Month: March 2021

After years of travelling in the belly of the beast, spitting and coughing, drowning in the Devil’s drink, puffing heavily on fifty cigarettes a day, balancing on his head a haircut from nineteenseventytwo, Keith Margo got sick of singing to the tune of other people’s songs. That’s when he wrote the new single everybody’s talking about: ‘Rock N Rolla’.

In those perilous years, Margo absorbed all manner of the arts from the paintings of Goya, Rimbaud’s poetry, all the way up to Ziggy Stardust and beyond. He draws from these bohemians, giving his new single ‘Rock N Rolla’ a timeless feel.

Keith Margo is bringing songwriting back to Rock N Roll! From the word go, the drums are in your face, the coven of guitars are putting you under their spell. A wailing guitar solo, wild bassline and a ‘Sympathy For The Devil’ style ending keep you coming back for more. Margo’s voice reaches into your soul.

‘Rock N Rolla’ is only the start for Keith Margo. Expect more heavy hitters as the year goes on.

Written, performed, produced, mixed and mastered by Keith Margo. Colm Quearney plays bass, lead guitars & philicordia.

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Alice LA is a versatile artist dabbling in pop music, with a background in Multi-Media skills and such experimental yet striking visuals that gel well with her music, upbeat and high energy live shows, a creative exciting ever-changing brand, and humorous and highly active on her socials, Alice LA has carved out a whole niche for herself and created something unique and spectacular. The new single ’21st Century Woman’ is out today!

She has performed at festivals across Ireland including Stendhal, Sunflower, and Output Festival, performed at a sold-out show in KOKO Camden as part of a Capital Xtra night, and has radio play and support from radio including BBC, Today FM, the Play Irish initiative from IASCA and more.

LA has also recently featured on the BBC Arts Programme performing live for their ‘Sounds New Program” and then again appeared on BBC Irish program ‘I Lar an Aonaigh’ performing. So far Alice LA has released two singles and a mini album that she released in the summer of 2020 which then appeared on the list of the NI Music Prize for best album and many of her singles.

’21st Century Woman’ is a vocal and synth driven pop anthem which is an empowering call for gender equality that asks for “love and kindness” rather than life becoming a competition between men and women in various ways. The 80s drum beat and the rhythm of the synth pulls the listener in instantly along with the quirky vocal chops at the start that sounds very like Scandinavian pop. The break down creates a magical escape, it gives the song space to breath beautifully before building to the point of the song lyrically “just love love love, let’s not collide” Isn’t that what life is all about? Love and acceptance of each other?

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As a tribute to the late great Liam Reilly, Celtic Collections are proud to announce the release of a new single from Bagatelle, ‘That Summer Song’. 

This song was written & recorded during one of the very last studio sessions with Liam Reilly and Bagatelle and was also one of the last recording sessions of producer/guitarist/ multi-instrumentalist and owner of Silverwood Studios, Co. Wicklow, the late Gavin Ralston.  

Gavin had played with so many acts including The Waterboys, Picturehouse, Sharon Shannon, Michael Flatley, Thom Moore and Bagatelle.

‘That Summer Song’ (co-written by Liam Reilly, Ken Doyle & Gavin Ralston) basically tells the story about how one song could change a bands life forever.   

That song was of course the iconic ‘Summer In Dublin’ – the band was Bagatelle and as the lyrics suggest, the song is also a big THANK YOU to their wonderful loyal audience who have stayed with them through their 40+ years.

Lavengro, the four-piece indie-pop outfit from Derry are back in the game with a banger. ‘Get Out’, produced by Cormac Butler (The Academic, All Tvvins, Kodaline) is an anthemic, catchy track packed full of guitar hooks, upbeat bass & drums, groovy Synths and a stellar strong chorus that won’t ‘Get Out’ of your head.

