Month: May 2019

Irish pop artist LAOISE shares emotive new video for the acoustic version of “I Mean…”

Stripped back to it’s original composition, this version shines the spotlight on the heartbreak and vulnerability of the lyrics. Classic piano, and soft acoustic guitar leave room for LAOISE’s raw vocals to take centre stage.

Speaking about making the song and video, LAOISE says,

“When I released the ‘Mad EP’ earlier this year, there was a wave of reaction to the song ‘I Mean’, from my online audience. A lot of those people discovered me through the acoustic version of my song ‘Again’ on Spotify and really wanted to hear an acoustic version of ‘I Mean…’. The song itself holds a special place for me, and for Seán Behan & Richey McCourt- my co-writers and co-producers on the EP. We all knew we had struck upon something very honest, and emotive with this one.

I recorded the vocals for this version in my bedroom, and really allowed myself to let go – and yes, I cried and cried in doing so – I have pictures to prove it! But it’s a song and a lyric that deserves an open delivery- and I hope listeners can let themselves get lost in it for a few moments.”

Debuting in it’s original form on LAOISE’s current EP ‘Mad’, ‘I Mean…’ has become a fan favourite and the acoustic version follows in the footsteps of predecessor ‘Again’ (Acoustic), which now sits at over 1.6 million streams. The success of that version of the song helped introduce the 22-year-old songwriter from Galway to a wave of new listeners across the globe.

Speaking on the video, LAOISE says, “We had a specific aesthetic with the EP artwork, which evoked quite a striking, high-school sporty feel, but executed through a real pop music lens. So I had an idea with this video to use a contemporary school gym for a live performance piece. We worked with an Irish production team, MOOSE, who really understood the vision for the piece.

It was shot in one day, and for my solo shots, the school we shot in, allowed us access to their sensory room. It was a very secure environment for me to allow that level of emotion and vulnerability to come through on camera, which made the entire sequence feel very personal. ”

LAOISE (pronounced Lee-sha) has built a growing listenership for her dreamy, ambitious and frank pop songs about relationships and heartbreak, often with darker, moodier, more introspective lyrics and juxtaposed with upbeat electro and synth production. LAOISE records, produces and releases her music completely independently. She’s become known for presenting her own brand of bold, glittering, gutsy electro-pop – paving the way for Irish-born pop music.

Taking her cues from the silky production of acts like Tove Styrke, Troye Sivan and MØ, LAOISE incorporates elements of synth, indie and alternative pop into her music. She is also is deeply inspired by household names like Kate Bush and rising Irish talent Dermot Kennedy, as well as the different musical personas of Taylor Swift.

LAOISE’s high voltage and feel-good live show will showcase her new music at a number of 2019 festivals including Lollapalooza Berlin, Body & Soul (Main Stage), Primavera Pro, Kaleidoscope and Indiependence – with more to be announced.

www.iamlaoise.com
www.facebook.com/laoisemusic
www.instagram.com/laoisemusic
www.twitter.com/laoisemusic

Dublin’s INHALER are charting a steady rise towards the top, firmly cementing their name as one of 2019’s most anticipated new bands. 

The foursome follow a standout performance at this year’s The Great Escape with their latest offerings ‘My Honest Face’ and ‘There’s No Other Place’.

Comprising of Robert Keating on bass, Ryan McMahon on drums, Josh Jenkinson on lead and Elijah Hewson on vocals and rhythm, INHALER have already gained support from Dan Hegarty at 2FM, Louise Duffy at Today FM, Roddie Cleere at KCLR, BBC Radio 1, Radio X and BBC Radio 6 Music as well as earning a coveted placement in the New Music Friday US playlist with 2019’s first offering ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ and playlists across the globe.

INHALER are currently on a UK tour with Stockport’s rising stars Fuzzy Sun, before joining Blossoms & Courteeners on their festival warm up dates this summer. 

In between these dates, you can catch INHALER at festivals across the UK and Ireland including Neighbourhood Weekender, TRNSMT, Truck Festival and Boardmasters. They have also been added to the bill at Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ show at Dublin’s Malahide Castle.

