cork
Sun 19 June: Lukers, Athlone
Plus more to be announced…

‘All Life Matters’ is the eagerly awaited follow up single from Cork based Alternative Rock band Paradox to their last album ‘Chapters’. ‘All Life Matters’ plays like a ballad while criticising the current media climate.

Recorded at Wavefield Recording Studios, Bantry West Cork and produced and engineered by Brian Casey ‘All Life Matters’ takes a similar direction to the previous Paradox album ‘Chapters’ which was also recorded at Wavefield. Singer Songwriter Pete Mac plays all instruments on the track with Brian Casey adding keys and piano.

Paradox are an Alternative Rock band from Cork, Ireland. Formed in 1997 by brothers Pete Mac and Mike Mac, the early Paradox sound was heavily influenced by the Grunge Era of the 90’s. The band has shaped and evolved their sound over the years while still maintaining their Alternative Rock sound. Paradox have released 4 studio albums to date. Their debut album ‘Circle of Growth’ was recorded in Los Angeles in 2000 and released on a US label. Their second album ‘Sacred’ was recorded and released in 2004, ‘Corporate Pollution’ was released in 2011 and their latest album ‘Chapters’ released in 2015. Singer and songwriter Pete Mac also recorded and released a solo album in 2009 in Berlin, Germany.

‘Corporate Pollution’ marked a further evolution in the Paradox sound and received the most attention from any of the bands releases. From the opening track ‘Corporate Pollution’ with it’s churning guitar riffs and political sneers the track seems to somewhat set the tone for the rest of the album. One reviewer noted that the album had ‘so many influences it’s hard to list them all, the music is solid, timeless and to the point‘.

Another review from Loud-Stuff.com added – ‘Maybe the ultimate compliment you can pay to this album is that you could listen to it between Nirvana’s In Utero and Alice in Chains Dirt and it’s every bit as good‘.

‘Mr. Bureaucracy’ was chosen to be the first single with it’s fast pulsing riffs and melodic vocal refrains. The band also shot a music video for ‘Mr. Bureaucracy’ in 2012 which was nominated for best song at the Berlin Music Video Awards, Dublin International short film and music awards the Portobello Film Festival London in 2013.

In 2012 the ‘Corporate Pollution’ track ‘Repress Excess’ was used on the soundtrack for Canadian horror movie ‘Truth’ which screened at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Canada International Film Festival’s Royal Reel Award.

Paradox have toured both Europe and the US as well as playing support to the likes of Therapy?, Kerbdog and Shonen Knife.

2014 saw Paradox back in the studio recording their 4th album to date at Wavefield Recording Studios in Bantry, West Cork with multi tasking musician and engineer Brian Casey on the desk. Titled ‘Chapters’ the 14 track album combines a variety of new sounds some of which have not yet been heard on any previous Paradox album. ‘Chapters’ has been gaining momentum since it’s release in 2015. The band kicked off 2016 with a new single and music video titled ‘EAT’ which was nominated at the Indie Cork Film Festival and the RATMA Film Festival in the UK.

Since starting out as a solo performer in 2011, Irish artist Elaine Mai has been crafting a reputation for atmospheric and melodic electronic music. Her latest single ‘Enniscrone’, released in late 2016, is a drifting instrumental track. Her upcoming release sees her continue her exploration into remixing by reimagining Liza Flume’s track ‘Sheets’. It showcases her skill for lilting harmonies and storytelling through rhythm and repetition.

The video for the track was directed by Bob Gallagher who is well known for his award winning music videos for Girl Band. He also recently directed a powerful human rights campaign video for Transgender EU. His video for Elaine Mai’s remix of ‘Sheets’ compliments the intimacy of the track, depicting a moving portrayal of the disintegration of a relationship.

Elaine says ‘From the first time I heard Liza sing, I knew I wanted to work with her one day. I adored ‘Sheets’ when I heard it, and wanted to add another dimension to the vocal and emphasise the pain and loss in the track. I spoke to Bob about the possibility of doing a video and I was delighted when he came on board. He added another chapter to the story and all three of us are really happy with the end product, it’s something we’re very proud of’.

Bob recently directed a video for James Vincent McMorrow and is currently in Cuba making a short film under the mentorship of Werner Herzog. Liza has relocated to London and is currently back writing and recording with a full band, so expect more great things from her in the coming months.

Since the release of her last EP in 2014, Elaine has been expanding upon her previous critically acclaimed live performances, experimenting with her live show as well as her approach to song-writing and production. A new single and EP will follow after this remix; ‘Sheets’ is just a taster of what’s to come.

Elaine plays this years Body and Soul Festival at Ballinlough Castle, Clonmellon, Co. Westmeath on the Summer Solstice Weekend, June 23rd-25th 2017

Music Generation has announced the appointment of Leo Blennerhassett as Chairperson of the Board of Directors. A former Managing Director of Accenture Ireland, Leo is currently Chairperson of the Board of RSA Insurance Ireland Ltd. Previously Leo was also an adjunct lecturer on the MBA programme at Trinity College Dublin and a member of the Advisory Board of the Business School.

Welcoming the announcement, U2’s The Edge commented: ‘Leo has been a constant and active supporter of our common cause to bring music education to children and young people throughout Ireland. We are delighted that he has agreed to take on the role of Chairman and continue the work to make Music Generation a national movement.’

