Irish electronic-pop artist and two times RTÉ Choice Music Song of the Year nominee, Soulé premieres her latest single, ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’ on streaming services August 24th.
The song is a bittersweet story and the realization of being in a toxic relationship which isn’t good for you. A feel-good dance jam with a darker side, the deep melodic track continuously builds with her soulful and infectious vocals and pays homage to classic upbeat UK 2-step garage and House.
Soulé explains, “’Don’t Hold Your Breath’ was very easy and was written and recorded all in one day. I was inspired by relationships around me and toxic relationships I’ve witnessed or been in myself. I wanted to write a song about the back and forth of relationships when things turn sour or when the ‘honeymoon stage’ dies down. I wanted the lyrics to be simple but still deep and meaningful enough for listeners to relate to. I’m so proud of how it turned out.”
Her latest release follows the success of ‘Troublemaker’ and ‘What Do You Know’, both of which have reached over multiple million streams on Spotify and Apple Music and earned massive support on radio and media from BBC 1Xtra, RTE 2FM and Today FM.
‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’, the leading single from her debut EP, is an exciting preview of what’s to come in 2018. Soulé takes another step on her unique journey towards pop stardom – and she’s taking you with her!
Original, entertaining and thought provoking, the Rubber Wellies are a unique Basque, Irish and British based collective, a travelling folk outfit like few others.
Having delighted audiences all over Europe and beyond with their hard working, fiercely independent act and their love of feel-good fun they celebrate ten years on the road together in full festival mode with a whistlestop tour of five cities and five nights only.
Drawing on curious everyday occurrences, folk narratives and global politics, the Rubber Wellies multi-lingual shows are a mix of musical story-telling and good-time sing-alongs that flip between poignant introspection and carefree raucousness. With a genre-bending mash-up of sea shanties, mexican rancheras, bossa nova, reggae, old time and swing, their performances are a joyful exercise in bridge building – a sonic/emotional conversation with plenty of opportunities for thoughtfulness and laughter.
Make sure you don’t miss out! Featuring: Harry Bird (Bilbao) on acoustic guitar & vocals; Christophe Capewell (Dublin) on fiddle, melodica, ukulele and piano; Kate Theodore (Southampton) on fiddle and vocals; Jamie Bird (Lincoln) on banjo, mandolin and vocals; Ian “Dodge” Paterson (Newcastle) on bass and Adam Downey (Galway) on drums.
Oct 3 // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle (7.30pm, £5/£7) Oct 4 // The Glad Café, Glasgow (7.30pm, £8/£10) Oct 5 // The Workman’s Club, Dublin (8pm, 10e/12e) Oct 6 // Zigfrid von Underbelly, Hoxton Square, London (7.30pm, £10/£12) Oct 7 // The Greystones, Sheffield (8pm, £8/£10)
Following on from the success of previous collaborative film scoring programmes, IMRO and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, in association with The Contemporary Music Centre (CMC) and Screen Training Ireland will bring together some of the very best emerging Irish filmmakers and composers to work on an exciting collaborative project during 2018/2019.
This initiative will provide emerging filmmakers and composers with an invaluable opportunity to enhance their skills through hands-on experience in a vital aspect of film post-production. It is also a rare opportunity to have a score composed and recorded for full orchestra. Each year, films featured in this initiative have gone on to win awards at various national and international film festivals, clearly signalling the impressive creative output of Irish film composers and filmmakers.
The focus of the project is a one day recording session in RTÉ studios in March 2019 with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra recording original scores for short film submissions selected for the initiative. Programme participants will be further supported through mentoring sessions and workshops with leading industry specialists.
We are now seeking applications from interested composers and filmmakers who would like to participate in this programme. Due to the limited number of places available we have set down a number of qualifying criteria for those wishing to take part.
Composers
1. Previous experience in scoring to picture (short film/advertisements etc.) desirable.
2. The ability to score for full orchestra is essential.
3. The ability to work to a tight deadline is also essential.
Filmmakers
Submitted film projects for the initiative should require original scored music totalling between three and five minutes. Ideally the film should have a maximum duration of 10 – 15 minutes and should be close to or have completed picture lock. Once selected, the filmmakers will work with a composer, who has been selected through the process, who will create a full score for the film to be performed and recorded by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
All categories of film will be considered e.g. live-action drama, animation, documentary, experimental, etc. Ideally, the film projects submitted should be close to completion on editing. The use of temp tracks or “mood music” where score is required is allowed but not required.
