Month: October 2020

Having met in New York a few years ago, ‘Minnesota’ marks the first official collaboration between the highly acclaimed Irish artist Mick Flannery, and Anaïs Mitchell, who was recently voted one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.

Flannery wrote the song during lockdown at home in County Clare, in reaction to the American news that has been making its way across the pond, to worldwide attention.

Anaïs takes the lead vocal throughout the duet, a bare-boned piano ballad, which is focused on the complex relationship between a woman – an American citizen, and her own country at a point of real disillusionment with the personality of her state.

As a songwriter, one of Flannery’s greatest gifts is to create characters and perspectives which are both familiar and distant to the listener, in the same moment. As the United States faces what feels like the most divisive Presidential election in over a hundred years, it should come as no surprise that Flannery has cast a cold eye on that schismatic environment. What he reveals, with great empathy, is the complicated connection between a person’s humanity and their pride.

Mitchell’s delicate delivery provides the concerned voice of a character who is both anxious yet primarily optimistic. “My hopes for you, are my hopes for me. My dreams for you, are my dreams for me” the pair harmonize on the choruses. Wrapped up within this one person’s ambitions and expectations for their small corner of the world, in this case, the state of Minnesota is both the global malaise to the theatre that is American politics in 2020, but also the real hope that change is just around the corner.

Mick Flannery says:

“Since I can remember, news of America has been talked about in Ireland. There is a storied connection between the two nations. In 2018 I wrote a song called ‘Rosaleen’, a song to Ireland, in which I tried to make sense of a person’s relationship to the state in which they live. The song ‘Minnesota’ has a similar theme, inspired by what, in the news at least, appears to be an ever more fractured and polarised American society.

It is written from a female perspective, which is one reason I asked Anaïs Mitchell to sing the song, aside from the fact that I’ve been a fan of Anaïs’ work for many years now. She being an American citizen also gives her voice better authority than mine.

I wondered what it must be like for someone who grew up in the U.S. to see the ever-changing face of the nation, as the generations passed, as attitudes progressed and changed, as troubles old and new emerged and re-emerged. A nation being composed of individuals in relationship to each other is what I wanted to evoke, so the narrator refers to the state itself as a ‘Mother’ and later a ‘Daughter’, and thus takes on the hopes and dreams of this complex character.”

Anaïs jumped at the opportunity when Mick asked her to collaborate on ‘Minnesota,’ a song overtly topical and universally poignant. She says:

“The Irish songwriter Mick Flannery is one of my very favorite writers in the world. I would sing any song he asked, but was especially moved to sing ‘Minnesota’. I just gave birth to my second child and I connect deeply with that watershed feeling of going from daughter to mother. Part of it is the realization that no one else is going to fix things for us; the trouble, the mess, the responsibility is ours. America is “a growing child”. Everybody please vote!”

The song will be released on October 28th, 2020 with all funds being donated to the Fair Fight Association https://smarturl.it/minnesotamickanais

When Anaïs suggested that funds go to the Fair Fight association,Mick noted that “it felt very fitting. If a nation committed to democracy is indeed to reflect the voice of its citizens then it ought to do so to the very best of its ability.”

He added: “I am very grateful to all involved in the making of this recording, special thanks to Anaïs and to Christian Best.“

More information on Fair Fight:

They promote fair elections in Georgia and around the country, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights. Fair Fight brings awareness to the public on election reform, advocates for election reform at all levels, and engages in other voter education programs and communications. www.fairfight.com

Mick Flannery

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Anais Mitchell

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Following on from her debut single, FeeF has announced her second single, Who Are You?’ release on Monday, November 2nd. It will be available digitally from November 2nd. The single features full band and complete brass section. Official video to accompany release.

Feef is the recording moniker of Roscommon native, Siobhra Jordan, who talks about the new single as…

“Inspired by the stillness and tranquility, of the unusually subdued streets on a random night in Dublin, the song took shape in the wee hours, over a cup of tea.

Shedding the drudgery of a long working day.”