INHALER – 2019 Live Irish Dates

JUNE

Sun 16^th –Malahide Castle, Dublin (with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds)
Mon 17^th – Belfast, Limelight (with DMAs)
Sat 22^nd – Bundoran, Sea Sessions

AUGUST 
Sun 4^th – Cork, Indiependence Festival

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Dublin four-piece The Riptide Movement have released their eagerly anticipated new single ‘I’ll Be There’ today the 17 May 2019 across all streaming platforms and digital formats. The track is an uplifting, energising, guitar driven anthem with a massive chorus and is without doubt a return to form for the band. Co-produced in Attica Studios with the legendary Tommy McLoughlin (Villagers, SOAK) ‘I’ll Be There’ could possibly be their best offering to date.

With four studio albums to their name – most notably The RTÉ Choice Music Prize nominated, Gold selling, Number 1 Album ‘Getting Through’ – The Riptide Movement are renowned for their phenomenal live shows and soaring, guitar driven, energetic tracks. Having toured extensively throughout 2018 on the back of critically-acclaimed releases ‘All Works Out, Elephant in the Room and ‘Changeling’, a busy summer of festival appearances awaits.

‘I’ll Be There’ the brand new single from The Riptide Movement, is out now on all streaming platforms and digital formats.

https://riptidemovement.com
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A cliché has it that you have to beware of the quiet ones, because most of the time their voices speak sharper and with more range than the loudmouths. Every cliché, however, has a grain of truth in it, and so it’s fair to say that while County Cork singer-songwriter Mick Flannery is outwardly reserved, his songs are fluent in expressing layered aspects of the human condition, its flaws, triumphs, and general uncertainty, particularly evident in his new single out today (Friday 17th May), ‘Come Find Me’.   

‘Come Find Me’, which will appear as track 3 on the upcoming album, references emotional search and rescue. “The song is basically about someone who would like to find a partner but doesn’t quite know where to start. It looks at trying to stay positive about life, even in a city, where crowds of people can make someone feel even more alone,” explains Flannery.  

The song is co-written with ESCQ, a songwriting and production duo based in Los Angeles, CA, where Mick recorded the track. He recounts: “When I arrived they already had a guitar riff ready for a verse to go on. I sang what they reckoned sounded like traditional Irish melody over the top, which they liked, so we went from there. The guys don’t have the same timidness when it comes to choruses being choruses, so they pushed this song to be as catchy as they could. Someday I’ll release the version we did, it’s much poppier than what I eventually recorded myself.”

An award-winning, double-platinum selling artist, Mick Flannery is on the brink of releasing not only his self-titled sixth album, but also overseeing the worldwide premiere of the stage musical, Evening Train (so named after his 2007 debut album). He began to write songs as a teenager in his home of Blarney, County Cork. As musical influences from albums by the likes of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Tom Waits seeped into his creative DNA, Mick absorbed, learned and honed the craft that would send him on his way into the world.

This self-titled release will be Mick’s sixth album – that is a sizeable back catalogue, a genuine body of work. As a mature songwriter, he reasons, he’s trying to hold on to what is essential to him, and resigning himself to the fact that the naïve, passionate, 20-something ‘Mick Flannery’ is gone. What comes next, he contends, is much more interesting and experienced. “You have a larger worldview and are more learned, each of which combine to create something new.”

Mick Flannery’s self-titled album is set for release on Friday 5^th July 2019. The stage musical, Evening Train, premieres at The Everyman Theatre, Cork, 13^th – 23^rd June, 2019, as part of Cork Midsummer Festival. (Book at: www.everymancork.com/2019/06/evening-train/)

‘Come Find Me’ is out on all digital platforms now. Buy/listen to ‘Come Find Me’ here: http://smarturl.it/tlolqz

For tour dates, please see below or head to www.mickflannery.com  

May 17 – Live at St Luke’s, Cork City – SOLD OUT
May 18 – Live at St Luke’s, Cork City – SOLD OUT
May 19 – Live at St Luke’s, Cork City – SOLD OUT
May 24 – Omeara, London, UK | Tickets here
July 19 – Dolans, Limerick | Tickets here
July 20- Galway Arts Festival, Galway
July 21 – Claremorris Folk Festival, Mayo

More dates to be announced soon.

