In a year which has seen Deoraí release his first three singles and become a household name in the Irish-speaking community, it’s his newest release ‘Páiste Bocht’ that looks set to bring his art to wider audiences, in part due to its international appeal as an examination of the refugee process across the world.

Deoraí (exile) is an art project that creates original music and film in a way, not yet seen before in the Irish language sphere. Although both Irish and English are used in the project’s content, there is a special emphasis placed on original songs in the Irish language which are coupled with avant-garde videos.

Following on from previous singles ‘Coincréit Fhuar’, ‘Sceimhlitheoir’ and ‘Digiteach’, ‘Páiste Bocht’ explores Ireland’s growing relationship with refugees. The track figuratively portrays the experience of a refugee arriving in Ireland and entering into a new world full of different colours, smells and unfamiliar sounds. The video for the track, which is directed and produced by Gerard Walsh, depicts a child from another planet, learning how human children interact, communicate and go about their daily lives.

Speaking about the track, Deoraí notes that the inspiration for the track came from exploring, “the experience of a refugee child arriving on a boat in Ireland and entering into a new world.” Thinking about the future of the Deoraí project, thoughts have already turned to reproducing the atmosphere of the track live. “The plan in the future is to do performances,” he says, “but they will be quasi- performance art shows which incorporate the tracks.”

This exciting and brave new project is changing the way people think about the Irish language, about music and about music videos. Deoraí challenges the status quo with every release and ‘Páiste Bocht’ is no different. With its breathtaking imagery and thought-provoking concepts, ‘Páiste Bocht’ is a track that will stay with you long after the final note.

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/

Back in 2001 with the release of his critically acclaimed debut album ‘One Of These Kids’, which was recorded in a bedroom, Pete Courtney was very busy.

His performances on the Witnness Rising tour went down so well with the public and the production team that he got invited to play two sets at the Witnness Festival in Fairyhouse, in the Café and TV tents respectively.

With his stories and songs Pete toured relentlessly for years within Ireland and abroad, taking in tours of Germany, Spain, USA and France.

In 2003 Pete was invited to play 5 concerts over 10 days at the Experience Festival in Andhra Pradesh in India, which was hosted by the World University of Consciousness.

They loved his lyrics.

Around 2004 Pete started getting more and more into Art on Stage. He played the Living Room on Ludlow Street in New York on St Stephens night, where he met and  was encouraged by other artists in attendance.

During 2004 to 2006 he began working with and employing multiple amps, loop stations, radios, pedals, kids DJ tables and toys. megaphones and a plethora of mics.

Throughout this time he was still gigging and touring and also running his own workshops across Ireland, and coordinating with great assistance from the Monaghan Arts office ‘The Listening Room’ series of workshops and gigs where he brought many established Irish artists up to his Native County.

By 2010 his vision of a live sonic installation meets vaudeville was up and running.

He softly released his audio studio version ‘Karma Biscuits’ for people to take home from his shows. The intention was always to release a live DVD of the concept at play.

Unfortunately though Pete lost his Mother in 2011, and although he kept the spirit alive by continuing as much as he could, he just had to stop when his Father passed away in 2012.

Simply, Pete did not have the heart for being onstage and performing.

Music is true and means too much to him.

In 2018 Pete heard the singing leaves phenomenon for the first time, in his local forest, and immediately he knew he was ready to record again. He was always writing and playing through the years of grief, bereavement and healing, but not performing and recording. His latest album ‘A Parallax Muse’ is a testament to looking at things from a range of perspectives and living with them.

“ Example, Life is Music…”

Available now on Bandcamp.

Official release on all other platforms,  (Spotify, Apple Music, Tik Tok etc, etc) on September 16th 2020.

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Pillow Queens are delighted to announce a second show for Dublin due to demand, they will perform live Saturday 27th February 2021. Tickets available from this Thursday at 10 AM via this link: HERE.

Tickets for their Friday, 26th February show are sold out. The band will also perform in Ulster Sports Club, Belfast, Thursday 11th March 2021.
When Pillow Queens announced themselves in late 2019 with the soaring single ‘Brothers’, their bruising interpretation of mourning for a lost loved one immediately caught widespread attention. Channelling wrought emotion through a sea of 90s grunge and indie-rock sounds, the Irish four-piece (from Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare) forge a powerful noise that is all their own – but meant for everyone. Pillow Queens offer a cathartic experience filled with camaraderie and solidarity.

‘In Waiting’ out this Friday, 25th September 2020.

