Month: September 2020

Ailbhe Reddy releases ‘Looking Happy’, an infectious earworm of a song with an up-tempo backing that belies the poignant and astute songwriting underpinning it.

This track rounds out the trio of single releases from her upcoming debut album ‘Personal History’ which is out on Friday, 2nd October 2020.

“The song is all about watching someone’s life from afar post-break up,” says Ailbhe. “We should all know by now that what people present online is a shiny, happy version of events but sometimes it’s impossible to have that logic when you’re hurting.  Most people have probably ended up scrolling through the online profile of an ex and feeling like their life is full of fun parties and holidays, because that’s all people show of their life online.”

Produced by Erland Cooper and Tommy McLaughlin (producer and touring member of SOAK), the single is just one of many deeply intimate and absorbing tracks planned to feature on her upcoming debut album – set for release via Ailbhe’s own label, Friends of the Family. Three years in the making, her forthcoming album will find Ailbhe ruminating on the rites of passage in life as a young, emerging, queer artist from Dublin. 

http://www.ailbhereddy.com

As individual artists, the three members of the Dublin based jazz trio F-JoB (now identifying as Origin Story) have been at the forefront of many artistically and commercially successful projects in creative Irish music over the last 20 years.

Pianist Greg Felton has played in groups led by Ireland’s most renowned jazz musicians, Ronan Guilfoyle and the late Louis Stewart. He was also commissioned to compose and perform a body of work for the RTÉ Living Music Festival in 2007 with the group White Rocket.

Bassist Cormac O’Brien is one of the most in-demand bass players in Ireland, holding the bass chair with the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra as well as leading his own groups and performing regularly with Irish jazz and folk singer Mary Coughlan. He worked regularly with the late Louis Stewart, as well as international luminaries Bobby Watson, Kit Downes, Ernie Watts and Cleveland Watkiss.

Drummer Matthew Jacobson is active on both Irish and international creative music scenes, performing with and composing for several leading ensembles including ReDiviDeR, Insufficient Funs, Roamer, Anna Mieke, Ensemble Ériu, Naked Allies (USA), Aerie (DE/CH) and Ms Mercy (UK).

In 2016, after many years of collaboration and friendship, Greg Felton (piano), Cormac O’Brien (double-bass), and Matthew Jacobson (drums) began writing and performing as a trio. This was the birth of F-JoB.

Felton, Jacobson & OBrien quickly garnered national acclaim, with The Irish Times proclaiming them “one of the freshest voices in Irish jazz and a must-hear for anyone who wants to know where the piano trio is headed in the 21st century.”

In 2018 they recorded and mixed their debut album, featuring original compositions from all three members, at The Meadow in Co. Wicklow with Rian Trench (Lankum). The resulting record embodied the group’s founding in the jazz tradition, their interest in groove, their affection for free improvisation, as well as their propensity for provocative rhythms. Influences for this record included Ornette Coleman, Craig Taborn, and Deerhoof.

After much deliberation, a tactical name change has been decided upon. The similarities amongst the trio members’ social, geographical and musical upbringing, now gives rise to Origin Story.

Origin Story’s music is informed by the member’s shared experiences and results in provocative and interactive writing and playing, equally influenced by the origins of the jazz tradition and contemporary innovations.

Origin Story are delighted to announce that they will be independently releasing their second album, ‘Good Friday’, coming October 15^th 2020. Pre-order the album on digital or CD from Bandcamp: http://originstorymusic.bandcamp.com/album/good-friday

Enjoy the first taster from the album, the title track, performed live at Soundcasters Studio, Dublin.

www.originstorymusic.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OriginStoryMusic
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/y6d2c7fp

My Sweet Beloved merge the intensity of a fever dream with the kind of subtle, sultry pop smarts you thought had gone to Hell in a handcart. With brooding, atmospheric textures seemingly conjured out of the ether, the album is the cumulation of many months of artistic endeavour and some years of collective experience. The voice of Danielle Harrison Byrne (ex-Skindive) floats on music activated by musicians Derek Byrne (Autumn Owls), Anton Hegarty (Future Kings of Spain, A Lazarus Soul) and Dan Devlin (Moskowitz).

When Skindive split up some years ago, Danielle – who arrived in Dublin from Los Angeles specifically to join the band – knew her true voice hadn’t yet been revealed. When that band fell apart, she was, she remarks, “a singer with no songs,” yet the determination to match her creative vision with her vocal skills never wavered. Slowly, assuredly, one song followed another. The process was painstaking yet precise, the lessons learned invaluable The forthcoming album, says Danielle, is the result of a, “long journey that I am now able to fully appreciate.”

With producer/musician Les Keye, Danielle produced and mixed the new album, her vision of what she wanted in perfect alignment with what she knew her bandmates could instinctively deliver.

Like Michael Corleone in The Godfather movies, some pull away from the centre of what they love doing, but then they’re dragged back towards it –kicking and screaming, perhaps, but always because there’s nothing they can do about it. Instinct connects. It takes over, they capitulate and then triumph because the music they make synchronizes with a united mindset. That’s the way it is for Dublin-based band My Sweet Beloved, whose debut self titled album has just been released.

Website:: www.mysweetbeloved.com/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mysweetbeloved/
Twitter: twitter.com/mysweetbelovedx
Facebook: facebook.com/mysweetbeloved/

‘Why Are We Waiting’ is the new powerhouse single from Stephanie Rainey in collaboration with John Gibbons out 11th September. A hard-hitting slice of contemporary pop-dance, co-written by Kilkenny native Robert Grace, the track sees one of Ireland’s most exciting female artists team up with the country’s biggest mainstream dance export to deliver a powerful and at times poignant message for a world under-going rapid and wholesale change.