Berlin based, Irish native singer/songwriter and producer delush presents the second single from his upcoming 2020 debut album featuring the stand-out Limerick rapper Strange Boy, out now on all digital platforms.

The two wordsmiths, who first bonded over a mutual fascination for mythology, have teamed up to record a relentless track that convinces with its blend of delush’s strong but gentle vocal and Strange Boy’s spit-fire philosophy.

delush first started writing and recording ‘It’s Alright’ in his Berlin studio and flew back to Ireland to meet with the then 18-year-old rapper who he was convinced would be the perfect addition for the track. He picked Strange Boy up and drove to the studio. ‘It’s Alright’ was recorded within two hours of their first ever encounter. The track began an ongoing collaboration between the pair.

‘It’s Alright’ talks of taking ownership of your own life and your own choices in order to be free and of overcoming the fear of failure by dropping standards in both music and life, or as Strange Boy explains: “It’s about dropping standards that drain the enjoyment out of something that’s supposed to fulfil you. If you’re willing to just create without listening to that voice in your head always telling you that you can do better, things become more playful and fun which is the point of doing something you love. Be content with what you build so long as you did everything in your power to build it. And don’t take yourself too seriously, because you can talk all that slick shit, until you take off your paddy cap only for a scumbag pigeon to take a massive shit on your head!”

The new single is out now, Thursday 16^th May 2019, along with an inspired video/animation hybrid directed by delush, and animated by Irish visual artist Brown Sauce. Listen on all digital platforms here: https://awal.lnk.to/ItsAlright.

Delush has upcoming live dates at:

Sham’s Speakeasy Sessions, Allenwood, in aid of Pieta House | June 1^st 2019
Kenny’s, Lahinch | June 4^th 2019
Bello Bar with October Fires and Strange Boy | June 7^th Tickets via Eventbrite HERE
Privatclub, Berlin | June 13^th | Tickets HERE

Follow delush on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2FfgcJq
Apple: https://apple.co/2Uz4G0V
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/delushlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delushlife/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/delushlife/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/delushlife

Silverbacks return with their new single ‘Pink Tide’, released on Thursday 16th May. Continuing their fruitful studio partnership with Girl Band’s Daniel Fox, with ‘Pink Tide’ they lay waste to easy pigeonholing and strike out on their own, furrowing a path laced with deadpan humour and some sick twin lead guitar lines. The band are performing in London tonight, May 16th, at the Bermondsey Social Club with support from GURU and Super Paradise.

Musically, it was described by Stereogum as having “a cruising, catchy verse, and in a way it sets you up for the surprise of the chorus, a sardonic post-punk burst disrupting the seemingly laidback music that surrounded it.“.

Silverbacks’ Daniel O’Kelly says the origins of the track came from “another demo, poorly named ‘Mark E. Smith Eats His Purple Crayon’. In the end we realised that the riff deserved better, and we started writing what eventually became Pink Tide.”.L

While no less frenetic than their previous barnburners ‘Dunkirk’ and ‘Just In The Band’, ‘Pink Tide’ is an altogether more considered affair. Over a steady chug, vocalist Daniel O’Kelly doles out tales of a slow unravelling of fashionable and futile revolutions in a land drowning in pomp and circumstance. In keeping with the spirit of the band, interlocking guitars hook the audience in for the chorus. “Make way for the guards!” he shouts, in mock reverence for time honoured traditions, followed immediately with a derisive “They’re nothing to me”. The spark that threatens to ignite throughout the duration of tune finally catches fire as Peadar Kearney and Kilian O’Kelly’s guitars lock horns over a kinetic backbeat to drive the song home.

After garnering support from the likes of NME, Paste, BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq and more for their previous output and recently completing sessions for their debut album, the stage is set for Silverbacks to make their break out of their homeland and bring their inimitable brand of sinewy, groove flecked rock ‘n’ roll further afield.

Thurs May 16 – Take Apart Your Head, Bermondsey Social Club, London, UK.
Sun Jun 23 – Sea Sessions, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
Fri Jul 19 – Sun Jul 21 – Knockanstockan, Blessington Lakes, Co. Wicklow

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Sounds from a Safe Harbour (SFSH) returns for its third incarnation, taking place in venues across Cork city, from Thursday 12^th to Sunday 15^th September.

