Month: March 2019

On March 8th, Jack releases his second collection of songs, ‘Ivory Towers’ – a mini album of alternative pop and hooks and grooves to get lost in. The title track is currently storming the airwaves and is playlisted on National radio – HotPress describing it as “an alt-pop tour de force” and “further evidence of O’Rourke’s remarkable versatality as a musical chameleon.”

Jack O’Rourke takes many forms – singer, songwriter, composer, performer – one of those mercurial artists whose musical imagination and personality has made him an intriguing entity to his many fans.

A natural melody writer, with chord changes unexpected yet familiar, as a lyricist, Jack manages to combine that most difficult and delicate of writing traits – the ability to convey the personal whilst making it universal. A key to his success to date is having made himself identifiable to music fans of many tastes, yet still keeping enough in the background to make further investigation a necessity. From winning the Nashville-based International Songwriting Award to playing his ‘Dreamcatcher’ album live with an orchestra at Cork Opera House, Jack’s fledgling career has been conspicuous by its high water marks and now the songwriter is set to embark on another phase of his journey.

The piano always remains central to what Jack does. Comparisons have been drawn over the initial years to various musicians (Bowie, Kate Bush, John Grant, Guy Garvey) However, the further Jack embarks into his own musical oeuvre, his own identity has begun to emerge and it is one that has its roots in a classic troubadour tradition, but with a modern and contemporary twist. Synths, cellos and clarinets – whatever serves the song. The Corkman’s grasp of a song has led to several notable collaborations to date; namely with Glen Hansard at Other Voices, the Irish Chamber Orchestra at Vicar St, vocals with Imelda May, Hot House Flowers and Bell X1, while joining the Freezer Room ensemble at Electric Picnic with the likes of Wallis Bird and Tracy K. His collaboration with electronic producer Kormac has yielded the hit ‘New Day’ with almost half a million views on YouTube to date.

After touring ‘Dreamcatcher’ extensively, including sold out shows throughout Ireland and his first forays to London and Paris, Jack has recently returned to studio to begin its follow-up. This summer he bucked a well-trod seasonal trend of the music industry by delivering a slow-burning, grandiose opus to radio in ‘Myth’. An epic tune underpinned by Grecian mythology, ‘Myth’ proved a hit across the country’s airwaves and showed an uncompromising side to O’Rourke and one that was daring to take his music to new and interesting places. ‘Ivory Towers’ may well surprise listeners who think they may have Jack figured out.

It has been a compelling journey to this point, but the next phase looks likely to be the one that brings Jack to an even bigger audience. In the tradition of Ray Charles, Jack has the soul of a piano man with deep roots, yet with a sense of adventure that will see it difficult to remain in a complacent, safe place musically. 

Jack’s new EP, ‘Ivory Towers’ sheds new light on the direction this most captivating of Irish songwriters is likely to go. The mythological epicness of Myth with folky swirling strings, the trip hop beats and Afro-pop of of Moody Broody and the fascinating co-write with Marlene Enright, Snowglobe showcases Jack’s unique style of pop. Showwomanship channels Talking Heads and ABBA with biting, tongue in cheek lyrics and the closing piano version of Ivory Towers is filled with pathos and emotion. Some of these tracks swill be played live on the current series of Other Voices – where Jack headlined in St. James’ Church. We await with great anticipation to see what’s coming next.

TOUR DATES

Dolans, Limerick – March 8th

INEC Killarney – March 9th –  Jack O’Rourke & Cry Monster Cry co-headliner

Róisín Dubh, Galway – March 23rd

The Workman’s Club, Dublin – April, 14th

Irish/Indian songstress Sarah Packiam releases her new single ‘She’s A Riot’ on “International Women’s Day,”  March 8, 2019. Inspired by and dedicated to women everywhere, this Tarantino-style rocking tune is Packiam’s first global release backed by The Orchard.

