Month: February 2021

Video Blue has today released a new EP via the Volumes label, inspired by Jean-Dominique Bauby’s book ‘The Diving Bell & the Butterfly’.

‘Volumes’ is a series curating musicians and cultural influencers to put together a mixtape or original compositions in response to a book or short story.

These are not designed necessarily to accompany the book whilst reading it (although this would probably work a treat) but to create a musical response to it. We usually need to wait until a book is adapted to screen before it gets a soundtrack, but there is so much world to respond to in a book. ‘Volumes’ is a way to explore different ways in which stories and literature can be interpreted musically.   

“Having first read Bauby’s extraordinary story of process and endurance a decade ago whilst a student at Art college, I picked up a paperback copy in-between lockdowns in the summer of 2020. 

Upon revisiting, I was taken by how uplifting and spirited this great book is.

It’s themes of perseverance, sense of place, reflection, separation and anxiety resonated strongly with me.

A story of the vast potential and magic of the human mind in a locked-in state, unwittingly became an essential lockdown-read.

There was so much detail within which demanded sonic exploration:

Certain chapters, either conjuring Bauby’s memories or present struggles, suggested a meditative ambient soundscape.

Movement and machinations within the book, the sounds of the equipment keeping him alive, became touchpoints also.

Being a fan of nightwalking myself, I had not remembered his own recollection of nocturnal rambles through Lourdes in the chapter ‘Our Very Own Madonna’.

The recordings were made between two places; in my Hackney flat and in a house in Co. Wexford, Ireland where I quarantined before Christmas 2020.

The latter location was very fortunately located on the coast, with the Irish Sea a 15 minute walk away.

Sounds from this wintry beach as well as our monotonous, domestic dishwasher make up part of the field recordings within ‘Beach Club’, itself inspired by Bauby’s time at Berck-sur-Mer.

In hindsight, the music on this project began taking place in March of 2020 as I was working with some instrumental and ambient sounds as a very direct response to this changing world.

Re-reading ‘The Diving Bell…’ and the mission of ‘Volume Soundtracks’ gave these germs of musical ideas a reason to develop into what became this EP.

Video Blue is a project by Dundalk native Jim O’Donoghue Martin.

Embracing ambient electronica and guitar driven alt-pop; the music is recorded in his east London bedroom-studio .

The self-released album ‘Night Painting’ is out now!

www.volumessoundtracks.com

https://www.instagram.com/volumessoundtracks/

videoblue.bandcamp.com

www.instagram.com/video_blue/

Dublin musician Greg Clifford returns with his new melodic single ‘Long Lost Friend’. The lead track off his forthcoming album ‘Lines of Desire’ offers an American soulful sound from the multi-instrumentalist.

According to Clifford, the song is about change and moving forward. Speaking about the new single, which was recorded at Sun Studios, Dublin, Clifford said: “The song represents sacrifice, defiance and the darkness that suppresses you.  

Change is always tinged with nostalgia but you must move forward in order to survive.

It mirrors my journey through life as well as the music industry.” 

He also said the song is unlike anything he has ever recorded before, he added: “I’m incredibly proud of this song and I’m excited for people to hear it.”

The song is accompanied by a video filmed by Greg and his filmmaker father Dave and is set for release on March 5th.

Greg Clifford is a Dublin based independent singer and musician. His style is an authentic synthesis of Indie-pop rock fused with electronic aspects and ‘classical’ guitar fingerpicking.

In 2017, Clifford released an LP entitled ‘Quodlibet’, as well as playing 17 gigs across Ireland as part of a 3-act showcase called the ‘Back to Basics Tour’. Since then he has gone on to release his second album ’20/20 Vision’. 

As well as touring throughout Ireland and internationally with his own music, Clifford is also an established arranger, producer and conductor who has worked for various acts including Ireland’s chart-topping artist Hozier. He has also scored for and performed with the RTE Concert Orchestra in a sold-out National Concert Hall and holds a Masters in contemporary composition. 

This year will see the release of his much anticipated third album ‘Lines of Desire’ accompanied by a book and documentary. 

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Megan O’Neill displays her confidence and resilience in her new song ‘Underrated’, taken from her forthcoming second studio album, ‘Getting Comfortable with Uncertainty’, due 12^th March 2021.

‘Underrated’ was co-written by Megan and award-winning composer and sound designer Denis Kilty. The lyrics detail frustrations with the music industry – constantly having to jump through hoops that are set-up by other people, and facing impossible barriers to get to where you want to go. But ultimately understanding that the power lies within you, so having faith in your own abilities and the future you can create for yourself.