Curated by Bryce and Aaron Dessner of The National, director of 37d03d Mary Hickson, Cillian Murphy and Enda Walsh, the festival will be an exciting weekend of music, dance, visual art, and conversation, with lots of ticketed and free events to explore. As always, collaboration and shared experiences are at the heart of this biennial festival, and the use of intimate venues throughout the city will create immersive experiences for audiences to enjoy.

The first announcement leads with some of the headline shows, taking place in Cork Opera House:

Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice takes to the stage on Friday 13^th September for a spectacular show featuring special guests, including Voice Works choir led by Gemma Sugrue.

Visiting Cork for the very first time on Saturday 14^th September is Canadian pop singer-songwriter and guitarist, Feist, with a special intimate performance, in the last leg of her ‘Pleasure’ album tour.

The festival finale at Cork Opera House on Sunday 15^th September will be LHASA, a live project originally conceived at 37d03d festival, Berlin, August 2018. The captivating melodies of Mexican-American musician Lhasa de Sela are brought back to the stage in a heartfelt tribute from musician fans, friends, and collaborators.

When Lhasa passed away on New Year’s Day 2010 in Montreal, it was said that it started to snow and didn’t stop for four days. Aged just 37, Lhasa had found international admiration over three albums mixing country with gospel; Mexican with Gypsy folk; and drawing on her international roots singing lyrics in English, French and Spanish.

The artists coming together to celebrate the life of Lhasa in this concert are Andrew Barr (The Barr Brothers), Bryce Dessner (The National), Clarice Jensen, Dustin O’Halloran, Emma Broughton, Joel Shearer, Leslie Feist (Feist), Melissa Laveaux, Pauline DeLassus (Mina Tindle), and Todd Dahlhoff. Following the Cork performance, SFSH will take the show to the Barbican, London, on Tuesday 17th September.

(Watch Vincent Moon’s video of the Lhasa tribute performed in Saal 3, The Funkhaus, Berlin, during PEOPLE festival 2018 here.)

Tickets for the Cork Opera House shows will go on sale 10am Monday 27th May from www.corkoperahouse.com. Follow Sounds From a Safe Harbour on social media for further programme announcements over the coming weeks.

Director of Sounds From a Safe Harbour and 37d03d, Mary Hickson, commented: “Working with people like Aaron and Bryce Dessner, Cillian Murphy and Enda Walsh, is inspiring and I am so honoured to have them on board once again to create the SFSH19 programme. We are really excited to share the rest of the programme with you over the coming weeks. So much more to come!”

www.soundsfromasafeharbour.com
www.facebook.com/soundsfromasafeharbour/
www.twitter.com/safeharbourfest
www.instagram.com/soundsfromasafeharbour/

#SFSH19

LISTINGS:

Damien Rice + Special Guests at Sounds From a Safe Harbour
Cork Opera House, Cork City, IRE
10pm, Friday, 13th September 2019
Tickets €35 on sale 10am Monday 27th May 2019
Book at www.corkoperahouse.com / phone +353 (0) 21 4270 022

FEIST at Sounds From a Safe Harbour
Cork Opera House, Cork City, IRE
10pm, Saturday, 14th September 2019
Tickets €35 on sale 10am Monday 27th May 2019
Book at www.corkoperahouse.com / phone +353 (0) 21 4270 022

LHASA at Sounds From a Safe Harbour
Cork Opera House, Cork City, IRE
8pm, Sunday, 15th September 2019
Tickets €35 on sale 10am Monday 27th May 2019
Book at www.corkoperahouse.com / phone +353 (0) 21 4270 022

Sounds from a Safe Harbour presents LHASA
Barbican Hall, London, UK
8pm, Tuesday 17th September 2019
Tickets £20 – 30 plus booking fee, on sale to Barbican members on Thursday 16 May 2019, On general sale on Friday 17 May 2019
www.barbican.co.uk

In the wake of a busy and exciting 2018, which saw the release of their debut album ‘Shape of Silence’, a worldwide headline tour, opening shows for Hozier throughout Europe, and a Choice Music Prize nomination, Saint Sister – Gemma Doherty and Morgan MacIntyre – share their enthralling new single, ‘Is It Too Early? (Kilmainham)’. Central to the song’s subject matter are palpable strands of social anxieties and homesickness.