After their last single release ‘I Want Your Girl’ which was produced and co-written by Billen Ted (currently storming the global charts with their ‘Wellerman’ remix), the band took a short hiatus to knuckle down and experiment with a new sound. Already picked as ‘Best Song in the World’ by BBC ATL weeks before release (and plays on WLRFM, Dundalk & Cool Fm), there’s no doubt that ‘Get Out’ is perfect for the National Airwaves. 

You can catch the band on Tik Tok @Lavengro as they entertain and rapidly grow their following with their blend of hilarious content & music.  

A few of Lavengro’s famous pals have also took part in their new music video for ‘Get Out’.

Jim McHugh’s new single ‘Hey Jimbo’, out now, is the second offering from his forthcoming third album ‘Pretending To Wake Up’ due May 28th. Another rocking song with big drums and an even bigger guitar riff, McHugh is continuing to whet the appetite for the full album’s release. 

Monaghan native McHugh says of his latest single: “‘Hey Jimbo’ center’s around the history of past relationships, not all directly my own but we all know these stories of unrequited love. The title takes its name from my nickname ‘Jimbo’ and it’s, as you will hear from the song, often hollered out as ‘Hey Jimboooooo’. Similar to my previous single ‘Dave’ the song evolves around the opening guitar riff and the band powerfully supports the flow of energy throughout it.” 

‘Hey Jimbo’ was recorded, produced and mixed by Alex Borwick (Parliament Funkadelic, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Niamh Regan, Sput Searight, Lankum) at Black Mountain Studios, Jenkinstown and Wynne Wynne Studio, Dundalk. It was mastered by Fergal Davis (Sinéad O’Connor/Muse) and features Paul McCabe on bass, Butch McNeill on drums and Alex Borwick on trombone.

With two albums already under his belt, McHugh has garnered an impressive list of supporters with multiple singles added to the RTE 1 Recommends list and being chosen as the ‘LMFM All Out Local Song Choice’ as well as Roddie Cleere’s ‘Song of the Week’. 

His third album ‘Pretending To Wake Up’ is due May 28th and is sure to cement McHugh as Ireland’s leading folk rock artist as his ability to write a hook of a riff combined with a catchy chorus surpasses all! 

Pre order the album now here https://jimmchughmusic.com/

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No less a musical giant than the legendary Pete St John has written a song called ‘Tara Tansey (Ram Dee Da)’ and called upon Cork performer Roy Buckley to sing it, the single will be released on all platforms this Friday, April 2nd, 2021.

What’s more, the man who penned all time classics ‘The Fields Of Athenry’, ‘Dublin In The Rare Old Times’, and many others, personally requested that Buckley would perform the song.

They first met in 2015, when Roy Buckley attended a special showcase gig dedicated to Pete St John’s work in Dublin, not long afterwards, he asked Roy to perform ‘Tara Tansey’.

Roy’s last two releases, ‘Devil Rose’ & ‘Dark Rosaleen’ both went to No.1, while ‘The Old Man On Patrick’s Street’ went before GRAMMY Award judges in two categories.

On being asked by one of the all-time greats to sing his song, Roy Buckley says, “that’s an incredible thrill. I’ve admired the work of Pete St. John since I got my first guitar as a small boy.”

Pete St John himself has spoken of Roy Buckley as “a Master Balladeer” predicting that when the single is released this Easter it will be an instant winner with Irish audiences the world over.

So, who was Tara Tansey?

Pete explains the backstory: “She was a young, beautiful, red haired girl, part of the insurgent garrison during the 1916 Easter Rising. She worked with the medics to help the wounded.”

“As the story goes, when Pádraig Pearse stepped out to read the Proclamation, the sound of a fiddle could be heard coming from inside the GPO.” The fiddle player was Tara Tansey!

And what of “Ram Dee Da”?

Well, Roy Buckley explains, “that comes from Pete’s deep love of the Irish language. It stands for “Rud Álainn Macánta – Draíocht Eolas Éireann – Dóchas Arís.”

Translated to English it means “Something beautiful and honest – The magic intellect of Ireland – Hope again”.