Hailing from rural Roscommon, ‘FeeF’ is the brainchild of singer/musician Siobhra Jordan. A resident of one of the county’s heartlands, she is also heavily influenced by the surrounding lakeland environment. Her music is genre fluid, Alternative/folk/pop with blues jazz and reggae influences. As a kid, she absorbed the songbooks of pioneers such as Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell and was heavily influenced by the early Motown releases.

https://www.facebook.com/music.feef
https://www.instagram.com/siofraj_feef/?hl=en
https://feefmusic.bandcamp.com/releases
https://soundcloud.com/feef-music

Wexford-born singer/songwriter SAIGE will be releasing her newest single, ‘Mama’ on October 30th. Saige’s unique brand of alternative-pop features a fine blend of dreamy sonance and mature lyrical ability. ‘Mama’ sees Saige swap out the anthemic energy of previous releases for her most poignant and introspective track to date.

‘Mama’ accurately depicts the feeling of isolation and uncertainty we’ve all been experiencing these past few months. Saige captures a complex palette of emotion in ‘Mama’ to create an atmosphere that feels both deeply personal, and also resonates with audiences everywhere.

Discussing the release, Saige says: “I wrote Mama about my mental health and my ups and downs in the last pandemic lockdown. The song notates a phone call I’d made to my folks, reaching out for help. It’s an introspective and raw track delving into a vulnerable and isolated mind.”

‘Mama’ is the fourth single released by Saige this year, closely following her track ‘Late Nights’ which featured as RTÉ 2fm Breakfast Show Pick of the Week upon its release. Earlier this year, Saige also released debut singles ‘Soothe Me’ and ‘Ultraviolence’. Despite having just four tracks under her belt, Saige has already established herself as a force to be reckoned with within the Irish music industry. 

Saige’s baroque pop sound is reminiscent of an artistic maturity far beyond her years. Combining rich, textural harmonies and a dreamy palette of synthesisers, Saige succeeds in capturing a vibrant and nostalgic sound in her work creating something that feels both modern and classic.

Saige is Ireland’s newest singer/songwriter launching onto the Irish music scene. Hailing from Wexford, the singer/songwriter studied vocals in BIMM and cut her teeth gigging Dublin’s music circuit while developing her unique sound. She describes her music as, “the moodiness of the Alt-Pop I loved as a teen combined with my musical loves as an adult such as Hozier, Lykke Li, London Grammar and The XX.” Saige’s bandmates include friends she grew up with, both at home and during college. All tracks are written and produced by Saige.

‘Mama’ is available on all online platforms from October 30^th

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This Friday 30th October sees the release of one of the most highly-anticipated Irish albums of the year: Nealo’s debut, ‘All The Leaves Are Falling’. 

The album will be the Dubliner’s first full-length release on his label DFL Records and will be released almost two years to the day since his 2018 debut EP, ‘October Year’. 

Nealo is a performer who has become synonymous with community and collaboration, and we see that played out throughout this record as he is joined by some of his closest friends. Uly, Adam Garrett and Molly Sterling bring their considerable jazz chops to proceedings while Jehnova (Nuxsense) shows why he’s one of the most promising rappers in Ireland as he guests on ‘Let Your Dreams Collect Dust Until You’re Desperate’. 


Nealo says: “’All The Leaves Are Falling’ is an album about loss. Not just about a loss of life, although that is a theme that is visited throughout this record. I wanted to write about leaving. About leaving Ireland, about leaving a relationship, and ultimately about leaving this earth. These are themes which are often looked at in a negative light. But these are things that every single one of us has gone through. Emigration, breakups, and the death of loved ones have all been an integral part of Ireland, and of the wider world for generations. 

I was born on the first day of spring. From an early age I knew that I felt things deeply. I took losses harder than others, and carried them with me. I thought about losing people from very young. I didn’t have a morbid fascination or anything, but more so a hyper emotional reaction to everything around me. The music I listened to was always a little sadder, or a little angrier. I always carried a little too much emotion into every relationship, for better and worse. ‘All The Leaves Are Falling’ is my way of channeling as much of my emotions as I can into a piece of music. This is my journey through the seasons of life in the form of ten tracks.”