Speaking about the upcoming album and new single, Megan says “These songs feel more grown-up to me I suppose than my previous releases. They are more about the life experiences I’ve had in the past 2-3 years in my career, my family life, where I’ve lived and what I’ve learned. Underrated is about my love-hate relationship with the music industry as a whole – love creating and playing music, hate all the politics that has to go along with it!

In a way the songs feel more mature to me throughout this record – like I have found my voice and am not afraid to use it.”

Deemed a “rising star” by uDiscover and Timeout Magazine London, Megan is an unstoppable force. Her recent single ‘Time In A Bottle’ reached #1 on Apple iTunes’ singer/songwriter charts, and #2 on the overall Irish charts across all genres. The song has also received huge attention in the sync world, as it featured in a major #1 charting Netflix series, “Firefly Lane”, starring Katherine Heigl.

Megan O’Neill’s new album ‘Getting Comfortable with Uncertainty’ coming 12th March 2021.Pre-order at: https://meganoneill.bandcamp.com/album/getting-comfortable-with-uncertainty

New single ‘Underrated’ is out now: https://ffm.to/zbaq55m

See Megan live at her rescheduled shows later this year at Voodoo, Belfast, 21^st October 2021, and Upstairs at Whelan’s, 22^nd October. Tickets are on sale now. https://www.ticketmaster.ie/search?tm_link=tm_homeA_header_search&user_input=Megan%20O%E2%80%99Neill&q=Megan%20O%E2%80%99Neill

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Ye Vagabonds shared two new tracks, ‘I’m A Rover’ and ‘The Bothy Lads’, on a limited edition 7-inch vinyl on Friday 29th January, via Rough Trade’s imprint River Lea..

‘The Bothy Lads’ has now been officially released on all digital platforms.

‘The Bothy Lads’ is a song brothers Diarmuid and Brían Mac Gloinn learned and honed at singing sessions, before becoming a highlight of their spellbinding live shows. “We first heard this from our good friends Luke Mercier and Anthony Mannion in Walsh’s Stoneybatter one night, and they introduced us to the singing of Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise, from whom we learned this song.”

Ye Vagabonds version was recorded at Hellfire Studio, Dublin, by Lankum producer John ‘Spud’ Murphy, in March 2020.

“I’m A Rover/The Bothy Lads” can be found on a limited-edition double A side 7” vinyl. The cover photo was taken by fellow Vagabond Alain McFadden, backstage at Dublin’s National Concert Hall before the band’s biggest headline gig to date, in October 2019. The sleeve was designed by Brían and Diarmuid’s brother-in-law, Jesse Smith, whose fiddle playing was central to the sound of ‘The Hare’s Lament‘.

“We recorded both songs live within two or three takes. We’re delighted with this snapshot we got at the end of the Before Time.” – Brían Mac Gloinn, Ye Vagabonds.

OFFICIAL VIDEO “I’M A ROVER” https://youtu.be/87ak16HFNt0

Order the vinyl from Rough Trade:

https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/ye-vagabonds/i-m-a-rover?ffm=FFM_65bd802e9c59615d0457493a417eaf3b

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Diarmuid and Brían will take part in a huge St. Patrick’s Night trad set to round off Festival 2021, entitled The Patrick’s Day Hug – Barróg Lá Fhéile Phádraig, pre-recorded at the legendary Whelan’s venue in Dublin. Date and time TBA. For details see:https://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/events/barrog

http://yevagabonds.com​

https://twitter.com/yevagabonds​ / @yevagabonds

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Following the release of his acclaimed debut album ‘The Journey to Zero’, Kildare artist Enda Gallery (FKA delush) unveils haunting new video for his track ‘Guess We Got A Problem’.

Berlin-based Enda Gallery has reached a pivotal point in his career. The singer-songwriter released his acclaimed debut album in ‘The Journey to Zero’ in April 2020 under the name ‘delush’, a pseudonym which allowed him to continue working under his own name as a writer, producer and co-manager for fellow Irish artists; Tolü Makay, Willzee and Strange Boy, as well as collaborating with other international electronic producers like Kid Simius, Dead Rabbit, and Nobody’s Face. For a time, he sought out the alias to create a new space in which to craft fresh beauty and depth, now that approach penetrates all of what he does. “At some point we all long for unity of self”, Enda acknowledges that it no longer seems necessary to have different aliases, the essential parts have become embodied in the new whole.

