Month: April 2019

Irish vocalist Michelle Daly returns to Dublin for an exclusive performance at Bello Bar on April 12th.

Described by The Guardian as “honey-toned”, acclaimed Irish vocalist Michelle Daly’s versatility ranges from the soulful to the operatic. This exclusive performance in Dublin marks the official launch of Daly’s Indiegogo Crowdfunding campaign to produce her sophomore release.

Since her 2014 EP ‘Melodramas’, Daly has been Berlin-based, writing and performing new material with collaborator Michael Edwards (Morcheeba, Calvary, Layer Cake). This new project sees Daly venturing down new soulful pathways while still maintaining her jazz influence.

Her debut recording Melodramas was featured on Jazz Radio Berlin/Europa and Daly has performed sold out dates at The Ellington, Berlin ( Jazz Radio Berlin) and the National Concert Hall Dublin.

She will record and produce the follow-up album with top Berlin based producers and studios this year, utilising the Indiegogo platform to crowd fund the project.

A regular on the opera stage, Michelle recently played the female lead in the World Premier of Yasutaki Inamori’s Wir Aus Glas for Deutsche Oper Berlin. Other collaborations include vocals on Beirut-born, electronic musician/DJ, Nur Jaber’s new album and a collaboration on the soon to be released ‘These New Puritans’ album.

Joined by Melodramas co-writer Mike Parle on guitar, Derek Whyte on Double Bass and Conor Murray on drums, Daly will deliver songs from the upcoming album as well as previous material at the Bello Bar on 12th April.

Indiegogo pre-launch link including campaign video www.indiegogo.com/projects/michelle-daly-debut-album/coming_soon

April 12th, 20:00 Bello Bar 1 Portobello Harbour, Dublin 8
Tickets: €10 + booking fee (pre-sale) / €14 (door price)
Ticket link: https://michelledalybellobar.eventbrite.ie

Sarah Buckley released her first single to widespread acclaim in February 2019 (more info below). Her second single, ‘Wedding Bells’, is set for release on April 15th. It tells the story of Grace Gifford and Joseph Plunkett who were married the night before he was executed for his role in the Easter Rising. They spent just 15 minutes supervised time together after the wedding. 

The single was produced by Karl Odlum (Mic Christopher, Glen Hansard, David Keenan) and mastered by John Flynn (Björk,’Vulnicura’).

Sarah has an Irish tour planned over the Spring/Summer with more dates being added. Confirmed dates can be seen here.

Sarah Buckley began 2019 with a much coveted place in “Whelan’s Ones to Watch”. Her debut single ‘You’ve Got Me’ was released on all platforms in February 2019 and the song spent four weeks on RTE Radio 1 Recommends playlist (National Radio) as well as receiving heavy rotation on local stations across the country. This included RTÉ Radio 1, Red FM, 96FM, Classic Hits 4FM, Phoenix FM, Dundalk FM, WLR FM, Flirt FM, Dublin City FM, LMFM,  Shannonside FM, Athlone Community Radio, KCLR 96FM, Near FM 90.3, CRY 104FM, , 8Radio (online), Eirewave (online), Blues and Roots Radio (online), 2XFM (online), EGH Radio (online), Valley 89.5 (Australia), and Tyga FM 98.9 (Australia), Wandsworth Radio (UK).

It was selected for Spin FM’s “Plan B” Ones to Watch, and featured in Hot Press, GoldenPlec, Pure M, JOE.ie among other music blogs that are viewable here. 

In the same month as her debut release, Sarah’s song ‘Magic Powers’ was chosen as a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Judges in this competition include Tom Waits and The Script. Previous winners include Goyte, Bastille, and Mick Flannery.

Sarah first recorded a number of demos in music college.  Thanks to these demos she has performed her song ‘You’ve Got Me’ on RTE’s TwoTube, her song ‘Wedding Bells’ at RTE’s Reflecting on the Rising live event and her song, ‘Magic Powers’, was included in a shortlist out of 500 applicants on John Murray’s RTE radio show. Sarah has also secured a number of slots on side stages of some of Ireland’s biggest festivals including Electric Picnic and Vantastival as well as being nominated as Best Newcomer by Pure M magazine.

Sarah has already been gigging extensively with support slots for Aine Cahill, HamsandwicH, Mick Flannery and Cry Monster Cry, along with a host of festival appearances including Electric Picnic, Vantastival, Cork Jazz Festival, Sligo Live, Le Cheile Festival, Claremorris Fringe Festival, Achill Battle of the Lakes, Glendalough festival, youBloom, International Pop Overthrow at Liverpool’s Cavern Club, and RTE’s Reflecting on the Rising.

