Hope springs eternal during the holidays, even in this year of the pandemic with Robb Murphy’s new release. Join Robb as he reflects on the reason for the season, the trials of the past year and the anticipation of the birth of his daughter, Imogen Alena Murphy, born in November 2020. ‘A Brand New Life’ rejoices as a new life begins and Robb focuses on all of the good that can come from a difficult situation. As an extra Robb also created a music box version of the song. Just listen and feel the joy of the Christmas season and let your worries flow away.
‘A Brand New Life’ is now available on Bandcamp, iTunes, iTunes Music Player, Google Play Music, Amazon and other online music stores.
It is fitting that Denise Chaila’s final single release of the year is ‘Anseo’ (pron. ‘on-shu’) – the Irish word meaning ‘here’, familiar to all school children in Ireland as the appropriate response to give upon hearing their name during morning roll-call.
After the first single from her mixtape was released in May and made her the highest-charting Irish female artist of the year, there is no doubt that ‘Chaila’ truly is a household name. There haven’t been many certainties in 2020, but one thing that is indisputable is that Denise Chaila is definitely anseo, here, present – and not going anywhere.
Upon the release of her debut mixtape ‘Go Bravely’ in October, ‘Anseo’ quickly became a firm favourite with radio, critics and fans alike. Rather than go the obvious route and release the song ‘as is’, Denise and her label narolane records – of which she is a cofounder – decided to go one better and invite another of Ireland’s fastest-rising hip-hop stars, Jafaris (signed to Dublin-based powerhouse Diffusion Lab / DFL) to feature on a new version of the track.
Narolane records says: “To state the obvious, 2020 has been a difficult year, but also a year of reflection and recalibration. Music has yet again provided us with more than entertainment. It’s been our escape when we needed it and a ray of sunshine in the storm. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support many of you have shown for the work we do here at narolane. We all can’t wait to see the back of this year but we couldn’t see it out without one little gift for you, so we asked our friends at DFL to join us on this anthem to spice up your holidays with this collaboration with Jafaris. Let’s dance a little!”
Dublin-based Jafaris is one of the frontrunners of the new generation of Irish hip-hop artists, having been nominated for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize for his debut album ‘STRIDE’ in 2019.
Jafaris says: “This song represents the mentality that I believe Ireland needs to adopt in order to be an example to the world. We have an opportunity to tackle the race issue that plagues our world by adding to the already potent culture that exists here through creativity, innovation and economics. I have ideas, so I shouted out my bro Michael D Higgins. Denise was already spreading a similar narrative and it only felt right to come together and express our views.”
Denise Chaila was recently named Irish Tatler’s ‘Woman of the Year’ in the music category, highlighted by style bible Harper’s Bazaar and included in The Guardian’s Top Songs of 2020. Denise was also announced in The Great Escape’s First Fifty line-up announcement in November. The Great Escape is the UK’s festival for new music, showcasing 500 emerging artists from all over the world in 30+ venues across Brighton and a pop-up festival site on Brighton Beach.
Last night, Wednesday 16th December, Denise Chaila and Jafaris performed ‘Anseo’ to audiences worldwide via the Other Voices at Home series, live-streamed from the iconic Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. ‘Anseo’ will be available on all digital streaming platforms from midnight tonight and available for purchase as a digital download from Bandcamp.
Wherever you are in the world, enjoy the magic of DeBarra’s Folk Club from the comfort of your own homes this Christmas as they continue to present world-class gigs with wonderful people in their venue at Clonakilty, West Cork.
Despite the challenges they faced this year, the award-winning venue continues to offer an important connection to their community of musicians and music lovers far and wide during trying times.
The line-up includes:
Dukkha (18th Dec), Sam Clague (20th Dec), Míde Houlihan (22nd Dec), the Céilí All Stars (26th Dec), Camilla Grieshel & Niwel Tsumbu (27th Dec) and Niamh Regan (29th Dec).
Manager of DeBarra’s Ray Blackwell says, “This initiative, part-funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht Sport and Media from the Live Performance Support Scheme, has given all of our team involved a massive boost in the current times.