The closing date for submissions for this initiative is 5pm Friday 28th September 2018
Our preference is to receive your submission electronically. Please send a link to your music or film submission to keith.johnson@nullimro.ie or alternatively by post to:
IMRO / RTÉ Scoring For Film Program 2018/19
Keith Johnson
Director of Marketing & Membership
Irish Music Rights Organisation
Copyright House
Pembroke Row
Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2
Bell X1 will bring a close to the celebrations of their 20th anniversary year with two shows at the National Concert Hall on the 28th and 29th November. The band will be joined by Dowry Strings (Éna Brennan).The shows mark the end of a year of celebrations which saw the band perform five sell-out concerts in a Vicar Street residency in March.
“The Bandiversary shows this year have been a real trip, and have re-kindled our love for songs we haven’t properly gotten inside in a long time. And we worked with Éna on a show with strings for the charity Aware earlier in the year, and thought how great it would be to go deeper into the catalogue with the three of us and a quartet at the NCH” says Paul.
The pair of concerts in the National Concert Hall will feature a selection of songs from Bell X1’s catalogue.
Since the release of their acclaimed 7th studio album ‘Arms’, the band have spent time touring in America, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe. They’ve also released new material with their various side projects. Paul has been working on his first solo LP with The Gloaming’s Thomas Bartlett, and Dave has been touring and releasing new material with Join Me In the Pines.
Bell X1 are Paul Noonan, Dave Geraghty & Dominic Philips.
Bell X1 – Acoustic-ish with Dowry Strings Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th November, 8pm Tickets from €25 Tickets on sale Friday 24th August, 10am For tickets call 01 417 00 00 or www.nch.ie
Mayo singer/songwriter Conor Ward is pleased to announce the release of his brand new single, ‘Hope’. Recently described by Hot Press Magazine as “a rising act to keep an eye on”, Conor returns with his first release since his debut EP, ‘Wanderlust’.
Songs from ‘Wanderlust’ earned him airplay on Today FM, Classic Hits 4FM, KCLR, iRadio, Spin SouthWest, Radio Kerry, Red FM, MidWest Radio, Dublin City FM and 8Radio.
Conor has been busy gigging the length and breadth of Ireland along with being offered support slots for Hermitage Green, The Stunning as well headlining a show of his own in the iconic Whelan’s.
His new single, ‘Hope’, deals with themes of mental health, anxiety and depression. However, the ultimate message of the song is one of finding hope. Recorded and produced by the excellent Dave Skelton, the result is a poignant yet infectiously catchy indie pop song. Speaking about the release Conor remarked the importance of it to him personally saying, “I feel when I’m writing, if I’m passionate about the topic, the material flows naturally. At the core of the song is a hope for open dialogue about mental health and breaking the stigma associated with it. The ultimate message is one of hope“.
A music video will accompany the track which will be shot by award winning Crude Media in conjunction with the fantastic charity, Limerick Suicide Watch.
Upcoming shows
To celebrate the release of “Hope”, Conor will be playing 3 headline shows with his band and a host of special guests. The proceeds from all three gigs will go towards two wonderful charities, Pieta House and Limerick Suicide Watch. “The idea of doing the three headline shows as fundraisers just felt like the right thing to do. I have massive admiration for the amazing work that the two charities do for the community and I want to contribute to them in any small way I can. With three wonderful venues, the gigs promise to be very special.”
Saturday September 1st – Body & Soul Arena, Electric Picnic 2018
Friday October 5th – Whelan’s, Dublin
Friday October 12th – Dolan’s, Limerick
Saturday October 13th – Garbo’s, Castlebar
‘Avenue Road’ is the brand new single release from Monaghan singer songwriter Jim McHugh. This song is about the roving’s of a young man around the border town of Dundalk and adjacent coastal village of Blackrock Co. Louth.
Avenue Road is the road that leads from Dundalk out to Blackrock and is where the love interest in the song lived. Unfortunately, she left for America and lost interest in him. ‘Avenue Road’ evokes his feelings; young love’s heartache echoing in the melancholic arrangements and lyrics.
This is the first single to be taken from Jim’s forthcoming album due for release in early 2019. It was recorded, produced and mastered in Ben Reel’s studio in Armagh and features Jim on Vocals/Mandolin/Electric Guitar, Paul McCabe on Bass, Butch McNeil on Drums and Ben Reel on synthesiser.