The melody, conceived in Kilmainham, and developed across a number of locations as far-reaching as Sydney and California, marks a progression in Saint Sister’s contemporary take on folk music coupled with a fresh approach in the duo’s song-writing. 

Inspired by the formative experience of their first worldwide tour, Doherty and MacIntyre were keen to practice a new way of working borne from a newfound understanding of each other as a result of the communal aspect of extended periods of travelling. A deepened closeness which has trickled into their song-writing.

In February of this year, Saint Sister brought the bones of the song to Diffusion Lab where they fleshed out the breadth of the arrangement by incorporating a myriad of R’n’B beats and various field recordings to compliment their gorgeous harmonies and synonymous harp flourishes.

Speaking about the collaboration, Gemma said, “We were very open going into Diffusion Lab, we went into the studio willing to go somewhere with the song that we possibly wouldn’t have gone had we worked on it by ourselves. They suggested sounds outside of our instincts. In the end, I think the song perfectly represents the best of both worlds and our respective musical sensibilities.” 

Expanding on the lyrical themes, Morgan explained, “The sentiment is twofold; on a very personal level it came from the homesickness and anxiety we were feeling on tour, all the while receiving messages from home wishing us well on our big adventure. From that, I had the first line, ‘Hope you’re having fun, all American’. The reality, however, was the two of us in the back of a van not getting to explore the different places we passed through, coping with the stress of a hectic new routine, and learning how to support ourselves as much as each other”. 

“I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was supposed to be having the time of my life but all I wanted to do was go home. On a broader level, it wasn’t a new feeling, it overlapped with the social anxiety I have at most parties. I know a lot of people share that feeling of being somewhere where you’re supposed to be having fun, surrounded by friends enjoying themselves, but you’re stuck inside your own head, wondering whether it’s ok to leave. If it’s too early to go home”.

“The final two lines come from a conversation I had with my mum, “Give my love to G, chased by my reply, ‘She takes care of me’.  While the song is rooted in our individual loneliness, it ends with a nod to the support we give each other and I think there’s real hope in that.”

Tour Dates

12^th Sept – Connollys of Leap, Cork
13^th Sept – Set Theatre, Kilkenny
14^th Sept – Dolan’s, Limerick
19^th Sept – Empire Music Hall, Belfast
20^th Sept – The Glassworks, Derry
26^th Sept – Crescent Concert Hall, Drogheda
27^th & 28^th Sept – Pepper Canister Church, Dublin
2^nd Oct – Omeara, London

http://www.saintsisterband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Saint.Sister.band?ref=hl

It’s an exciting time to be a State Lights fan!  Following their recent sold out Workman’s Club headline show with the release of a new track ‘Open Your Arms’.

Showcasing a sound ready made for big arenas reminiscent of a modern-day Coldplay mixed with the melodic beats of Kygo, ‘Open Your Arms’ represents the sound of a band primed for a big international breakthrough.

Last year the band released ‘Peace Will Come’, a single supported by 2FM, featured as the Homegrown Hero and Artist of the Week on Today FM, led to a performance on ‘The Late Late Show’ and tallied substantial airplay and support from KROQ Los Angeles, Radio X UK, and a host of other International radio stations. This led to a spot on the prestigious Electric Arena Stage at Electric Picnic where they shared the stage with The Kooks, St Vincent and Cigarettes after Sex and followed this up with support slots for The Fratellis and The Academic.

State Lights formed three years ago at BIMM College in Dublin, bonding over a shared interest in classic pop music and a common desire to write big stadium songs, the guys decided to work on a music project. Members include singer Shobsy, guitarist Joe Regan, drummer Paul Ridgeway and bassist Noel Perry.

The band recently announced a headline show for Whelan’s in Dublin on Oct 5th and will perform at a number of festivals over the summer including Oakfest (Donegal) on June 2nd and Indiependence (Cork) on August 3rd.

‘Open Your Arms’ is out May 27th.