Roy Buckley is a singer, songwriter, musician, entertainer & recording artist from Cork City, Ireland. 

Since childhood he has “collected” Irish music & song, and in 2012 established the hugely successful “Song Collector Sessions” concert series, with fifty concerts under his belt in that time.

Guests at the concerts have included Aslan’s Christy Dignam, Bagatelle’s Liam Reilly, Stocktons Wing’s Mike Hanrahan and international song writing legend Phil Coulter to name a few.

The concerts also led to a podcast, interviews with leading lights in Irish music, the “Song Collector Podcast” is available on all platforms.

Internationally, Roy Buckley spends several months of the year touring and performing at festivals and events all over the world. He looks forward to touring again when the Covid-19 pandemic is at an end.

‘Tara Tansey (Ram Dee Da)’ was recorded with the late Lawrence White at Wood Street studio in Cork, and finished at Kitten Lane studios in Cork, under the watchful eye of Aidan O’ Mahony and Keith Clancy.

A host of top class musicians contributed, and the finished track was mastered by GRAMMY Award winner Adam Ayan in the USA. It is scheduled for release on all platforms on Friday, April 2nd, 2021.

Singer-songwriter J Smith is set to release ‘Blood Orange’ on 9 April, the next single from his upcoming debut album.

“We came to see a blood orange moon, and shiver up in a tent,” sets the mood for the telling of a couple’s second chance to re-ignite their passion in love. Seizing his own second chance, J Smith rekindled his passion for songwriting after the break-up of his former band.

Smith recorded the bones of ‘Blood Orange’ in August 2019 and refined it over time, adding unexpected elements like the sound of metal pipes dragging across a concrete floor. The song has an optimistic rhythm, with persistent guitar, and a mix of acoustic and electronic elements. Sonically, there are influences from Japanese Breakfast, sir Was, Radiohead, and Jeff Buckley.

Lending an ethereal vocal counterpoint to the chorus, Irish neo-soul singer Nnic (Naoise Fitzgerald) joins J Smith once again on ‘Blood Orange’ as she had for ‘I’m Sorry’, Smith’s first single released last month to positive reviews.

James Smith formed Gypsies on the Autobahn at 16 and the band released two albums with Universal Music Ireland, ‘Born Brief’ in 2017 and ‘Suspended’ in 2019. The band saw success supporting Little Green Cars, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bleeding Heart Pigeons, selling out Whelan’s, playing at Vicar St., Other Voices, and touring the festival circuits. After 14 years, the band amicably parted ways in early 2020.

Smith’s independence spurred him to produce a burst of dance-inspired remixes under the name YURN for Soda Blonde, ZASKA, Danny G & The Major 7ths with Tolü Makay, Nnic, Gareth Quinn Redmond, and more.

J Smith’s debut album titled “(…) And you chose not to laugh” is set for release on 28 May. ‘Blood Orange’ is out on 9 April on all streaming platforms and is available to pre-save now.

Saint Sister’s second album ‘Where I Should End’ will be released on June 25^th via FUGA. Their brand-new single, ‘Karaoke Song’, and accompanying video directed by Algorithm Productions is out now.

Building on the stunning, folk-driven harmonies that formed their debut album, new single ‘Karaoke Song’ showcases an elevated sound for Saint Sister – combining their signature ethereal vocals with a fresh, pop-driven melody. 

The official video, filmed in Algorithm’s studios on Capel Street in Dublin, playfully riffs on the karaoke theme, with visuals spanning ‘80s rocker chic to a homage to the golden MTV age of the ‘90s. Directors Kev Freeney and Janna Kempermann said the following of the collaboration, “We were excited to peruse a new visual language for the band that was both complimentary while giving a new visual perspective for their new single. Inspired by the songs’ theme the video is a nostalgic expression of the moments we miss and look forward to sharing again with our friends and family.”

