Month: April 2020

From Dublin to Dusseldorf, Paris to Perth, the critical acclaim for the newly released debut album for the young man from Dundalk has been worldwide. 

Here are just a few glowing comments…

“A remarkable talent. Takes the baton from Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, early Bruce Springsteen and Mike Scott, and runs with it. Thrilling.”
– Dan Cairns, Sunday Times Culture (UK)

“Keenan’s debut is so devastatingly good, that it’s downright scary to imagine his growth since he’s only just started. Even now It takes some bravery just to listen to his intense tales.”
– Jim Hynes, Glide magazine (USA)

“A really remarkable new record.”– Robin Hilton, NPR All Songs Considered (US)

“An unbreakable stretch of ambition”– 4 stars album review,
Tony Clayton-Lea, The Irish Times 

“Reach and grasp are equal. The first great record of the year.”
Pat Carty – Hot Press (IE)

“Debut albums as fine as this are a genuine rarity.”
Trevor Leeden, Rhythms magazine, Australia.

“an astonishing debut by an astonishing narrator.”
– Ralf Dorschel, NDR, Germany.

“It is by marrying texts of great poetry with an almost punk energy that the young David Keenan released an exceptional folk album.” Jessica Saval, Rolling Stone France

Global affairs more important than music have temporarily prevented David Keenan from spreading his wings and taking his tunes and tales abroad. While he works away at new possibilities in his County Louth cubby hole, here – in the shape of a new radio edit of the epic ballad ‘Evidence Of Living’ – is a reminder of the breadth and depth of his remarkable talents.

Ciarán Moran’s willingness to write songs, that according to Christy Moore “very few will write or sing about,” has allowed him to explore the darker side of society’s issues with references to substance abuse, domestic violence and homelessness. His latest release, ‘Falling Down’, encompasses a number of issues affecting those that start off at a disadvantage. It tells a story of the loss of a role model experienced by the narrator and an environment that was filled with alcohol and drugs, a sad reflection of what is so prolific in today’s society.

Born and raised in Dublin’s North Inner City, Moran is narrating the city’s sound through his music. Revealing its innate beauty and tenacity of its people, whilst continuing to pay homage to its imperfections and struggles. The line “we could be heroes, or we could be more” is repeated in the chorus, inspiring others to overcome barriers, regardless of how many times they keep falling down. Moran recalls how he first wrote the song, “on a long car journey home from a gig with Aslan,” when he was inspired by a, “boy who gives everything his best shot, but life always drags him back.”

Though a young man, Moran has already proven himself a veteran of his craft.  His early development was guided by the creative minds of Christy Moore, Roddy Doyle and Colm Querney, who took an interest in Moran’s previously untapped potential. By the age of 23, Ciaran has performed on sold-out tours of Ireland, supporting giants such as Aslan, Damien Dempsey and Brian Kennedy. His talents have ushered crowds into the Olympia Theatre, Vicar Street and countless other venues around the country.

Moran belongs to a celebrated lineage of Irish artists; drawing inspiration from the likes of Damien Dempsey, Glen Hansard and a whole host of honest Irish troubadours. Moran displays all of the endearing authenticity of these bards, but presents a more modern iteration of their age-old formulae.

In 2017, Moran released ‘Almost Anyone’ a song with a ballad-like melody and narrative that also incorporated electronic drum tracks, alluding to his time spent as a hip hop artist in his youth. His critically acclaimed song, ‘Mother’, was released in 2018 and stripped away the ensemble sound in favour of delicate harmonies and soft synth strings, enabling a crushingly dark narrative to be delivered with pinpoint precision. ‘Follow Your Soul’ was released later that year, balancing the tone of ‘Mother’ with one of hope, optimism and positivity. He has since gone on to release his first EP, ‘& I Haven’t Even Started Yet’ in 2019, where he performed his songs to a sold out show in The Underground venue. 