‘Dreams’ – the debut single by Irish Women In Harmony – has been one of the feel-good, positive energy stories to emerge from the summer of lockdown in Ireland. This heartfelt rendering of the old Cranberries classic has raised money and awareness for the Safe Ireland charity, an organisation that provides support for women and children who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Since it’s June debut, ‘Dreams’ has grown into a bona fide airplay and streaming hit, a campaign rounded off with a sublime, socially-distanced performance on the first show of the returning Late Late Show earlier this month.

Thrilled by the reception and success for ‘Dreams’, Irish Women In Harmony are now making plans to release an exciting new Christmas single, and are looking for twelve talented girls, aged twelve years and under, to join them as a tween choir for the recording.

IWIH Harmonizer-In-Chief RuthAnne Cunningham says: “Irish Women In Harmony is all about inspiring young Irish girls to get into music and dream big. When I was younger I always wanted to sing at any opportunity I got, so we’d like to give 12 x 12s-and-under the chance to sing with us on our Christmas project. And we are so excited to hear your submissions.”

If you think you have what it takes to be one of the 12 x 12-and-under tween choir and join Irish Women In Harmony, please submit a 30-second video clip of you singing ‘Dreams’ to irishwomeninharmony@nullgmail.com or post/DM your video on Instagram tagging @irishwomeninharmony and the hashtag #IWIHSearch

Please make sure you have the permission of a parent or guardian before you submit your entry.

The deadline for entries is midnight on Wednesday 30th September.

The twelve winners will be selected by RuthAnne and members of the Irish Women In Harmony project. In line with current government guidelines, all COVID social-distancing measures will be observed for the recording.

Powering back onto the music scene with a dance-pop banger that refuses to leave your head, Chasing Abbey make their long-awaited return with new single ‘Lately’. The tune is a new departure for the Tullamore trio, offering a glimpse into a forthcoming body of work that has been over a year in development.

“The song is about finding that special bond with someone, embracing the good and the bad and believing in a future with that person,” says Chasing Abbey’s Teddy C on the concept behind ‘Lately’. “It hints at a mutual understanding that things have the potential to go further between these two people. There is a sense that no matter what has happened or will happen, they will find a way,” he added.

‘Lately’ was produced alongside Alan Sampson, who is responsible for the viral TikTok smash ‘Ride It’ by Regard and has been involved in a number of other chart-topping projects with artists such as Jay Sean and Zayn.

“The song was about 80% complete when we brought it to Alan, his additions in both songwriting and production really brought the song to life and helped us achieve the sound/song we really wanted.”

‘Lately’ throws out a wildly catchy hook, echoing the likes of Medusa’s ‘Piece Of Your Heart’ and Denis Lloyd’s ‘Never Mind’, but also managing to retain that classic Chasing Abbey sound. The production is the signature of Chasing Abbey down the years; an intricate bass line weaved with simple melodies, harmonies and hard drums. 

Fans of the group will recognise the unique style that previously made breakout tracks ‘That Good Thing’ and ‘Talk to Me’ the biggest in the country, while new listeners will be sucked in from the opening beat. With an exciting chorus that slots straight into the TikTok-driven soundscape of 2020, ‘Lately’ is a tour de force from a young talent just hitting their stride.

Following three whirlwind years that saw the boys headline Longitude twice, play two 3Arena slots, land a national television campaign for Eir, win the RTÉ Choice Music Prize for Song of the Year and debut their EP in Billboard Magazine, ‘Lately’ is just a taste of what’s to come. With a catalogue of new music promised over the coming months, Chasing Abbey are back and firing on all cylinders. ‘Lately’ isn’t just a new track, it’s a statement.

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To celebrate their tour announcement, Pillow Queens have collaborated with Dublin visual artist David Balfe to create a unique accompaniment for the album’s song ‘Liffey’.

The band reached out to their fans, friends and family and asked them to submit photos of themselves. David then incorporated these hundreds of self-portraits to create his stunning visuals.

David Balfe: “The whole thing for me is this video being an effort to maximise direct engagement with fans (which I think is a beautiful thing to do and also really beneficial) and  it just seemingly being impossible to make films at the moment if you’re adhering to the guidelines in place. I think this kind of video is one of the few alternatives in place to make film pieces fully socially distanced while also engaging with the human form and not just fully falling into the realms of animation.

At its heart, this video is a reimagining of the story of Medusa, building from its mythology and offering an alternative and contemporary take on it. Tying together the real and surreal into an immersive and psychedelic look at modern isolation in uncertain times.”