Ever since the former hardcore punk frontman seamlessly transitioned to rap in 2018, his raw emotional lyrics set to laid-back, jazzy hip-hop beats have been earning him a loyal following of fans and media alike.  

Four socially-distanced shows at The Workman’s Club, Dublin, announced last month, sold out within 24 hours. Due to ongoing pandemic restrictions, these shows – originally 5th and 6th November 2020 – will now be rescheduled for the 28th and 29th January 2021. 

Nealo’s recent releases have gained radio impressions in the millions and strong support from streaming services and media. His single, ‘You Can’t Go Home Again (feat. Uly)’ was a standout hit of the summer, with over 2 million impacts on Irish radio and close to 100,000 streams on Spotify alone. 

With the emergence of Afro-European wave, Breezy ideygoke hopes to be at the forefront of it all with eccentric EP, ‘I-Dey’. A fusion of musical influences including rap and R&B maintained a central theme of Afrobeat. The four-track EP centred around the theme of love is narrated from 4 different perspectives, presented with cool-headed lyricism mainly in English but doesn’t shy away from also incorporating Irish and Yoruba. 

iDeyGoke kicks off the project with ‘Snakey Lover’ a tale about being on the receiving end of scorned love leading one to re-focusing on one’s happiness and what is important in life, featuring Irish singer-songwriter Tolü Makay. The saga continues with ‘MIA’ (Money in the APP) a depiction of a love/hate relationship with technology. Followed by ‘Ransom’ a tale about being lured in by a lover who takes over your whole life. From feeling like you are on top of your own world into falling right back into being a hostage as someone took your love for ransom. The project ends on a high note with ‘Bag A Man’ the moment where love comes full circle. Although previously hesitant you still know what it is you want. Looking to fall in love with someone who won’t bring you drama and turn your world upside down. Somehow that love is infectious that you get caught up in it and someone does Bag A Man. 

iDeyGoke shared “This project in a way is a quick flash of an idea to understand what it’s like to be me. This is a 15 mins introduction to who I am. As an Afro-Irish individual who has gone out looking for love. ‘I Dey’ – Means I am in pidgin English and is also another way of interpreting a part of my surname Adegoke.”  

Breezy iDeyGoke is a rapper and producer who first emerged under the alias Lil Breezy in 2012 with the REALationships EP. Renowned for his enigmatic performances Breezy toured with the mixtape project AfroBreeze (2017) across Europe, with shows in Liverpool, London, Dublin, Amsterdam, and Malta as well as the Irish festival circuit with the Sim Simma Soundsystem.

Focusing on a growing outreach, Breezy expanded his fan base by collaborating with Sim Simma Soundsystem. In June 2019 they released the Pass The Aux Cord EP which features the single ‘Yamma Yamma’, That track earned lots of love with support from Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1, District Magazine, plus a place on Nialler9’s best Irish MCs in 2019 list.

Raised in Ireland with a Yoruba background, Breezy had a childhood split between Dublin and the country fields of Louth, Ireland. iDeyGoke’s rap often features tales of life journeys through witty punchlines. Touching everything and any sound with his bars, from old school hip-hop to house, R&B and AfroPop. In July 2017, with Irish slang, London twang, and Yoruba vibes, Breezy released AfroBreeze independently through his imprint BDBreeeze Media. 

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BreezyiDG
Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/ideygoke
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/ideygoke
Website – https://www.bdbreeze.com
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5uooQNkwZWN7pFsumZWFcA
Youtube (Channel + video links) – https://www.youtube.com/c/bdbreezemedia

Introducing Reggie sometimes known as Reggie B, hailing from Dundalk Co.Louth with roots stemming from Nigeria. The 21 year old first stepped on to the scene in 2018 with his legendary New Eire Flow freestyle, grabbing the attention of peers with eye-opening tales of the streets and short, punchy bars. In 2019 Reggie created a name for himself linking up member of the Av9 crew, releasing a number of collaborative single with CHUCKS, CUBEZ, YZ and Jug Jug. In 2020 Reggie took a step back from life on the roads, channelling more focus and energy into refining his sound. Reggie’s next releases didn’t go unnoticed, scoring co-signs from drill royalty in the form of Harlem Spartans founder Blanco, Offica and Evans Junior. 