‘She’s A Riot’ is a homage to all mothers, sisters and daughters. A music video filmed in France, and edited with iconic imagery of women who have bravely paved the way for all of us, is also released today on the artist’s YouTube channel.

To celebrate the singer-songwriter’s single launch,  Sarah Packiam will be joined by talented friends, in addition to her band, to perform the song live at Miami’s cutting-edge artistic venue, Faena on South Beach. Full live performance sets scheduled from 11pm – 1.30am.

Born in Ireland, Sarah’s musical father from India handed her the guitar when she was twelve years old. Inspired by The Carpenters, Stevie Wonder and Weather Report, she immediately started writing songs and has never ever stopped. By the time she was fourteen years old she had already signed a record deal with EMI Music. Sarah has toured Europe, South America and the USA and continues to perform live across the country, especially in her adoptive home town of Miami.  As a backing singer and guitarist she has performed extensively with Shakira and, most recently with Luis Fonsi, promoting his hit song “Despacito.” Currently Packiam is finalizing production on additional track for what will be her 5th studio album.

Aiken Promotions proudly present Colm Mac Con Iomaire live at Vicar Street, 18^th May 2019. Tickets €28.00 inclusive of booking fees, on sale Wednesday 13^th March at 9AM.

No coincidence, no story. No chance, no creation. 

Colm Mac Con Iomaire had gone his whole life without meeting the composer Bill Whelan until he bumped into him three times in the space of a few weeks in 2016; at the National Concert Hall, at Kylemore Abbey, and then in Clifden. Both took it as a sign. 

At the time, Bill had reconditioned his reel-to-reel tape machine and was looking for a new project. The stars aligned. 

The result is a new album ‘The River Holds Its Breath’, produced by Bill, which will be released and performed at Vicar Street in Dublin on May 18th. 

Colm sees this record as a collection of short stories. 

But it can also be considered as both journal and journey, the culmination of song gathering, commissions and creations over the last few years, during which Colm has charted out tunes like nodes on a map of a broader Irish artistic universe. 

There is a song inspired by paintings in the National Gallery stored in darkness but yearning for the light, a piece for the contemporary dancer Maureen Fleming, music from Colm’s score for the Oscar-nominated short film ‘=Late Afternoon, a piece for Nuala O’Connor’s documentary Keepers Of The Flame. In some ways, the record acts as a cypher through which other art can journey.

Retreating to a studio in what was once the writer Kate O’Brien’s house in Roundstone, Connemara, and bringing in musicians Lorcan & Cillian Byrne and the Con Tempo Quartet, Colm quickly realised that returning to old school recording methods created a freedom of time, and the process flowed once the shackles of technology – within which options infinitely proliferate – were released, “It was more about the moment. The strange side effect of going back to the old way is that it’s done quite quickly.” 

A subsequent session with Colm Quearney, Bill Blackmore and Wyvern Lingo completed the picture.   

These songs, which Colm describes as both intimate and meditative, songs that oscillate between retreating into childlike imagination and reaching outward in an attempt at considering national identity, are yet another remarkable vista from where Colm stands. “Every project brings with it it’s art to channel,” he says, “a new prism to put your own emotions through.”

Hozier has today shared the video for ‘Dinner & Diatribes’, taken from his new album ‘Wasteland, Baby!’ The video features actress Anya Taylor-Joy, best known for her roles in the films ‘The Witch’, ‘Split’ and ‘Glass’ and was directed by Anthony Byrne. His credits include Darkness, Peaky Blinders and Ripper Street.

Of the track ‘Dinner & Diatribes’, Hozier says “This was a fun track to write. I had the riff for it for a long time, a riff that I hadn’t written anything for. The lyrics lament boring company and focuses on the places you just want to leave.”

Released last Friday, Hozier’s new album ‘Wasteland, Baby!’ is set to debut at the top of the Irish Album Chart this Friday. The album was recorded between studios in Dublin, London and the US (Chicago, Los Angeles) and was co-produced by Hozier, Markus Dravs, Rob Kirwan, and Ariel Rechtshaid.