The song ‘Falling Down’ is out on all major streaming platforms now.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CiaranMoranMusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaranmoranmusic/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/CiaranMoranIRE
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPz_NyMkmRxy-p8iVek6UQ/videos
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4CZuP5bPJcqCkpuu5zKGbR

Following the release of their debut single ‘Coincréit Fhuar’ in January, Irish-language collective Deoraí have released a video for their newest single .

Deoraí, fronted by writer, producer, and singer Jack Delaney, are an independent project combining contemporary modern music and the Irish language to create something new and exciting. “I feel that although there are some Irish language acts and music,” Jack notes, “there is only a small amount of Irish language music which is breaking creative ground.”

Delaney, a fluent Irish speaker, only began learning the language at the age of 26 after attending school in London. Returning to Ireland, he studied twenty minutes a day, five days a week until he felt confident enough to begin to speak it after a year. Twelve months later he was comfortable and fluent.

The group’s new song, ‘Sceimhlitheoir’, tells the story of a woman who’s been abused in the past, but who now, once free, still feels internal turmoil surrounding her abuse and her abuser. The video, which is directed, produced and written by Delaney,  represents the struggle taking place in the mind of the abused as she feels constantly on the edge and she tries to escape her past and her psychopathic, narcissist abuser who is chasing her through the streets of Dublin.

“Music videos are really important and will be more important going forward,” Delaney admits of Deoraí. “The videos are important because they tell the story of the songs. There are no love songs in the project so many of them have very specific topics and the videos make the scope of the storytelling much larger.”

Deoraí have a busy year ahead, with eleven songs set to be released over the coming months featuring a host of Irish artists, many of which will be accompanied by music videos. With work still to be done, Deoraí are displaying a new innovative way for artists across Ireland to incorporate the Irish language into their music, adding to the growing oeuvre

The song ‘Sceimhlitheoir’ was released on all major streaming platforms on Monday, 9th of March.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1kz9Va300AG4IT0McCYflQ?si=2P9g8t02S6S0z-c2Zw9AQQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkAjftkcHLtEKw4FiriIZSQ
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/andeorai
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ceoldeorai
Instagram: https://www.instragram.com/andeorai/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andeorai/

A new initiative to help promote community support within the Irish music industry and beyond kicked off last week as Mick Flannery, in partnership with PlayIrish, present ‘Mini Gigs at Mick’s’.

‘Mini Gigs at Mick’s’ is a series of online concerts, curated by the award-winning double platinum selling artist Mick Flannery. Series 1 featured musicians across the world who have supported him in live shows over the past year: Emma Langford (Limerick, Ire), Jeffrey Martin (USA), Rachel Sermanni (Scotland), Mo Kenney (Canada), and Niamh Regan (Galway, Ire) – all of these shows are available to watch back via Mick’s Facebook and Instagram.

Following the success of the first run of acts, the second series begins this weekend. Mick Flannery himself will perform a set on Saturday 4th April, at 7pm.

Mick commented: “I will be awkwardly interacting with the virtual world on Saturday evening. Singing songs to the people behind the mirror. I’m scared.”

Here is the full line-up for series II:

Saturday April 4^th – Mick Flannery
Sunday April 5th – Steve Poltz (USA)
Tuesday April 7th – Jenn Grant (CAN)
Thursday April 9th – Niall Connolly (IRE)
Saturday April 11th – Casey Black (USA)
Monday April 13th – John Blek (IRE)

Follow Mick Flannery on Facebook and Instagram to see ‘Mini Gigs at Mick’s’.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mick.flannery.musician
Instagram: @mickflannerymusic

Úna Keane has just shared a new work, :: PIANO SQUARED :: A piece for Piano and Live Electronics (Looped, layered Piano). Recorded Live at the Pepper Canister Church in Dublin on March 5th 2020 by Adam Kilbey Johnston. 

The speed-corrected archive film footage comes courtesy of Guy Jones and depicts Victorian / Edwardian workers (as well as some curious kids) caught on film in 1901. “I really enjoyed scoring the music to this footage : There’s something kinda surreal about being stared at by our early 20th Century counterparts while they’re going about their busy lives, and we’re in Isolation mode at home.“

Reckless Records and Dublin Vinyl are proud to present a brand new album from R.S.A.G. The album, entitled ‘Chroma’ is set to be released on Friday May 29. 