His birth name comes from the Irish word, Éanna, meaning bird. Finally, free to soar above he has gained perspective from on high. “I am not a name or a brand or a series of projects, I am an artist”.

And so, Enda Gallery’s inaugural release is a music video for the single ‘Guess We Got A Problem’ originally found on his debut album. Directed by the Lituanian born Iggy Laugalis featuring dancer Taylor Graham, originally from New York, both of whom are serendipitously now Irish residents.

“Every moment of the making of this project seemed to be guided by faith. From making contact with Enda to finding the location for the shoot” says Laugalis.

For Enda, changing his name only twelve months after releasing his debut album takes a lot of trust. Trust in himself and trust in his audience. “I think we underestimate people’s ability to understand complexity, a few have told me this approach is naive. The community who truly resonate with and appreciate my music are very well capable of enjoying such a symphony and if someone else can’t fathom this complexity in a human being or an artist, maybe they are the naive one”.

Beyond the purpose of Enda Gallery’s craft are his goals as an artist. To create deep, innovative and meaningful music as well as images, films and messages that connect with as many people around the world as possible. To in turn create an inspiring world.

Taken from his debut album ‘The Journey to Zero’

Bandcamp: https://delush.bandcamp.com/album/the-journey-to-zero

Twitter: https://twitter.com/endagallery / @endagallery

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/endagallerymusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/endagallery/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/17vcSw40ZyiruoeNtuOPM0?si=Ok_pfwPiRtmLltsAgUT_Xg

http://www.endagallery.com/

Former Hot Sprockets frontman Wayne Soper is no stranger to the Irish music scene, having cut his teeth in one of the most well loved live bands of their time on our festival circuits and live scene. 

Now focusing on his solo artist project ‘Midnight Wayne’, Soper returns with ‘It’s Alright Hold Tight’ (26/02) a moving home produced track lamenting life in lockdown and anticipating the ecstatic grooves and hopefulness of returning normality. 

Midnight Wayne masters the art of home recording and production for this uptempo optimistic track with echoes of 1980’s nostalgia and melodic synths. Calling in old band mate and long time collaborator Joe “Jose Salsa” Lynch on Bass,

 with additional production and mixing by Alex Borwick (Ellie Goulding, Niamh Regan, MOXIE)

“The song is inspired by life in the “new normal” and the toll this past year has taken on everyone. 

The chorus “its alright, hold on tight” encourages to hang in there and that we’ll get through these numerous lockdowns and be together again.

I also wanted it to sound like something from a cheesy 80’s movie, as that era captures a real optimism and wholesomeness that people could do with right now”. 

The sound was mostly influenced by later 1980’s Fleetwood Mac, Prince and the more contemporary electronic sounds of Tame Impala and the off-beat wacky vibes of Connan Mockasin. 

Having set up a home studio after years of touring, the whimsical songwriter finally has time to experiment, have fun and dig deep into lots of sounds and ideas he never had before. The result has been a productive output of genre-hopping songs, that will be released this year.

This years first track being the perfect opener to a world of bended sounds and beats, bring Midnight Wayne’s vision of creative musical freedom to reality.  

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ELKIN have just released new single ‘Kismet’.

‘Kismet’ is about having confidence in your true SELF and realising your full potential – your full destiny – your kismet.

“This track was written at the beginning of a new relationship; the start of something new and full of potential. After taking a year’s break from releasing music, the words of this song have taken on a new meaning for us as artists – a reintroduction of ELKIN.” 

‘Kismet’ is Part 1 of ‘ANTHOLOGY’, a collection of singles released Feb-Aug 2021. The track’s accompanying visuals, developed by ELKIN and director Claire Gleeson, explore the idea of the band’s reintroduction: looking back at where they’vecome from (PURITY), looking at who they’ve felt theyhad to be (ANGEL), and realising who they truly are (SELF).

“We began 2020 with a plan to release the most music we could. But when we all went into lockdown, we cancelled our plan. We started working on an EP, which slowly became a bigger project. As the year went on we realised that we wouldn’t be able to release an album in the way we wanted to for a very long time. But we missed releasing tunes and we had this collection of songs that we were really excited about.

So we’ve decided to release this project, piece by piece, and call it ‘ANTHOLOGY’.