‘Avenue Road’ will be available on all digital formats for streaming/download on 28th September.
The Future Music Forum (FMF), one of Europe’s favourite boutique music conferences will be held this September 12th-14th at the Estrella Damn Brewery in the Eixample district in Barcelona & the historic medieval convent of Sant Agusti in central Barcelona.
Confirmed keynote speakers for 2018 include Imogen Heap, ( Artist, Producer, ), Brian Jackson ( Producer & longtime co-writing partner of Gil Scott Heron ), Tom Silverman (CEO, Founder Tommy Boy Records ), Dante Ross ( Legendary Hip Hop producer ), Fabienne Fourquet (CEO, 2bTube ), & more special guests TBA..
Future Music Forum is a global 3-day music conference which includes industry speakers from around the world, with networking sessions, keynote presentations, panel discussions, workshops and live showcases from Europe’s up and coming bands.
For 2018, Future Music Forum are excited to announce three separate streams per day which include a dedicated Digital Content Creators & Music stream along with our traditional Sync Stream. This year day three will take place at the famous medieval Convent Sant Agusti for a much more interactive experience with installations like Internal Garden with Subpac, an Artist Development Stream and for the 2nd year running a Music Start Up Competition.
The 9th edition follows eight successful years, which have seen an array of music tech companies, entrepreneurs, musicians & music industry related executives descend on Barcelona for three days of lively discussion about where the music industry is heading. Participants have included Shazam, BeggarsGroup, Spotify, 8Tracks, EMI, Sony, Soundcloud and many more.
Scott Maher releases his latest single ‘In The Madness’ on Friday 24th August.
Scott started his career in a Beatles tribute band called The Classic Beatles (who are still selling out theatres today) boasting such clients as The Queen of England, Sir George Martin among many more, but writing music and singing was always his passion.
He was front man with Beach in the late 90’s who had moderate success reaching top 20 in Ireland and winning The Emergenza Competition in Paris to receive best unsigned band out of 1600 competitors in Europe. Scott then embarked on a solo career which took him across America co-writing in Nashville LA and NYC. He has played most of the instruments on his 3 solo albums, wrote all the melodies for orchestration and vocals and drew the attention of Jimmy Iovine (Interscope) in LA .
He then joined The Shoos with his brother where again they were the principal songwriters. They signed a deal with Universal Ireland, and linked up with Jimmy Iovine again in LA touring with Maroon 5, One Republic, Taylor Hawkins, and most recently last year with ELO in The 3 Arena and The Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham to crowds of over 20,000 people. The Shoos had two number 1’s in Ireland and still receive generous airplay on Irish stations throughout the country.
“I’m excited about my new single as I feel it’s a welcome departure from my previous material and it’s the first time I ever spoke on a record. Hoping to be asked back on to The Late Late Show after my last appearance on their Valentine Show with my single ‘If We Were Lovers’.”
Dublin duo Apella have just unveiled the hilarious video for their brand new single ‘City Limits’.
Directed by Andrew Holohan and starring the IFTA award nominee Chris Newman and newcomer Esther Woods, the video for ‘City Limits’ tells the story of an average guy trying to find love in an Instagrammer’s world.
Sara is a desperate wannabe social media star while her boyfriend Adam is desperate for affection, all of which Sara gives to the real love of her life – her phone. No matter where they go or what they do the objective is to get those followers up! After all, if you didn’t post it, did it even happen? Adam, trapped in a relationship he knows is not good for him, puts up with her shenanigans until an accident puts Sara in a difficult situation. Save his life or take a selfie?
“This video was fun to make, Chris and Esther were brilliant at playing these ridiculous parts. You think anyone is actually in a relationship like this? I hope not!” – Dara Quilty, Apella.
After their debut tour across the UK with Keywest, Apella returned to Ireland to a SOLD OUT crowd at the infamous Ruby Sessions in Dublin last week where they announced and performed their highly anticipated 4th single ‘City Limits’ for the first time.
Apella burst onto the scene in late 2016 with their debut single ‘We Met At A Party’ to huge support from both national and regional radio stations. ‘We Met At A Party’ went on to be topped by their sophomore release ‘Graceful Dancer’ later that year.
The duo made a serious mark on the live front having packed out their headline show in Whelan’s Main Room, which included some A-list fans in attendance like Ed Sheeran, Saoirse Ronan and Irish football legend Damien Duff! They followed that up with a slew of festivals before decamping to the studio to complete their album.