Thanks to this funding we have all gained a little back and have begun to remember who we are and what we do. But it’s a temporary reprieve. Our industry is in danger and we don’t know what the new year holds.
For now, our technical teams are back working, photographers are back snapping, musicians are back strumming, plucking and bowing. Art and music is happening and we all have a shared purpose again.’’
Dublin-based indie rock band Lavelle are this week announcing the release of their new single ‘Rejuvenate’ on all digital platforms.
The latest release off their forthcoming album, ‘Rejuvenate’ is built around a simple and gripping riff which repeats throughout. The song opens with clean guitar and plaintive vocals, before drums are introduced alongside deep piano chords, and the track begins to build momentum to an energetic crescendo.
The track is being released with a music video composed entirely of footage filmed during Level 5 Lockdown and from the band’s friends and family on nights out and at concerts prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, which tugs at the heartstrings as the country is preparing for Christmas and anticipating a return to normality in the new year.
Together since 2014, three-piece Lavelle have spent recent years in and out of Dublin’s Camden Recording Studios working on their debut album ‘Stem The Flow’ (scheduled for release in early 2021) with veteran Irish producer and sound engineer Conor Brady.
The band’s four-track EP ‘Feel Like I Do’ was released in April 2017, followed in recent years by several singles off the album. Most recently the band released the heavy, bass-driven rock track ‘Ashes In The Tray’ in October.
Commenting on the theme of their latest release, Lavelle’s lead singer and songwriter John Ryan said: “This song started with the simple idea of how our everyday lives can be tough on us mentally and how we need to learn ways we can rejuvenate from the costs of this.”
‘Rejuvenate’ is available on all digital platforms from Friday, 18th December, followed by the music video release on the 19th.
Following from the success of his latest release ‘The Day The World Shut Down’ Marty Mone has went one step further and is set to release his first official remix of his latest hit.
It has been an incredible bittersweet year for this renowned singer songwriter, gigs may have been cancelled but Marty did not take his foot of the gas.
About to release his 6th single this year, its plain to be seen that Marty has been using the time of the road wisely. Marty who is famous for recording, mixing and mastering all his own recordings decided to step away from Country Music for a change and record a Dance Remix which is set to be widely received by his fans across the world.
Ireland Music Week has teamed up with RTÉ Player to host a selection of this year’s artist performances on their platform. The performances will sit across four parts with a song from each of the 2020 line up acts available internationally for 30 days from today, Wednesday 16th December. This will help further-showcase the artists to new audiences around the globe.
The showcasing acts were filmed by Tiny Ark in Dublin venue Lost Lane in September.
View a song from each of the artists via RTÉ Player here (running alphabetically over 4 parts):
The news was announced on RTÉ2FM this morning with additional support for the artists across their social media. The line-up includes:
1000 BEASTS, A. SMYTH, ANNA MIEKE, ARCHMOTORS, BASCIVILLE, BEAUTY SLEEP, BEYOND THE WASH, CELAVIEDMAI, CHRISTIAN COHLE, CMAT, DANI LARKIN, DARK TROPICS, DENISE CHAILA, DYVR, ENOLA GAY, FEARS, FIA MOON, FYNCH, GEMMA BRADLEY, GOD KNOWS, HAZEY HAZE, I HAVE A TRIBE, INSIDEAWAVE, JACKIE BEVERLY, JAXSON, KYNSY, LOCAL BOY, LUZ, MODERNLOVE., MURLI, NAOISE ROO, NEALO, NNIC, POWPIG, R.S.A.G., RACHAEL LAVELLE, REEVAH. RUNOFFBROKE, SHAEFRI, SHIV, SKINNER, STRANGE BOY, TEBI REX, TOSHÍN, VARO, VERNON JANE, WYNONA BLEACH
Additionally, from today, IMW will share one performance a week from the 2020 line-up across socials, YouTube and Facebook. Starting today with Hazey Haze.