Starting in February we’ll be releasing music every few weeks. And we can’t wait for you all to hear it.“

Ellen and Carla were writing and singing together from the age of 15 before taking their music to a new level as ELKIN. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Joni Mitchell the duo began writing and performing folk-pop, but it wasn’t until they began working with producer lullahush that ELKIN blended their love of thought-provoking folk lyrics with fierce alt-pop production.

ELKIN made their mark in 2019 with singles ‘Green Eyes’, ‘Cut My Tongue’ and ‘DIY’, as well as releasing ‘Fall So Easy’, a collaboration with Cork producer 1000 Beasts. The self-managed duo have received growing support with ELKIN being selected to perform at showcases such as Whelan’s Ones to Watch, Music Cork and Ireland Music Week.

2020 saw O’Mahony and Ryan continuing this momentum with new release Win Win alongside performances at OutPut Showcase in Belfast and Other Voices Music Trail, Ballina. With the Covid pandemic putting a halt to their other plans, the duo spent the rest of the year writing and recording a collection of singles, ‘ANTHOLOGY’, which will be released Feb – Aug 2021. This will be followed by an EP release in September, funded by the FMC Recording Stimulus Grant.

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www.elkingirlies.com   

Guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader Max Zaska has announced the second ZASKA album, ‘A Better Way’, has named its featured artists, and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring the project to light.

‘A Better Way’ features vocalists Tolü Makay, Faye O’Rourke (Soda Blonde), Melina Malone, Jess Kav (The Waterboys), Carly Coonagh, and Precious Okpaje (Super Silly). James Smith (Gypsies On The Autobahn) who sings on the album, also plays keys and co-produces the album with Zaska. The band is rounded out by longtime collaborators Dylan Lynch (Soda Blonde) on drums and Neil Dorrington (BARQ) on bass.

Max Zaska describes ‘A Better Way’ as, “the next musical step in the neo-soul/funk evolution from my first album and it has face-melting, stanky grooves to get those sweet endorphins flying. It’s a concept record themed around sustainability – not just sustainability for this gorgeous planet, but for all aspects of living a harmonious life. It’s a hopeful album about our ability to turn it all around for ourselves and the next generation.”

The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise €16,000 on Irish platform Fund It, and runs for four weeks from 22 February to 22 March in an all-or-nothing gambit that offers rewards from €5 to €10,000. Lower tiers offer a vinyl first pressing of ‘A Better Way’ with carbon offset credit and a Save The Earth download bundle with a digital bonus pack. Max gets creative with custom personalised rewards at the mid-tier levels, but it’s the one-of-a-kind top rewards of a chicken for life, sourdough bread secrets, and a shrine in-studio that are for the person who has everything.

ZASKA’s first album crowdfunded €14,561 from 379 supporters at the end of 2016; the highest number of individual donors and the third-highest amount raised on Fund It that year. ‘It Takes A Village’ was released in 2019 to stellar reviews and was named album of the year by Peter Curtin at RTÉ 2XM.

‘A Better Way’ has targeted autumn 2021 for release. Fund It here: https://fundit.ie/project/help-zaskas-2nd-album-a-better-way

Dublin-based singer/songwriter Kevin Casey has just released his new single ‘Shout it Out’ today February 26th. A long-standing regular in the Irish music scene, Kevin Casey has released several singles, two EPs, and a full-length album since 2014. He has done two European tours and gigged extensively across the country as well as shows in Germany, the U.K., and the USA, including two consecutive years at Electric Picnic.

This upbeat, foot-thumper has a lot of deep meaning behind it, as well as some wonderful musical nuances. 

The track bursts out of the gate with screaming electric guitar feedback, introducing us to the main guitar riff,  but beyond the music, there is a deeper message hidden in this song. This is a very important piece with regards to what the artist wants to portray to the audience. It tackles very difficult themes that have arisen over the last few months and beyond. The song deals with the many problems of inequality. The piece encourages the listener to use their voice against such inequalities.

The lyrics can resonate so much with those who have experienced inequality, but also all of the listeners who observe it and demand change. Hearing the words, “Stand up, stand proud, come on and shout it out,” can only remind the listener of the great Ruth Bader Ginsberg, champion of equality, who once said, “Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” 

‘Shout It Out’ is a 90’s Brit-Pop stomp oozing of raw rock energy and Kevin Casey’s infectious and powerful musicianship

‘Shout It Out’ is a powerful message by Kevin Casey, wrapped up in a package of wonderful music.

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