‘Almost’ remains the current focus single and has already been streamed on Spotify over 23 Million times. Hozier is currently in New York where he performed the single on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Check out the stunning performance here:

Hozier first rose to prominence following the release of his globally successful, triple platinum single ‘Take Me To Church’. The track was nominated for ‘Song Of The Year’ at the 2015 Grammy Awards, won ‘Song Of The Year’ at the 2015 Ivor Novello Awards, won ‘Song Of The Year’ at the 2015 BBC Music Awards and won ‘Top Rock Song’ at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards, where Hozier also won ‘Top Rock Artist’. ‘Take Me To Church’ has sold 2.23 million copies in the UK to date. Hozier also saw great success with ‘Someone New’, which went gold and ‘Cherry Wine’ and ‘From Eden’ both being certified silver.

‘Wasteland, Baby!’ is the follow up to Hozier’s critically acclaimed self–titled debut album, which has now amassed over 2.1 billion streams on Spotify alone, while his total, global Spotify Playlist reach currently sits at over 71 million. The album has sold over 155 thousand copies in Ireland, awarding it a staggering x10 times platinum certification, while the record has sold 4 million copies worldwide.

Hozier plays a headline show at Irish Independent Park in Cork on June 25^th and Belsonic, Belfast on June 27^th. Tickets are available now through www.ticketmaster.ie

Hot off the back of his headline US tour and previous Found Frequencies smash hits including ‘Like I Love You’ with indie darlings The NGHBRS, as well as the ‘most played track on Dutch Radio’ in 2018 ‘Crazy’ with Zonderling, label head Lost Frequencies returns with the irresistible ‘Recognise’ featuring new Irish artist FLYNN.

A shining star when it comes to both his record-breaking solo tracks, as well as a plethora of collaborations with the industry’s most promising vocalists and producers alike, Lost Frequencies takes acoustic guitar plucks and sensual, emotive soaring vocals from FLYNN on ‘Recognise’. Merging with Lost Frequencies’ tropical take on self-proclaimed “indie-dance”, the work of the two artists together on this collaboration transcends genres, fusing together brooding pop, introspective lyrics and native woodwind and studio-driven percussion for a brooding pop hit.

Found Frequencies was first launched in 2018 and serves “as a home” for Lost Frequencies’ music and as the “go-to label for up-and-coming talents”, as he’s brought new names to the forefront with the exciting flair of FLYNN the latest artist he’s created magic with. 

Lost Frequencies feat. FLYNN ‘Recognise’ OUT MARCH 8th via Found Frequencies!

Fontaines D.C. live at Vicar Street, 7^th December 2019. Tickets €26.00 inclusive of booking fee, go on sale Friday at 9AM. 

Over the last year Fontaines D.C. have released four hotly received double A-side singles, all of which were named as singles of the week by Rough Trade, and garnered early support from the likes of Steve Lamacq and others on BBC 6 Music, as well as earning feature space from every major Irish and UK publication.

They have toured sold-out shows across Ireland, the UK and Europe, and will embark on a full world tour throughout 2019.

The band have revealed that their Vicar Street show on 7^th December will be their only Dublin gig in 2019!

www.fontainesband.com
www.facebook.com/fontainesband
www.twitter.com/fontainesdublin
www.aikenpromotions.com

After a great 2018 that saw him perform at Music Cork, Hard Working Class Heroes and support slots for Le Boom and Sean Kingston. Cork Pop/Hip-Hop artist Darce returns with his new single ‘Snapbacks’.

‘Snapbacks’ is a track inspired by nostalgia. From it’s mid-00’s pop sound to its homage of Hip-Hop storytelling. The track deals with getting the confidence to talk to a crush and the overthinking that plays out in your head before you approach them .