Events currently taking place throughout the world only serve to stoke a fire under the likes of Pillow Queens, who find themselves continually inspired by a Dublin that is no stranger to fighting social injustice. Street artists, fashion designers, musicians, film makers and more comprise a scene which routinely champions queerness and marginalized groups, and engages with and activates young people in response to the likes of the city’s ongoing housing and mental health crises. Pillow Queens’ songs of togetherness and unity ring out louder than ever before.

In their short lifespan as a band they’ve released two demo EPs, performed on a successful string of UK & Irish dates & festival appearances, had playlisting from BBC 6 Music, and found themselves opening for the likes of American Football and Pussy Riot, as well as stadium performances opening for IDLES and Future Islands.

With all this under their belt, the band began working with Mercury Prize nominated producer Tommy McLaughlin for their single ‘Gay Girls’ – which received a nomination for the RTE Choice Music Prize song of the year, as well as International pickup from NPR’s World Cafe and KEXP. The song also found its way into the heart of actor Cillian Murphy and his BBC6 Mixtape show.

2019 saw Pillow Queens venture into mainland Europe, as they lit up the Eurosonic festival and completed a string of tour dates opening for Soak. The tour was a messy and joyous affair captured beautifully in the DIY video for the bands summer single ‘HowDoILook‘.

The band were then invited to perform a live session for KEXP at Iceland Airwaves, then further shows in NYC and LA, before SXSW 2020 beckoned. Tour dates are being rescheduled for 2021.

PILLOW QUEENS – Ireland / UK tour 2021

19.02  Listowel  Mike the Pies
26.02  Dublin  Button Factory
04.03  Kilkenny  Set Theatre
05.03  Galway  Roisin Dubh
06.03  Limerick  Dolans
11.03  Belfast  Ulster Sports Club
12.03  Dundalk  Spirit Store
13.03  Derry  Sandinos
25.04  Glasgow  Stereo
26.04  Manchester  Yes
28.04  London  The Lexington
29.04  Brighton  Green Door Store
30.04  Liverpool  Arts Club Loft
04.05  Birmingham  Sunflower Lounge
06.05  Bristol  Crofters Rights

In Waiting tracklisting:
1. Holy Show
2. Child Of Prague
3. Handsome Wife
4. HowDoILook
5. Liffey
6. A Dog’s Life
7. Gay Girls
8. Harvey
9. Brothers
10. Donaghmede

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Introducing A92, the collective at the forefront of the Irish drill scene. The collective who are commercialising drill music in Ireland and putting Drogheda on the map, named after the postcode of Drogheda in Co.Louth where the group was formed and where they all grew up. All current members were recognised for their introspective bodies of work before joining the group. Formed by manager Joel Safo of JS Management, the collective formed after founding members OFFICA Ireland’s most successful rapper in a generation, in the space of a year with a commitment to quality over quantity, he’s notched up 16 million+ streams across a mere 6 tunes. Released single ‘No Hook’ with BT the first artist in the door. In came Nikz after releasing ‘Hands On My Heart’ followed by K-SAV and ACE. DBO who was a solo artist was recruited after Safo discovered him, last in the door was Kebz who was living in the UK, he returned home and was welcomed into the collective with open arms. Joel commented, “These boys are not looking for short term clout, these boys are looking for success and that’s the mindset we have around here.” The group motto is to push each other, “it’s all friendly competition but we are all trying to get that number one spot.” 

Each member brings a different personality and  flavour to the collective, in a group discussion here is what the group had to say about each other: 

OFFICA – The Officer in Charge, “No real introduction needed.” 

BT – The Trap Boy, “Very distinctive voice.” “Lives the life he raps about.” “Mr.No Rap Cap.”

Nikz – The Punchline King, “He got barz for days.” “Crazy ability to adapt to any beat.”

K-SAV – The Storyteller, “Slows down time and makes you deep his lyrics.” “Glides on any beat.”

ACE – The Perfectionist, “The well rounded artist.” “Mr.PC (politically correct).”

DBO – The 6’8 Giant with a devilish voice “Hardest work ethic.” “Doesn’t miss.” “Makes music for everyone.”

KEBZ – The Flow King. “An extremely diverse artist.” “Most unique flow you will hear.”

