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Month: November 2020

New Music from Moylan

Moylan is back with her new single, ‘Winter’. What better way to begin a conversation, than talking about the weather. Moylan greets us gently in a space so familiar and comforting that we instantly feel at ease. Although we hear a solitary voice and guitar, there is a sense that she is not alone, which is confirmed with the refrain: “The distance has me thrown but I know I’m not alone.” Throughout the track, Moylan’s warm backing vocals creep over us like a liquid blanket ensuring our whole being is kept safe and warm. This delicately crafted track builds in momentum as the harmonious strings dance around the stripped back percussion, guitar and piano, all the while allowing Moylan’s distinct vocals and lyrics to remain the focal point. This song is a hand written letter exploring what it means to be home-sick, and how bitter-sweet it is to love.  

Moylan is a singer songwriter from Waterford, Ireland. Her most recent single ‘It’s Alright’ was released in March 2020 and attracted attention from the likes for TLMT, Nialler 9, Entertainment RTÉ, N-eight, Mnásome and Covert Music Club. It was also featured on many playlists such as The Irish Beat, Indie Arena Music and Fluttertone. In June 2019, she released her Debut EP- ‘For The Birds’. Moylan’s debut EP is a work of strength and variety. It attracted attention has also received great support and air play from radio stations such as WLR FM, Spin FM, RTÉ Pulse, Strabane Radio and KCLR FM, where she was the feature musician in June 2019. In November 2018, Moylan performed on RTÉ Radio1 with Miriam O’ Callaghan. She was a semi-finalist in the Voice of Ireland 2016.

In recent years Moylan has been making waves in the Irish music scene with appearances in Irish festivals (Electric Picnic, Imagine Arts Festival, IMBOLC festival, Comeraghs Wild Festival) and striking headline shows in Dublin (Whelans, Workmans Club, the Soundhouse), Dungarvan and Carrick-On-Suir.

In September 2019, Moylan moved to Germany and since then she has played Sofar Sounds Weimar, Sofar Sounds Nuremberg and a number of intimate gigs around Berlin. Her Christmas Tour 2019 in Ireland was a great success which included venues in Waterford, Limerick, Galway and Dublin. Now, with the uncertainty surrounding the future of the music industry, Moylan is using her time to work on recording and music production. You can expect to see some new releases in the not so distant future.

‘Winter’ was produced and mixed by Lucas Laufen in The Famous Gold Watch Studio, Belin. Drums by Gidon Carmel, viola by Tseroeja Can den Bos, violin by Fabiana Striffler and cello by Ana Luisa Pereira. Vocals, guitar, piano and arrangement by Moylan. The string section was co-composed by Moylan and John Buckley. This track was mastered by Chris Chetland of KOG mastering.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/moylanmusic/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/moylanmusic/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/moylanmusic
Bandcamp – https://moylan.bandcamp.com
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5uKtSNJJ8nfmzLaM5zs7Eq?si=fCz6_WrVSyG3d8MaIPirBw

BK Pepper’s Critically Acclaimed Album ‘Territories’ Out Now

Dublin composer and producer BK Pepper has just released his debut album ‘Territories’, (November 20th) and has already received some very high praise. A beautiful simplistic album that takes the listener on a reverie to a simpler time, ‘Territories’ theme reflects how borders have become increasingly visible in recent years, with migration, trade disputes and now a global pandemic reshaping how territories are perceived, defined and enforced around the world. Recorded in London’s Abbey Road, The Pool and Angel Studios, the collection of compositions is a neo-classical mix of piano, strings and electronics, with lead single ‘Colours’ a tribute to melody and imagination. ‘Colours’ begins with a solo piano intro but is joined by a chorus of strings that rise and fall. It was the first track to be recorded for the album with the string orchestra recorded in a converted swimming pool studio in London.

About the album BK says,“The album was a long time coming for me. I have been working on projects for theatre and orchestras over the last few years but it’s all really gearing towards releasing this record. It was a struggle at times as I was used to working so collaboratively but had some real highlights recording the record too. Recording in Abbey Road was incredible. Just being in the building itself was a huge deal to me but recording an orchestra where the Beatles recorded was unreal. I didn’t really have a theme planned for the album but the same topic about territories kept coming back to me. How borders have become increasingly visible in recent years, with migration, trade disputes and now a global pandemic reshaping how territories are perceived, defined and enforced around the world. Especially in Ireland, a border which had become almost invisible had become a tug toy in a trade dispute.”