Irish neo soul artist Nnic has collaborated with producer YURN on this ambient electronic re imagining of Nnic’s track ‘Grow’. James Smith aka YURN evolves ‘Grow’ into a more ethereal and ambient place. The combination of YURNs piano background with electronic production wove itself into the fabric of the song perfectly and embraced the saturated vocals, and gritty synths to give a more soft, subtle texture.

This remix is the debut release from YURN.

NNIC (pronounced Nick) is the moniker of Dublin neo-soul artist Naoise Fitzgerald. Having supported heralded acts such as Hozier and Wyvern Lingo in previous projects, she is now paving her own way with a new electro-soul fused sound.  With over 10 years of classical vocal training under her belt, Nnic’s sound and writing passion brings a mixture of ballad-like melodies, with fresh electronic sampling. Nnic has over half a million streams on Spotify of her music to date.

One of the primary producers on the original track, James Smith aka YURN has released this remix as his debut track under the YURN moniker. James Smith is no stranger to the Irish music scene, as is a member of Dublin band Gypsies On The Autobahn and brother of Irish rising star Kojaque. Now Smith turns his attention to electronic production and doesn’t disappoint with the YURN X Nnic Remix of Grow

LIVE

Nnic Headlining Whelans – May 30th with support coming from ELKIN and Mark Richard  
Nnic The Camden Chapel London – June 20th

Nnic Instagram      Facebook     Twitter    Spotify

YURN Instagram    Facebook   Spotify

‘New Energy’ will be the first release from Wild Wonder’s debut EP, recorded at Camden Studios, produced by Cian Boylan & Conor Brady and mastered by grammy winning Ruadhri Cushnan (Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran, George Michael).

The single was released on April 4th 2019 and will be followed by the full EP later in the year.

“The track is a powerhouse of pop music. The vocals from Mags Fox really drive the song which wouldn’t be at all out of place in a Disney music scene”. Dave McMahon, Bayview Sounds. 

Wild Wonder are an Irish Band who play Pop/Folk music. Hailing from Dublin and Meath, they draw their influences from the earthy realism of love, heartbreak, hope and fear. They capture the essence of their soul baring lyrics and melodic flavour through the warm and powerful vocals of front woman Mags Fox. After stunning crowds at Electric Picnic in 2018, Wild Wonder are set to do big things in 2019. While they are at home on the big stage they also love to strip back their sound to deliver exciting intimate performances.

https://www.breakingtunes.com/wildwonder

Following on from the success of comeback single ‘Tombstone’, Irish four-piece Otherkin push things forward with new track ‘All That Remains Won’t Be the Same’.

Of the new song, front man Luke Reilly says: 

“The lyrics to ‘All That Remains Won’t be the Same’ were written at the end of 2017 as the horror stories emerged of everyday abuse and sexism perpetrated by men of power in all walks of life. The song is a rejection of anyone who feels they can behave that way and the title itself is a declaration for change, a statement that these vile actions have no place in society today.”

Musically, the single, like Tombstone, comes from the same sessions in Brighton with Chemical Brothers producer Steve Dub, with Jolyon Thomas (Royal Blood, Slaves) on mix duties. ‘Tombstone’ has enjoyed extensive BBC Radio 1 and Radio X support, which, together with key playlist support across multiple streaming services, has cemented Otherkin’s reputation as one of the most exciting new bands merging rock and electronics. 

‘All That Remains Won’t Be the Same’ is released on Rubyworks on Friday 5th April.

Susie blue returns with her eagerly awaited new release ‘She Is’ on April 5th.

Laced with a 90’s indie sound, with synths reflecting the 2000’s (noughties) its a retro indie – pop song with a heartwarming undertone. 

Through darkness we can find light, and this is a song we will all be bopping along too on it’s release.

“‘She is’ is a song that has a lot of different meaning to me, I created this song when I was going through a bad time, it tells the story of a toxic relationship, mental illness and substance abuse but has a happy energetic vibe to it which shows light at the end of the tunnel, it was tough to write but I’m happy it’s out there”  Susie blue

Susie blue is an Indie Rocker hailing from Derry, Northern Ireland specialising in her unique brand of heart-on-sleeve gay indie-pop. 

Her songs are hard hitting, well written and catchy as hell. 

Backed by a full band her live shows are energetic, impassioned and not too be missed. Susie’s previous releases have garnered a lot of attention for the Derry native, securing her performances at Glastonbury, Electric Picnic and Other Voices. Alongside support slots with Glen Hansard, Hudson Taylor and The Strypes.