CD Baby Bursaries
Ireland Music Week (IMW) and CD Baby are delighted to announce the three winners of the 2020 IMW x CD Baby Artist Bursary are Limerick-based Zambian-Irish rapper and singer Denise Chaila, R&B rising star shiv, and Wexford singer songwwriter JaXson.
The €3,000 (3 x €1,000)grant will provide the artists with resources to develop their artistic practice, as well as a comprehensive artist services and mentoring package from CD Baby. Each were selected by international industry delegates attending IMW 2020.
Every Ireland Music Week showcasing artist also received a CD Baby distribution package, including a Pro Publishing account option, free digital marketing tools and sync representation, as well as a 1:1 digital release strategy session with the CD Baby Europe team.
“Despite the disappointment of not being able to return en masse to Dublin for this year’s event, we are delighted to continue our partnership of last year with Ireland Music Week, to shine a spotlight on the cream of new Irish music, and give these artists the global platform they deserve,” said Rich Orchard, Director of European Market Development at CD Baby. “We’ve had some outstanding success stories the past twelve months, so having been able to watch all 50 showcase performances this year, I couldn’t be more excited about this year’s crop of artists and the year ahead.”
‘tonnta’ is the new single from Fears, which is out now, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.
‘Tonnta’ is written, recorded, and produced by Fears. This is the first single from TULLE, a new label founded by Constance Keane and Emily Kendrick, run by women and non-binary people, supporting underrepresented voices in music.
Chronicling Fears’ relationship with her late grandmother, ‘tonnta’ explores the experience of loving and caring for someone with dementia, while celebrating the deep connection that remains throughout. As each wave hits, the disease progresses, and it can feel difficult to stay above water. Roles have switched from childhood, the carer becomes the cared for, but the love shared doesn’t waver.
The video, directed by Fears, is inspired by her grandmother’s love for fashion, and celebrates the childhood memory of being taught how to sew in the box room of her grandmother’s house. Shot by her brother, and starring her mother and sister, the video depicts the importance of support through illness, and the healing that can come from women supporting each other. Fears designed and produced eight dresses for the video, inspired by each woman featured.
Chart toppers Kodaline have just been revealed as the first headliners for Sea Sessions. With a career that has to date encompassed three #1 albums in Ireland, two Top 5 albums in the UK and more than a billion streams at Spotify, Kodaline are set to ensure that the biggest beach party of the year returns with a bang!
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 even headlined festivals to huge audiences throughout Asia.
Most recently there has been the storming success of their studio album ‘One Day At A Time’, which has now been streamed more than 74 million times and has seen them garner another 10 million monthly Spotify listeners.
Sea Sessions started way back in 2008 and has grown from strength to strength over the years. In fact the last 7 festivals have sold out well in advance and with such pent up demand 2021 should be no different. The whole party takes place right on the beach in Bundoran, Donegal and has hosted some of the biggest International acts on the circuit including the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Bastille, Dermot Kennedy, Tinie Tempah, Paul Weller, Clean Bandit and Picture This to name but a few. Alongside music there’s also Ireland’s biggest Surf Comp’, Skating, BMX, Graffiti, Beach Sports and much more packed into the 3 full days of partying by the beach.
Ray O’Donoghue, Festival Director says “What can we say but 2020 has been a bit of a crazy year. There does seem to be a bit of positive news around now though and things are looking good for summer 2021. Kodaline are one of those bands that we’ve had our eye on for a while so it’s great that they’ve finally agreed to headline the festival.”
“It might just be the best festival in Ireland”RTE.IE
“Still buzzing from that set at Sea Sessions. It felt so special.” Dermot Kennedy
Tickets are on sale Thgursday 17th December at 9.30pm from all Ticketmaster outlets nationwide, www.ticketmaster.ie and www.seasessions.com. Priced from €109.90 for 3 days and €139.90 including 4 nights camping. There’s also Surfers Bar (VIP) upgrades available from €50 extra. There’s also Sea Sessions Merch’ available at www.seasessions.com/shop. The Beach Party of the Year takes place June 18th – 20th.
Mute The TV are a two piece band of brothers, Elliot Crampton and Dylan E. Crampton who have just release their festive single ‘Christmas Without You’.