Classically trained on piano and trombone, BK Pepper’s musical projects include composing for film and theatre as well as touring with both orchestras and rock bands. After many years performing and releasing collaboratively, BK is now releasing his debut album. 

http://bkpepper.com/
www.facebook.com/bkpepp
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www.instagram.com/bkpepper/

Screaming Orphans to Release Christmas Single ‘Song We Used To Sing’

Donegal’s all sister band Screaming Orphans release their new Christmas single, ‘Song We Used To Sin’g, available for purchase on Screaming Orphans’ website, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music and other digital platforms on December 11, 2020.

This is the Screaming Orphans first writing collaboration with renowned songwriter John Spillane.  The new Christmas single is a beautifully crafted poignant track perfect for the current Christmas – missing someone and thinking of the past good times spent together

The theme of the song is charmingly captured in the accompanying video featuring photos and videos submitted by the band’s fans and friends reflecting on memories of times spent together.

Screaming Orphans, a genre-breaking, chart topping all sister band, are known worldwide for their award-winning sound, combining their original pop songs with a unique take on traditional Irish music. The band have toured globally and recorded with the likes of Sinead O’Connor, Peter Gabriel, The Chieftains, Joni Mitchell and World music star Baaba Maal. Screaming Orphans have released 15 albums and have topped Billboard, iTunes Pop, Singer/Songwriter and World Music charts.

With all touring put on hold due to COVID-19, Screaming Orphans continue to stay in touch and perform for their fans across the globe during their Facebook live-stream concerts every other Saturday. The next concert is set for December 5 and the concert on December 19 will be a special Christmas concert during which the band will premiere ‘Song We Use To Sing’ live.  The band also have a gig scheduled on Tuesday December 15th in Galway City, as special guest of Padraig Stevens and Leo Moran.

Screaming Orphans are grateful for the generous support the band received from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media in the making of this song and video.

www.screamingorphans.com
https://twitter.com/screamingorphan
https://www.facebook.com/screamingorphans
https://www.instagram.com/screamingorphans/

Shiv Shares Single Ahead of EP Release

Zimbabwe-born, Kildare-raised singer-songwriter Shiv shares brand new single ‘Letting You Know’, the third to be taken from her debut EP ‘Me 2 Me’, out December 4th. The single is available on all platforms for download now. 

Writing, producing and recording her six-track debut EP during a year of self-discovery, Shiv was able to reach into her soul to figure out who she really is. With hypnotic dreamy vocals over lush R&B and neo-soul sonics, ‘Letting You Know’ is a personal note to release the overwhelming grip of deep-rooted anxiety. “It’s about the moment I finally realised that holding onto whatever was inside me wasn’t helping, that in releasing my deepest self and being comfortable with what that meant, I could finally let go of the fear that had embedded itself in my relationship with myself and my creative process.

Relocating to Paris to continue exploring her creative process, Shiv has incorporated all the influences from her upbringing to bring her inner feelings to life. Having established herself as a house DJ in Dublin, she soon realised her true passion was in songwriting and story-telling, whilst learning her craft as a producer alongside. Her debut EP is an intimate diary entry of work that shows just why she is being tipped as a voice of the future. Prepare to enter into the inner world of Shiv. 

‘Letting You Know’ the brand new single from Shiv is out now, her debut EP ‘Me 2 Me’ is released on the 4th December 2020.

There’s Hope for Christmas as David Hope Releases ‘Christmas Day’

Irish singer-songwriter, David Hope, has really pulled a cracker with his single ‘Christmas Day’. 

The man from Clare returns with the perfect tonic for 2020, right in time for Christmas. ‘Christmas Day’ was the first single from Hope’s third studio album ‘Tough Love’, released in 2017. The track was recorded and produced by Christian Best (Mick Flannery / Marc O’Reilly / Jack O’Rourke) at the renowned Monique Studios in Co. Cork. 

The song is a modern twist on the classic Christmas nativity story, crossed with the familiar struggle of the annual journey home to loved ones. For this, Hope set aside his trusty acoustic guitar in favour of a more electric, robust, pop orientated sound. 

‘Christmas Day’ was chosen by RTÉ Radio One for the European Broadcasting Union Christmas Music Project, and was featured on a playlist broadcast across all member states. The single also featured on RTE Radio One’s Christmas Playlist 2016, along with airplay across a number of stations in the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

An accompanying music video was shot on location in Hope’s native County Clare, produced by award winning Limerick based cinematographer, Steve Hall. 

Irish songsmith and European troubadour, David Hope is currently recording new songs and material. Over the past 15 years, Hope has performed and toured extensively in both his native Ireland and mainland Europe, averaging in excess of 200 shows per year. During this time, Hope has built a reputation as one of the very best live performers on the touring circuit today. 