You can support R.S.A.G. by pre-ordering the exclusive, limited edition, red vinyl HERE 

A storm of sound and an eruption of percussion mixed with hypnotic music and unique visuals! Since it’s conception in 2007, musical juggernaut ‘Rarely Seen Above Ground’ has taken his tour de force: one man show of sound, visuals and incendiary rhythm, to captured audiences around the world. Known to his friends as Jeremy Hickey, R.S.A.G. has gained a reputation not only as one of Europe’s most impressive drummers but as a celebrated producer and a talented showman.

“‘Chroma’ started as a musical diary of sorts, an interior perspective of my life while recording from my home studio in Kilkenny. It is full of my daily challenges and experiences. I soon realised that these mood pieces, these colours, were part of a larger picture that might combine to form an album and so it progressed, regressed, changed and through frustration even nearly came to a grinding halt at one point. Each song reflects these different experiences, struggles and emotions, the realities of pursuing a creative goal whilst also trying to keep the wolf from the door. Chroma’s evolution has inevitably been a long one. I’ve always been fortunate to have a great family and friends, the perfect sounding boards for my ideas.  I am proud that my co-writer Jamie Walsh and I were able to merge our musical and lyrical ideas to produce songs of intensity and emotion.” – Jeremy Hickey

Since the early days when he picked up a Choice Music Prize nomination, he has pressed two celebrated LP’s, secured billings on the most enviable festivals in both Europe and America and made multiple international TV appearances along the way. As well as all that Hickey’s undeniable talent behind a kit has led to some very impressive collaborations at the request of Justice’s, Grammy Award winning Xavier de Rosnay and Parisian electronic outfit Bot’Ox.

In his onstage vocal and drum performances, R.S.A.G. is set apart from his contemporaries. Combining frenzy with serenity, this human fuelled energy also forms the core of his records.

Jeremy Hickey’s forthcoming album ‘Chroma’ is his best collection to date. Working closely with long time co-writer and friend Jamie Walsh, who also painted two pieces for the front and back cover of the album. The idea was to create an abstract view of his studio, the front representing day and the back representing night.

Moylan is back with her new single, ‘It’s Alright’.  A brave and real piece, it explores the human quest for meaning and self-discovery in the midst of a pause on the railway tracks of life. Her inner knowing meets her weary, grasping self, and with kind insistence, holds up a mirror of self-examination. The track offers the comforting solace of surrender to the present moment, a relinquishing of the pressure of ‘putting on a show’, and the opportunity to reconnect with her essence. There is no destination, you are what you are searching for, ‘you’re gonna be who you are’. Long after listening you are left with the repetitive lyrics, like a comforting mantra: “It’s alright. It’s alright. It’s alright”. In these strange days, I say how bad is that?

Moylan’s breathy and intricate vocals, in alternatively sweet and harsh tones, lift us up from solitary forlornness to ethereal heavenly heights and deliver us back down to a somewhat changed solitariness of oneness. This new release reflects her evolving style, a magic merger of lilting Irish and urban Berlin.

Moylan is a Berlin-based singer songwriter from Waterford, Ireland. In June 2019, she released her Debut EP- ‘For The Birds’. Moylan’s debut EP is a work of strength and variety and has attracted attention from the likes of Remy, Nialler9, TLMT, and Hot Press Magazine. She has also received great support and air play from radio stations such as WLR FM, Spin FM, RTÉ Pulse, Stradbane Radio and KCLR FM where she was a featured artist in July 2019.In November 2018 Moylan performed on RTÉ Radio1 with Miriam O’ Callaghan.

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 in Ireland was a great success which included venues in Waterford, Limerick, Galway and Dublin. In the coming months Moylan intends to focus on experimenting with and fine tuning her sound as well as taking her music further afield in Germany and Europe.

‘It’s Alright’ was recorded and mixed by Adam Redmond of Flaked Studios. It was mastered by Fergal Davis.