Giving her thoughts on the track, Stephanie says, “I began writing ‘Why Are We Waiting’ with Robert at the end of last year. It immediately felt like a track that would really come alive as a collaboration with a dance producer and the first person that came to my mind was John. I’d been a fan of John for a while and I felt a song like this might really suit him so I got in touch. Instantly we were both on board, there was a huge sense of excitement about the track and he’s brought so much to the table.

The song was written before anyone knew what a crazy year 2020 would be. It’s insane how the lyrics have become so relevant. At the time of writing, I realised that I’d sort of stopped living for a while. I was stressed out, worrying about things I couldn’t control and I’d put my life on hold for reasons I shouldn’t have. Writing ‘Why Are We Waiting’ was kind of my realisation – life is short, you’re wasting it. So, I dusted myself off and started to get back on my feet. Being in 2020, I regret not doing more when I could. Time and freedom are so precious. I can’t wait to come out the other side of all this chaos and take my own advice and I hope people feel a similar way when they hear this track.”

John continues, “With Stephanie and Robert already being two of my favourite fellow artists, when I first heard the ‘Why Are We Waiting’ demo I was struck hard by the power of the song. It felt, on the surface, like the encapsulation of a moment of clarity for someone who had been held back from committing to the life they really want through a combination of procrastination, self-sabotage and the fear of disapproval from those around them. On a deeper level, given current world events, the song can also be heard as a metaphorical, positive call to action for manifesting a fruitful life in the midst of societal turmoil and a disenfranchised world. It was such a pleasure working with Stephanie on this and to write around such a powerful vocal whilst collaborating with such a talented artist is so fun, easy and wholly fulfilling. I hope you love it as much as we do!”

‘Why Are We Waiting’ is released on BLINDSIDED on Friday, 11th September 2020.

Jim McHugh releases new video for his single ‘Should Have Lied’. 

About the video Jim says, “The video was shot in Blackmountain Studios Co. Louth after we finished up 2 days of recording for the new album and encapsulates the great camaraderie and laid back feel to the session. The intro includes the beautiful setting of the studio in the Cooley mountains overlooking Dundalk bay. It was filmed by Brendan McElroy and includes the contributors to Should Have Lied single, Jim on lead vocal/guitar, Butch McNeill on Drums, Paul McCabe on bass and Alex Borwich producer.” 

Jim is looking forward to releasing the full album in 2021. 

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www.JimMcHughMusic.com

Following 9 No.1 Irish single in a row, Tipperary Musical comedians, The 2 Johnnies drop yet another banging tune today, Monday 7 September, ‘Shift 2020’ feat. Randy Marx. 

John O’Brien and Jonathon Mc Mahon aka The 2 Johnnies are a cultural phenomenon, popularly recognised from Ireland’s biggest comedy podcast, not to mention sold-out tours of Ireland, Australia and the USA. Fans and fanatics will agree that this new single is just the track to end the summer that never was.

Written as a 90’s hip hop throw-back to teenage discos, first shifts and way too much brill cream.

The 2 Johnnies form Tipperary featuring Randy Marx (L.A.) ask you to roll the windows down, turn the music up and just shift. 

 ‘Shift 2020’ is LIVE and streaming today, Monday September 7. 

Links

WEBSITE        
SPOTIFY 50K monthly listeners        
ITUNES 340k plays
YOUTUBE 107K subscribers         
INSTAGRAM 171K followers
FACEBOOK 225K followers

Cormac O Caoimh and Martin Leahy will be finally doing the official launch of  ‘Swim Crawl Walk Run’ in the Kino on September 25th.

The first gig (doors 7.30pm) has sold out so a second show has been added (doors 9.50pm).

Tickets can be purchased here: https://uticket.ie/event/cormac-o-caoimh-martin-leahy-kino

Cormac released his new album (his fifth studio album in recent years) on May 15th 2020. The first 4 singles ‘I’m In Need’, ‘When My Kids Grow Too Old To Hold Hands’ and ‘Swim Crawl Walk Run Ride Drive Fly’ and ‘Building My Ark’ all were playlisted by RTE Radio 1. The album was Album of the the Week on RTE Radio 1, Lyric FM, KCLR FM, BBC Radio Ulster, 8Radio, Le Village Pop and PlayIRISH. Listenership in Ireland has reached over 3 million and all songs (bar one) on the album have received airplay. It was also the 8th best selling album of the first six months of 2020.

Burner Records rapper FYNCH returns with new track ‘Big Man’, with a feature from fellow Burner Records founder Local Boy.

‘Big Man’ is FYNCH’s first release since his debut EP ‘Bookies Pens & Loose Ends’ in October 2019. The track, produced by Danish artist Mikkel Boelt, contains a Kaytranada-esque instrumental, with foreboding lyrics about the dangers of toxic masculinity and its implications.

 On the track, the Drimnagh rapper remarked that the track is, “an exploration of traits he’s seen in himself and in others around him.”

“Those characteristics aren’t easy to shake off. Whether it’s conscious or not, there’s still that ‘be a man’ inference when it comes to men showing vulnerability. 

The chorus, beautifully sung by Local Boy, is a reminder that you don’t have to act in that manner forever – you can change, you don’t have to uphold that toxicity. 

You just need to be honest with yourself, certainly I know myself that I haven’t rid myself of the worst aspects of ‘manliness’. I’m a work in progress, that end goal is to just be a better person.“

‘Big Man’ is the first single FYNCH will release from an upcoming project, which promises to be chock full of reflections on a quarter century of life.

FYNCH and Local Boy are set to play Ireland Music Week on October 6-9. Local Boy will play a headline show at the Workman’s Club on November 13.

‘BIG MAN’ WILL BE AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING SERVICES FROM 12AM ON SEPTEMBER 11.

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