National Director of Music Generation Rosaleen Molloy said: ‘I am delighted that Leo has been appointed as Chairperson of the Board of Music Generation. Leo brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the organisation, particularly in the areas of management, leadership and strategic planning. As a member of the Board since 2010, Leo has already made an enormous contribution to Music Generation during an important period of development. We very much look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we embark on an exciting phase of expansion.’

On his appointment, Leo Blennerhassett said: ‘I am delighted to continue my work on the Board of Music Generation and to take up this new role as Chairperson. The achievements of the programme during its first phase have been nothing short of remarkable. The ground-breaking approach to public-private partnership that the organisation models has paved the way for further growth while ensuring sustainability, enabling positive outcomes for children and young people through music. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow Board members, the Executive of Music Generation, the programme’s philanthropic donors, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships to advance the shared vision of the organisation.’

Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme, initiated by Music Network and co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships. Currently established in 12 areas of Ireland, the programme provides high-quality, subsidised performance music education to more than 38,000 children and young people annually who would not otherwise have the choice of access or the chance to participate. Since its formation Music Generation has created more than 330 employment opportunities, mainly for musicians who deliver over 99 different programmes in 680 tuition centres. Music Generation focuses on performance music education – that is vocal and instrumental tuition, encompassing all music genres and all types of instruments and vocal styles, from ukulele groups to rock bands, choirs, orchestras, composers’ clubs, rock schools, hip hop squads, traditional Irish music ensembles, rap groups, song-writing sessions and more.

http://www.musicgeneration.ie/

Formed in 2015, Ivy Nations are an indie-pop quartet from Dublin, Ireland who are setting the dance rock world on fire.

Only two singles deep, the group have been praised for their refined sound which they have established well with producer Phil Magee (Kodaline, The Script). Their debut track “The Mile Road” was released to universal plaudits and reached #3 on the HypeM Twitter chart. Second single, “You Are the Centre of Me” premiered on BitCandy in December 2015 receiving national airplay in Ireland & non-com radio in Australia and the USA.

2016 saw the band perfecting their live show with performances at Whelan’s Ones To Watch, Electric Picnic and Other Voices, a sold out headline show in Whelan’s Upstairs, and coveted support slots for acts like The Academic, Kodaline, The Strypes The Frank And Walters and The Blizzards.

New single “Live By Design” holds faithful to the energetic, dreamy sensibilities of the band’s previous releases, but pushes forward. It’s a shade darker, the band shares, and influenced by themes in Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times” and Godfrey Reggio’s “Koyaanisquatsi”. Singer Joe Kiernan says of the single, “[Live By Design] deals with the pace of modern life, where live out our fantasies while existing on the outer edges. The song reflects frustration, an inability to change the inner discourses that hold us back, and a desire to remove oneself from the race.”
Set for release on Reckless Records, “Live By Design” is available everywhere on April 7th.

Ivy Nations will be performing at various Irish festivals this year, to be announced very soon.

www.facebook.com/IvyNationsOfficial
www.twitter.com/IvyNations
www.soundcloud.com/ivynationsofficial
www.ivynations.com

Stoat are back with a new single and video Trampolina, released on March 17th, ahead of new album “Try not to think about it” due later in the spring.

Trampolina is classic indie-pop, with guitars, a lot of bounce and a big chorus – full brass section like. Like all their tunes, particular attention has been paid to the words, which are sharp and sweet. Who does it sound like? Maybe Lily Allen fronting Belle and Sebastian, except of course they’re all fellas.

Trampolina is the follow up to the first single to be taken from our upcoming album. It was called “Talk Radio Makes Me Feel Alone”, it picked up airplay on RTE 2FM, KCLR, 96 FM Cork, Beat 102-103, Dublin City FM, Flirt FM, Spin South West and 8Radio, and people said some nice things about it:

“as infectious as anything currently in the Top 10” – Pure M Zine

“by far the greatest thing I’ve heard this year” – musician.ie

Trampolina is a bit of a departure for the band in that it’s an honest-to-god love song, the first they’ve ever done. It describes a short lived affair, touches off the tragedy of the human condition, and ends kind of poignantly.

The video that accompanies the single is kind of interesting in that it was shot in one take and was made without any external help. No one to even hold the camera.

Twitter @StoatMusic
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stoatmusic/

Freshly formed in July of 2016, Tullamore group Chasing Abbey bring a unique pop, dance and hip-hop style to the fore. Having grown up and sharing a love of music together, Ro, Bee and TeddyC have an unparalleled charisma that culminates in an explosive live show. Their latest track ‘That Good Thing’ will be released on Friday 31st March 2017.

“3 men who are very, very talented. They’ve got a brilliant sound and I think a very unique sound in Ireland.” – Louise Duffy, Today Fm

“You know where you should be going for your Hip Hop? Tullamore, Co. Offaly. This is Ro, Bee & TeddyC, their called Chasing Abbey and we love this tune here at Today Fm.” – Dermot & Dave, Today Fm

“One of the most promising bands in the country.” – iRadio

“One talented bunch.” – Spin South West

Social media links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChasingAbbey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChasingAbbey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChasingAbbeyHQ
Snapchat: ChasingAbbey3