The new single ‘Christmas Day’ available on iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play and Spotify now. 

http://facebook.com/davidhopeofficial
http://twitter.com/DavidPHope
http://instagram.com/davidhope

Tommy Keyes Shares ‘From The Bottom To The Top’

After success in the iTunes Singer-Songwriter Chart with ‘Go With You’ (no 2 in May) and ‘Walk Away’ (no 1 in September), Tommy Keyes has just released a third single from the critically acclaimed album ‘Ageing With Attitude’.

‘From The Bottom To The Top’ is something of a departure for Keyes, whose music is generally strongly rooted in the sound and influences of the 1970’s – he was described by Eamon Carr in The Herald as, “a man who exudes a classic Seventies songwriting style.”

I wanted to give this song a more contemporary feel,” says Keyes, “so I handed the production role to Ellen O’Mahony of the indie-pop duo ELKIN, whose harmonies have been a prominent feature of my albums. I didn’t even play keyboards on the track, I left it all to her. I’m delighted with the results.”

The somewhat sparse instrumentation, by Keyes’ standards, also features Dick Farrelly on guitar and bass and Gerard Farrelly on drums.

Kodaline Share Festive Single and Deluxe Album

After the storming success of their recently released studio album ‘One Day At A Time’, which has now been streamed more than 74 million times and seen them garner another 10 million monthly Spotify listeners, Kodaline are back to get us ready for the festive season with their new single ‘This Must Be Christmas’.

Released on the same day as the deluxe edition of their latest album, which features a collaboration with Gabrielle Aplin on their track ‘Everyone Changes’ (which is currently on BBC Radio 2’s B-list), two covers – ‘Teenage Kicks’ and ‘The Rare Auld Times’, and of course the previously released singles ‘Wherever You Are’, ‘Sometimes’, ‘Saving Grace And ‘Say Something’; ‘This Must Be Christmas Sees the band venture into their very first Christmas single.
 
Managing to combine their own bright and uplifting aesthetic with a distinctly festive feel, ‘This Must Be Christmas’ looks to cap off a triumphant year for the Irish outfit. With traditionally warming lyrics and a soft, breezy flow, their new offering is bound to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
 
Speaking about the new single, the band said, “We’ve always wanted to write a Christmas song but we never actually got around to doing it until now. We’re excited to share ‘This Must Be Christmas’ with you. I suppose the song was influenced by The Pogues ‘Fairytale Of New York’, it’s kind of an anti Christmas song about drowning your sorrows in the pub on Christmas. Anyway we hope you enjoy it.”

The band have also released the deluxe version of ‘One Day At A Time’ on 20th November both physically and digitally, making it the first opportunity for fans to own the record in a physical format.

In August this year, Kodaline performed their smash-hit album ‘In A Perfect World’ back to back for the first time since its recording, and will be heading back to the stage with the showcase live across the UK and Ireland in 2021. Tickets on sale now from https://kodaline.com/live/

‘One Day At A Time’ is the band’s fourth album, and adds a new chapter to a career that has already encompassed three#1 albums in Ireland, two Top 5  albums in the UK, and more than a billion streams at Spotify.

Kodaline approached the album with a streamlined process that took them back to their roots. The majority of the sessions revolved around the four band members alone in their modest recording space in Dublin, with bassist Jason Boland leading the production side of things.
 
The band’s primary objective was to focus on the emotion that has informed many Kodaline fan favourites. As we’ve seen from the two recent singles, they’re playing to their strengths: insistent melodies and captivating hooks exploring stories that are revealing, unguarded and immediately relatable.

The main thing this time was to capture those emotions through everything,” says frontman Steve Garrigan. “We also wanted to use a lot of harmonies and play to our strengths.”
 
In 2019, Kodaline played some of the biggest shows of their career. At home in Dublin they sold-out two huge outdoor shows at St. Anne’s Park, while a ten-date UK tour culminated with a packed show at London’s historic Roundhouse. Further afield, they hit festivals including Lollapalooza, Benicàssim and Open’er before becoming the first Irish band to headline the massive NH7 Weekender in Pune, India. Their extensive touring throughout Asia also included a headline set at Monsoon Music Festival in Vietnam plus dates in China, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore.

Kodaline Live dates:
May
17 –      Oxford – Academy
18 –      Cambridge – Corn Exchange
19 –      Bexhill – De La Warr Pavilion
21-       Birmingham – Academy
22 –      Nottingham – Rock City
23 –      Manchester – Albert Hall
25 –      Newcastle – Academy
26 –      Glasgow – The Barrowland Ballroom
27 –      Leeds – Academy 
29 –      Norwich – UEA
30 –      Bristol – Academy
 
June
1 –        Southampton – Guildhall
2 –        London – Shepherd’s Bush Empire
27 –      Dublin – Malahide Castle 

July
2 –        Lytham Festival with Snow Patrol 

August 
20 –      Belfast Custom House Square

‘One Day At A Time Tracklist

‘Wherever You Are’
‘Sometimes’
‘Saving Grace’
‘Say Something’
‘The Evening’   
‘Spend It With You’
‘Care’
‘Heart Open’  
‘Everyone Changes’  
‘In The End’
‘This Must be Christmas’ 
 ‘Everyone Changes’ featuring Gabrielle Aplin 
‘The Rare Auld Times’ 
‘Teenage Kicks’

PictureHouse Release ‘1999 – Live in Dublin’

PictureHouse have have today released ‘1999 – Live in Dublin’.