Susie blue has become an outspoken voice in the ongoing fight for marriage equality in the North of Ireland, having been featured in an article in Hot Press which you can find here.

Instagram    Facebook     Twitter     Spotify    YouTube 

Grouse will release a new two track EP, ‘Also’, on April 12th, 2019.

Dublin musician, Ronan Carroll, the producer behind Grouse says that the EP is a companion piece to the most recent Grouse album, ‘Oslo’.

“There were a couple of unfinished tracks left over from the Oslo album sessions that for one reason or another didn’t quite fit the album. When I listened back to them, I felt they were worth completing and putting out.”

‘None The Wiser’ is a funky instrumental track with a bouncy groove and dub style off-beat organ featuring a nice melodic trumpet solo from Grouse live band brass man, Kendo Dapotter.

‘San Francisco Show & Tell’ is the first Grouse bona-fide hip-hop track featuring Californian rapper, Extra, who Carroll met when he lived in San Francisco.

This represents a line in the sand for now for that sound as far as Grouse is concerned. The tracks for the next Grouse album are shaping up quite differently and are, says Carroll, “likely to be a bit more experimental.”

‘Hold On Tight’ is the first release of 2019 for Dublin singer-songwriter Siobhan Lynch aka Baba and is a powerful voice for those suffering from mental health issues, something Siobhan has experienced herself.

“I have always suffered with my mental health since I’ve been a teenager,” she says, “but in early 2018 after a very dark period where I suffered with debilitating anxiety and I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it through, I decided to get some help in the form of counselling.”

With this track, Lynch not only hopes to be able to keep the conversation about mental health active but also help those facing the struggle to open themselves up and seek the help available. “Sometimes, when you’re so swamped by your feelings, you can’t see the wood for the trees,” Siobhan comments.

“For so long I was afraid to talk to anyone about what was going on and I am now so proud to be able to write about it and be open especially in a modern world where so much of ourselves is online and we are expected to be shiny and happy.”

‘Hold On Tight’ is Baba’s first collaboration with producer Cormac Butler, Butler is a producer on the up after working with All Tvvins, Sean and Conor Price as well as producing the latest single ‘The Answer’ for the brilliant True Tides.

babamusicface.com
soundcloud.com/babalynchmusic
Twitter: @BabaLynchMusic
Instagram: @baba.music

ALL TVVINS tease us with yet another track from their, soon to be released, second album, ‘Just To Exist’.

‘No One Is Any Fun’ is the follow up the recent ‘I Heard You’ single, and is the fifth track to be taken from the album. ‘Just To Exist’ is released on April 12th. The track features the acclaimed Sorcha Richardson on guest vocals.

In addition to their latest tracks, ALL TVVINS have also been building up their live plot for 2019, and they play their biggest headline show to date at Dublin’s National Stadium, which will be the first time in years that the venue has included a standing area for a gig. The show features special guest Sorcha Richardson, who contributes vocals to their forthcoming album track ‘No One Is Any Fun’.

They’re also confirmed for a headline European tour in May, huge sold-out outdoor show at the Irish Independent Park with The Coronas and Sigrid, as well as the Indie 19 Festival which will be headlined by Biffy Clyro and Bastille.

All Tvvins enjoyed a phenomenal start to their career. Their debut album ‘IIVV’ shot into the Irish charts at #2, earned a Choice Music Prize nomination for Irish Album of the Year and smashed the 15 million streams landmark. Meanwhile, gigs in the UK and Ireland included a life-affirming sold-out show at Dublin’s historic Olympia Theatre as well as a tour as guests to Metric.

Stay tuned for more ALL TVVINS news soon, including further details on the album ‘Just To Exist’.

Their tour dates are:

APRIL
13th – Dublin, Ireland, National Stadium (Headline)

MAY EU HEADLINE TOUR
16^th – London, UK, Oslo
17^th – Manchester, UK, Deaf Institute
18^th – Glasgow, UK, King Tuts
19^th – Leeds, UK, Hyde Park Book Club
22^nd – Hamburg, Germany, Nochtwache
24^th – Wil, Switzerland, Gare de Lion
25^th – Munich, Germany, Zehner
26^th – Vienna, Austria, Chelsea
27^th – Heidelberg, Germany, Karlstorbahnhof K-Klub
28^th – Cologne, Germany, Blue Shell
29^th – Amsterdam, NL, Paradiso Club

JUNE
22nd – Cork, Irish Independent Park (with The Coronas and Sigrid)

AUGUST
2nd – 4th – Cork, Indie 19 (headlined by Biffy Clyro and Bastille)