Fusing together their respective influences and musical styles, their aim is to approach their music in a way that neither of them are accustomed to. With Dylan and Elliot being brothers and perfectionists, many an argument ensues during the recording process, something that has plagued many bands before them, but given that they are brothers, it always turns right.
The brothers started the project during the first Coronavirus lockdown as a way to stay busy and creative and released two singles, ‘With You’ which features their friend and local musician, Jack Joyce and ‘Only The Good Times Matter’ which has been streamed over twenty thousand times on Spotify.
Both Dylan and Elliot have been releasing music under various guises since 2012, but this is the first time that they have joined musical forces. With appearances at various Irish festivals, the RTE Late Late Show and Whelan’s One’s To Watch, the brothers are combining their experiences and are excited to see where it takes them, no rules apply.
Speaking to the single, the brothers state:
Dylan: “I had the idea for a Christmas song floating around for about two years, but only had a verse and an intro. I showed it to Ell and he really enjoyed it, but we didn’t do much with it at the time.”
Elliot: “We sat down to try and finish the song recently and it really came together, but it wasn’t until we played it for a few of our close friends that they demanded we record it and release it this year, so, the pressure was on. Funnily enough, the chorus of the song is from a Christmas song that I had written as a present for my family when I was about twelve years old, the rest of the song was absolutely atrocious, but the chorus still felt good.”
Dylan: “Then we started to arrange the track, Ell had written a bridge which then became the intro and my intro became the outro, then we got to work on recording the song. Our friends Greg and Tristan were on hand to make sure we were knuckling down and getting it done too and we received lots of texts from our friends making sure we weren’t slacking.”
Elliot: “We had a great time recording the track and it felt really good. During the second lockdown, we had re-connected with some people that had been acquaintances before, but are now friends for life. I had a pretty tough year with my mental health and finding a small group of people that were there for me, was truly amazing. We went for walks, runs and swims as much as we could and we thought it would be a lovely idea to include them on this song so that we would have a reminder of the positives that came of this turbulent time. A keepsake. You can hear them, along with our mom and sister singing ‘Christmas Songs’ in the choruses and singing the last chorus too.”
All proceeds from the sale of the single on Bandcamp will be donated to the ISPCC.
Lorcán MacMathuna shares ‘A Bhean Úd Thíos (The Woman At The Stream)’. The new single from his brand new album ‘An Bhuatais and The Meaning of Life’ set for release on Wednesday 16th December.
In this dark and poignant song a bride has been abducted by the fairies (the Sí) on her wedding night and taken to the underground world of the Sí. She is permitted to walk in the mortal world for an hour at dusk each evening for a year and a day, but she is shielded from sight by a supernatural veil, and cannot touch or speak to any mortal person.
She beseeches a washer woman at the stream to aid her to break the spell of the Sí, but her voice cannot break through the fairy spell. The washer woman is oblivious to the imploration of the captured bride. The veil between worlds remains unbreached; the spell of the slua sí (the fairy host) is a web she cannot escape from.
“A song, like a story, speaks from a time and a place. Time passes, and its voice diminishes. But sometimes a story speaks to the essence of human nature and its power lasts through time regardless of space; regardless of place.” – Lorcán Mac Mathúna; An Bhuatais & The Meaning of Life
That’s the first paragraph from the book that comes with the new album by Lorcán Mac Mathúna, which will be released on Wednesday 16th December at 8:30pm on Facebook live. The album comes in a beautiful hard backed 112 page book with gold foil lettering. It will be on sale from the 16th for €20 plus P&P and it can be pre-ordered here on Lorcán’s homepage http://www.lorcanmacmathuna.com
“I think that the narratives portrayed in traditional folklore mythology and song are attempts to understand our deepest impulses through parable and story. I have put my thoughts into a collection of essays which reflect upon a selection of traditional songs I have recorded. The essays are related to the themes of the songs, and both are meant to be enjoyed in tandem. ‘An Bhuatais & The Meaning of Life’ is a musical and philosophical engagement. It is a collection of contemplative music and essays that delve the human need for hope, longing, and fire.”