Recorded in Dublin, in October 1999, ‘1999 – Live in Dublin’ features PictureHouse at their finest. This acoustic string-laden early version of ‘She’ was performed 3 years before it was eventually released on ‘Madness Sadness Gladness’ in 2002.

On the crest of a huge wave, the previous 12 months had seen PictureHouse thrust onto the national and international stage. ‘Sunburst’ had been one of the most played songs on Irish radio for 15 months, ‘Karmarama’, the top ten album, had been out a year and spawned a string of radio and chart hits. This had most definitely been their year.

Three national headline tours wedged between arena and stadium support tours with the likes of The Corrs and Meatloaf alongside an endless array of festivals meant they had played to a million people in 12 short months. 150+ shows, millions of miles, 5 band members, 3 crew and a van called Flash.

‘1999 – Live in Dublin’ features 16 tracks including the singles ‘Sunburst’, ‘Heavenly Day’, ‘All the Time In The World’, ‘Love In The Streets’, “World and his Dog” alongside 1700 fans singing along. 

Dubh Lee Releases High-Octane New Single ‘Carousel’

Blues singer Dubh Lee’s latest single ‘Carousel’ is now out on all major streaming platforms and is available to purchase on Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon.

Dubh Lee occupies a unique space between folk and blues and her latest single ‘Carousel’ is a raucous blues-rock tune in which the singer cries out in loneliness and distress. It deals with using partying as a coping mechanism and features a driving chromatic main riff, fat bass guitar, and unhinged lead guitar work. It was recorded in The Meadow recording studio in Co. Wicklow and the singer enlisted the help of David Griffin from New Secret Weapon to record the bass and drums for the track.

In the past Dubh Lee has performed at events all over Ireland such as Electric Picnic and the Ruby Sessions, along with more intimate shows opening for acts such as Jack Lukeman and Bagatelle, and she supported jazz band Jimmy’s Cousin on their Irish tour in 2019. From folk beginnings she has transitioned from performing solo with an acoustic guitar to performing heavier material with a bassist and a drummer in 2020, now playing energetic live sets as a power trio featuring songs with blues and garage rock influences.  In 2020 she performed at a number of live-streamed and hybrid events, such as the Hotpress Lockdown Sessions, Transmission festival, Laters with Griff and the Five Lamps Arts festival. Her debut EP will be released in spring of 2021, and in the meanwhile a mesmerizing music video for ‘Carousel’ is set to appear in December 2020.

Nathan Mac Falls into Male Vulnerability with his Latest Pop-lullaby ‘The Boy Who Learned To Fly’

Nathan Mac’s latest single is the magic we need this winter. ‘The Boy Who Learned To Fly’ sounds like an overlapping Studio Ghibli and Pixar masterpiece, and it wraps us in a world just as beautiful…

The song describes a boy who sees his father crying for the first time. There are layers to it’s story but the message is distilled into its final lyrics: “You will grow into a man, and it’s okay to cry.”

Getting to the core of this song, we find the message of male vulnerability and mental health, but the message is by no means one sided. Typical of a Nathan Mac song it’s written to speak to everyone. Who hasn’t seen their heros fail or falter? It’s something we all remember. In fact, Nathan had this to say about his latest single:

“Everyone has a story about this. When I sing this song to people, it seems to compel them to tell me about the first time they saw their father, or mother, or older sibling cry. The sheer amount of stories I’ve been told in response tells me that I’ve struck some kind of ‘chord’ with this song.”

Once again, produced by Brian Dwyer, the blend of organic and synthetic instruments is undeniably genius. The backbone of this track is the delicate, trickling guitar and consoling vocals. When combined with pristine synths and an inspired typewriter percussion, the song takes on an epic and complex life of its own.

At the very centre of this song you find Nathan Mac, writing about his own relationship to his father. This intimacy can be felt deeply in the lyrics, music, and imagery. The subject of male intimacy features in many of his songs, yet to be released. Could this be a recurring theme in the ‘Start of Something Blue’? We’ll just have to wait and see.

‘The Boy Who Learned To Fly’ will be available to stream and download from the 4th of December. PreSave the song here.

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