2018 has already been an eventful one for the band. They have showcased that their sound appeals to such a wide audience having toured the UK with Keywest and opening for UK heavyweights Don Broco.
Today, Villagers are pleased to unveil new single ‘Fool’, taken from the forthcoming fourth album ‘The Art Of Pretending To Swim’, due for release on September 21st via Domino. Villagers play the Metropolis Festival at the RDS Dublin on October 27th.
‘Fool’ is a romantic battle-cry from the centre of a technological dystopia. The video, directed by Bob Gallagher takes the lyrics as a starting point for the narrative: “So here is my bleeding heart… Will you take the pain away?”
Gallagher explains further: “The video is a surreal take on a marriage proposal, which is the ultimate gambit in love. The scenario pushes how much Conor’s character is willing to overlook his partner’s shortcomings, and convince himself that everything is fine. You could call it foolishness but you could also consider it a kind of optimism, striving to see the best in a situation.”
Following the exquisitely sparse, intimate aura of 2015’s ‘Darling Arithmetic’, Conor O’Brien’s new record reconnects with the multi-faceted approach of Villagers’ 2010 album debut ‘Becoming A Jackal’ and 2013’s ‘{Awayland}’ while adding a new-found soulfulness, rhythmic nous and dazzling panoply of sonic detail, both analogue and digital, creating feverish moods while writing effortlessly accessible tunes. Balanced with subtle aspects and lyrical themes that embrace existential fears and hopes in this desperate, technologically-centred dystopian age, ‘The Art Of Pretending To Swim’ is the most brilliantly realised Villagers album to date.
The album was written, produced, mixed and primarily performed by Conor in his Dublin studio.
O’Brien has a string of accolades under his belt including two Ivor Novello Awards (the most recent being 2016’s Album Award for ‘Darling Arithmetic’), two Mercury Music Prize nominations and is also a previous winner of Ireland’s Choice Music Prize.
Additionally, Villagers’ music recently featured in the high profile HBO drama ‘Big Little Lies’, Conor has collaborated with the composer Nico Muhly (that track featuring in the forthcoming Paulo Sorrentino Berlusconi biopic ‘Loro 2’) and Villagers’ Spotify session of ‘Nothing Arrived’ has hit over 100 million streams.
Villagers live dates
Wed 17th Oct – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
Thurs 18th Oct – Art School, Glasgow
Fri 19th Oct – Gorilla, Manchester
Sun 21st Oct – Wardrobe, Leeds
Mon 22nd Oct – O2 Academy 2, Oxford
Tues 23rd Oct – Hackney Arts Centre, London **SOLD OUT**
Thurs 25th Oct – Arts Club, Liverpool Sat 27th Oct – Metropolis Festival, RDS, Dublin Tues 30th Oct – Trinity, Bristol
Wed 31st Oct – Old Market, Brighton
Thurs 1st Nov – La Madeleine, Brussels
Sat 3rd Nov – Zoom, Frankfurt
Mon 5th Nov – Vega, Copenhagen
Tues 6th Nov – Gruenspan, Hamburg
Thurs 8th Nov – Kesselhaus, Berlin
Fri 9th Nov – Hybrydy, Warsaw
Sat 10th Nov – Futurum, Prague
Mon 12th Nov – Doornroosje, Nijmegen
Tues 13th Nov – Melkweg (Old Hall), Amsterdam
Wed 14th Nov – Trabendo, Paris
Fri 16th Nov – Le Boucau, Biarritz
Sun 18th Nov – Kafe Antzokia, Bilbao
Mon 19th Nov – Chango, Madrid
Tues 20th Nov – Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona
Thurs 22nd Nov – Ridotto Teatro Regio, Parma
Fri 23rd Nov – Spazio 211, Turin
Sat 24th Nov – Port-Franc, Sion
Mon 26th Nov – Papiersaal, Zurich
Tues 27th Nov – Kulturkirche, Cologne
Wed 28th Nov – Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht
‘The Art Of Pretending To Swim’ is available to pre-order on Domino Mart-exclusive deluxe LP (includes 10” of a 12-minute version of ‘Ada’ and B-side ‘This Is The Art Of Pretending To Swim’ plus signed lyric booklet), Deluxe LP (includes ‘Ada’/’ This Is The Art Of Pretending To Swim’ 10”), Standard LP, CD and Digitally. Pre-order: Dom Mart | Digital