Their first track out as a collective ‘A92 Link Up’ is out now, It’s the ultimate introduction into who A92 are and what each member us about. Taking a peek into their worlds verse by verse we find out who’s who and what’s what. Back up on bouncy drill beat courtesy of JBJ (JayBenJay) the 17 year old Navan native who has gained the attention of UK rappers Mist, Krept & Konan, Headie One. Alongside earning credits on Rap Man’s single ‘Premier League Wrap Up’ and racking in over 2.2million views and almost 9k subscribers on Youtube.  

What can we expect next from you guys: “Expect bangers, straight bangers. We have an EP  coming soon, The EP will spin people’s brain cells. No better way to put it. Every single track is sick, it’s actually disgusting like.”

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

@a9ineofficial
@a9offica
@a9.ace
@a9nikz
@a9.kebz
@a9trapboy
@dbo.a9
@Ksav.a9

Limerick’s Emma Langford will officially launch her album ‘Sowing Acorns’ on September 18th.

The versatile singer-songwriter from Caherdavin launches her long-awaited second record following a rigorous three-year-run of gigs, tours and collaborations since her hugely successful debut in 2017 with ‘Quiet Giant’.

Arguably one of the finest songwriters and vocalists to emerge from Ireland in recent years, Emma won the title of Best Emerging Artist at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards in 2018. Never one to rest on laurels, she has risen to that mantle and delivered consistently since. As part of an international tour, 2019 saw Langford make her US debut at the world’s biggest celebration of Celtic music, Milwaukee Irish Fest, with a show-stopping closing-night performance in tribute to Dolores O’Riordan before eleven thousand festival-goers.

Langford’s latest project is steeped in the musical influences of Joni Mitchell, The Staves, Lisa Hannigan and Anaïs Mitchell. ‘Sowing Acorns’ is a collection of 13 warm and reflective songs, lovingly embedded against a folk-imbued backdrop of strings and percussion.

While her 2017 release ‘Quiet Giant’ could be said to be a coming-of-age record, Sowing Acorns is very much a declaration of who Emma Langford is and intends to be, the woman and the artist. The songs on this album pivot on an axis of female strength and empowerment (‘Birdsong’), but never shy away from vulnerability; she openly delves into personal encounters with grief (‘The Winding Way Down To Kells Bay’), ambition (‘Song For My Younger Self’), and broken relationships (‘You Are Not Mine’), while touching on other loose themes along the way. Regardless of whether the song drifts toward a folk or a soul sensibility, the common denominator throughout is Emma’s vocal range and tone, combined with strikingly observational and incisive lyrics.

‘Sowing Acorns’ was recorded between Golden Egg Studios in Laois and The Production Suite on Lad Lane, Dublin, with Grammy-nominated producers Graham Murphy & Chris O’Brien – the same production team behind ‘Quiet Giant’. 

The album lands amid the disquieting lull of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Langford has a small number of dates lined up to celebrate its release into the world including shows at the Triskel in Cork; the TF Royal Hotel and Theatre, Castlebar; the Whale Theatre in Greystones; and a special full-band virtual concert live from Limerick on release day as part of Limerick’s Culture Night programme.

‘Sowing Acorns’ will be available to purchase digitally and on CD and vinyl at emmalangfordmusic.bandcamp.com from the 18th of September, and across all online stores from the 21st.

Catch Emma perform songs from the album and old favourites live at her upcoming shows:

Culture Night – 8pm, Friday 18^th Sept – Album Launch virtual concert; an intimate advance preview of some of the songs from Sowing Acorns ahead of the album’s official launch concert sometime later this year. Emma is joined by friends Alec Brown on cello, Ray Yrure on percussion, Lucia MacPartlin and Niamh Varian Barry on violins, and Ann Blake on bass.

In the spirit of Culture Night, this virtual concert is free to view, but viewers are invited to make a donation via PayPal. All donors of €20 or more will receive a copy of Emma’s new album on CD: https://tinyurl.com/ChipInEmmaLangford

Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, duo show, 26th September, 7.45 & 9.30pm – SOLD OUT

Whale Theatre, Greystones, trio show, 9th October 2020

+ additional dates to be announced soon.

Music Videos:

‘Birdsong’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwcAzf9GUDo

‘Mariana’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Di0mmVverA

‘Sowing Acorns’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGrYOSh0p4Y

‘The Winding Way Down to Kells Bay’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wAyxC-esnw

Web: www.EmmaLangfordMusic.com

Facebook: facebook.com/EmmaLangfordMusic

Twitter: @ELangfordMusic

Patreon: www.patreon.com/emmalangford

Listen to Emma’s Music on Spotify