His 7 track debut project ‘O2P’ is about his life as a self-assured hustler, telling stunningly authentic stories about life on the roads. He touches on all subject matters of the road life giving us vivid images of what it is like through his talent for metaphor. From trapping, altercations with rivals or oppositions, girls and escaping that lifestyle. Reggie explained the meaning behind his project “’O2P’ is a double entendre meaning “OPP” (O – Two “P’s”) and 0 to Ps, signifying my transition from the Trap to Legal money. I was previously affiliated with a trap crew and during my transition man had opps everywhere so that’s how I came up with the name ‘O2P’. ‘O2P’ is an expression of the different stages of my life and career, the project depicts my emotions, surrounding and mind state from the beginning of my career till now. It’s about a young boy hustling his way to the top. It’s about overcoming obstacles in my life and succeeding.“

Reggie aims to be the voice of the black Irish youth and breath of fresh air, the young artist has already accomplished a lot at such an early stage in his career already having shared the stage with Yxng Bane, Lowski, Smilez, S1 and JB2. In addition to working with Jafaris, JBJ (JayBenJay), Tweako and New machine. Securing his first deal earlier this year the artist who is heavily influenced by the genre of Drill and UK Rap and artists that display authenticity is ready to take on the big stage. 

O2P is out now on all streaming platforms

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Reggi3_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reggi3_b/

Emerging queer pop act Mikey James is preparing for take-off with new song ‘Freak Tonight’ featuring D.C. based rapper Doug Thee Savage. The song hits streaming platforms on 6^th November 2020.

Mikey James is composed of Welsh frontman Mikey Warren and Irish songwriter-producer Tom Bennett.  The pair have been writing and releasing songs together for the past two years and their music is generating a buzz in queer music spheres. They have been championed by the likes of The Q Review and Boldgray, and have featured prominently in their playlists alongside the likes of Jake Shears and Melanie C. The duo have performed live in venues across London including Halfway To Heaven and The Fighting Cocks, and a string of digital Pride events over the summer.

“You’re the centre of attention, I can’t help but stare…

At your sexy little T-Shirt, and your beach-blond hair!”

Mikey and Tom met while both working as psychiatric doctors for the NHS. Their first single ‘My Heart Can’t’, coincided with Mikey’s decision to leave the medical field. Subsequent releases include ‘Figure U Out’, ‘Sugar’ and fan-favourite ‘Avocado’.

Now the pair are ready to take things up a notch and are excited to be collaborating on this next release with up-and-coming rap-star Doug Thee Savage. Mikey says, “’Freak Tonight‘ is about embracing your flaws, approaching the hottest person in the club and asking them to dance. It’s super fun… and Doug nailed it!”

This is pop music at its most shameless, jubilant best.

www.mikeyjames.net

On Friday, 23^rd October, Irish singer-songwriter, Julia-Maria released her debut single, ‘Faithless Follower’, which is available to stream from all major streaming platforms including Spotify.

Launching her career with her debut single ‘Faithless Follower’, Julia-Maria presents a fresh new voice. Recorded and produced at Monique Studios, ‘Faithless Follower’ tells a story of freedom and loss, while the chorus is upbeat and hopeful, the deep resonance explores heartbreak and resilience.  

Julia-Maria is an artist emerging at full force, hailing from Cork, the multi-instrumentalist is one to watch. With resonances of Joni Mitchell, Feist and Eva Cassidy her sound is very much her own. Living by the sea, the Atlantic coast is her constant source of inspiration. Wise beyond her years the twenty-one-year-old explains, “I found my voice writing about nature and feeling it’s connection to my own life. Nature is a language everyone speaks. A flying bird is freedom, winter is the closing of a door and the changing seasons are changing emotions. The lyrical opportunities are endless, you just have to watch and listen.”   

Facebook: /JuliaMariaMusican

Instagram: /Julia_Maria_Music