Saint Sister’s new record ‘Where I Should End’ is an incredibly hands-on project, with every track written, arranged and produced by the band – seeing Morgana and Gemma confidently evolving into their distinct roles as songwriter and producer. The duo are resolutely independent and decided they would self-release their sophomore album after returning to Dublin from their prematurely cancelled US tour with Keane, sadly cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘Where I Should End’ was recorded at The Meadow Studio, Co. Wicklow with Rian Trench and mixed in Berlin with Benedikt MacIsaac. Layering synths and drum machines with harp, strings and piano, the record opens new sonic avenues for Saint Sister, while showcasing their most honest song-writing to date. New single ‘Karaoke Song’ follows tracks ‘Dynamite’ and ‘The Place That I Work’ featuring Lisa Hannigan, both released last year. 

Tracklist 1. My Brilliant Friend  2. Dynamite  3. Karaoke Song  4. The Place That I Work (feat. Lisa Hannigan)  5. Irish Hour  6. Date Night  7. Oh My God Oh Canada  8. Manchester Air  9. House 9  10. Any Dreams?

The distinctive suits worn by Gemma and Morgan were specially commissioned from rising fashion designer Aideen Gaynor, who took inspiration from a collection of work housed in the National Gallery by Susan and Elizabeth Yeats, pioneers of the Irish Arts and Crafts movement at the turn of the century and sisters of renowned Irish poet W.B, and painter Jack B Yeats.

The album follows their 2018 debut ‘Shape of Silence’, which received critical acclaim and nominations for both Album of The Year at the 2018 RTE Choice Music Prize and the Northern Irish Music Prize. Following its release, Saint Sister have toured extensively through Europe and the US, with sell-out shows at venues including London’s Omeara and Dublin’s Pepper Canister. The band also have supported the likes of Hozier, Keane, and Lisa Hannigan on their international tours. Hailing from the north of Ireland, songwriter Morgana MacIntyre and producer Gemma Doherty met in Dublin in 2014, before going on to release their debut EP ‘Madrid’ the following year.

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Out today 26^th March, the debut album from a new project Kʒːlu – a solo project of musician and composer Patrick Hatchett – on vinyl and digital.

In Hatchett’s words, this record, “brings together the sonic flavours, human influences and cultural experiences gathered over my many musical years. Reflective tales from late night afrobeat jams to early Sunday Gospel duties. Exhaustive travel and touring with legendary Jamaican artists, to intimate jazz gigs in a cosy South London pub. The exquisite feeling of solitude and reflection in nature against the energy and kinship of a frenetic dance floor with a stacked sound system… A globally inspired search for a connection and commonality; wild nights dancing, the wild characters amongst us, the innate wildness of my surroundings.”

The project is phonetically named after the curlew, his favourite bird to be seen around the West Cork area where he now lives, having moved from London in recent years.

The record includes collaborations with UK Bengali musician Idris Rahman on flute (Soothsayers, Anoushka Shankar, Wildflower, Zoe Rahman); and Irish musicians Seán Mac Erlaine on Bass Clarinet; Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh (The Gloaming, Underground Resistance) and Justin Grounds on Violin (The Vespertine Quintet, Fir Beag).

Buy/Stream ‘K3:LU’ (Curlew) now via:

Bandcamp: https://k3lu.bandcamp.com/album/k-lu
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1nKk5J0ujGcXW8XCmAEDxf?si=_5B8fB0-QLCTEaaksosISw

Twitter @hatchettmusic
Instagram @k3lumusic

Three singles in and twin pop duo ROOUE are back with their brand new release, ‘Bad Blood’ which is out on all streaming services today, Friday, March 26^th 2021. Twins Ro & Lo wrote the song and it was produced by Diffusion Lab.

‘Bad Blood’ takes ROOUE on a change of pace but still true to their connection with music and each other with the use of signature blended harmonies and diverse counter melodies.

ROOUE’s last single ‘Flavour’ smashed into the RadioMonitor Top 100, a big achievement for an independent release and proves, the girls are on the road to the top!

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