Month: September 2020

Smoothboi Ezra has announced a live socially distant show for The Workman’s Club on 14th November 2020.

Smoothboi Ezra – a musician from Co Wicklow – creates post-genre bedroom pop / anti-pop. They are multi-instrumentalist and produce all their own music. Their debut EP Is it is out now. Ezra recently sold out their first headline show, upstairs in Whelan’s of Dublin, which comes on the back of live sets with Orville Peck and Gypsies on The Autobahn.

Dublin noise punk band Bullet Girl today release the video for their most recent single, ‘Concrete Bed’. 

The song, which was released on Friday, 4th September, was made Track of the Week by Dan Hegarty on RTÉ 2fm last week and has received good support from radio stations across Ireland. 

Irish music sites have praised the four piece too, calling ‘Concrete Bed’ a “thrilling taste of raw post punk” (Indie Buddie), a “relentless three-minute track” (Hot Press) and a “grimey new single which examines the dark underbelly of Dublin’s forgotten people” (GoldenPlec). 

Undoubtedly, ‘Concrete Bed’ captures the essence of Bullet Girl’s powerful live reputation well, underpinned by the dynamic production of Girl Band’s Daniel Fox. 

The video was directed by the band’s guitarist, Dylan Keenan, who is a recent film school graduate. Here’s what he says: 

“My main vision while directing was to create a hypnotic, almost disorientating, experience to match the ferocious nature of the track. We shot the black and white sequences with Aaron in some of the most dilapidated areas of Dublin. He is purposely brought in an out of focus as I wanted him to almost blend into his surroundings. The song is about Dublin City, and so our aim as a band was to feature it as a character of its own in the video.”

Bandcamp :: https://bulletgirl.bandcamp.com/
Spotify :: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2QPUQHHzz2aeBAnKg2UuPB
Facebook :: https://www.facebook.com/BulletGirlBand/
Twitter :: https://twitter.com/bulletgirlband
Instagram :: https://www.instagram.com/bulletgirl_/

Flynn’s recent tracks B-Side and ‘One Of Us’ have been the perfect introduction to the young Irish singer, igniting his solo career. With almost 300k streams in just a few weeks on new single ‘B-Side’, plus support from key music playlists including six global Spotify New Music Friday lists, ‘The Pop List’ (Spotify) and ‘New Pop Hits’ (Apple)– Flynn’s ascension continues today with the release of the official video for ‘B-Side’.

Directed by Simon Lane, whose credits included Foals, Rudimental, Disclosure and Justice, the one-shot video follows Flynn around a big derelict house in West London from daylight to evening encountering various musicians and characters in different rooms as he roams around.

“We shot the video in an abandoned hotel in Lancaster Gate”, Flynn explains. “I didn’t really know what to expect because it all happened very last minute but as soon as I saw the place I knew it would perfect. I’ve also learned that one-shot videos aren’t as easy to pull off as they look! Working with Simon and the rest of the crew made things really easy, they were all incredible on the day!”

Flynn wrote ‘B-Side’with the track’s producers Toby Scott (Cashmere Cat, JC Stewart, Kaiser Chiefs) and Blair MacKichan (Sia, Lily Allen). The song is enticingly both contemporary and classic: feelgood alt-pop beats and rhythms placing it firmly in 2020, while Flynn’s soulful vocal and some Stax-inspired brass give it a timeless quality. It’s an uplifting sound for a lovelorn theme but ultimately, it’s a defiant statement: a deceptive lover is no loss, so find the strength to move on.

‘B-Side’ extends Flynn’s flair for expressing the intricacies of modern relationships, a vulnerable yet brave take on everything from infatuation to insecurity. Although he’s now signed to Jive Germany / Sony, the early stages of his career involved making sacrifices, battling to make ends meet and grinding away to earn any opportunity. It took him from Mullingar in County Westmeath, Ireland to a spell working restaurants shifts and busking in Bristol, which was interspersed with writing sessions in London. An early breakthrough came when a song he entered in a contest went viral, before coming to wider attention with the independently released tracks ‘Peace of Mind’,‘Red Light’ and ‘My Gold’. The rapid progress he has made in the past year with Lost Frequencies track’s ‘Recognise’ (over 40 million streams), and ‘You’ from their new EP, ‘One Of Us’(hit fifteen of Spotify’s New Music Fridays) and now ‘B-Side’shows that his dedication is paying off.

Mayo indie pop artist Rowlette has just released her fantastic new single ‘Cucumber & Ice’. A pop anthem that celebrates friendship and the unique relationship and bond a group of girls can forge. ‘Cucumber & Ice” was written by Rowlette with Rob Shiels and Graham McCartin. In typical Rowlette fashion, the pop track is guitar driven and shows her trademark powerful vocals.

About it’s creation Rowlette says, “I was with Graham and Rob in the studio and we were writing a very serious/sad song when we decided to just switch it up. Graham started messing with a riff on guitar and I had the Cucumber and Ice idea in my notepad and we went from there. It was a lot of fun writing it.” The song was later mixed by Vasileios Gourgourinis and mastered by Fergal Davis to add the final gloss to an already sparkling tune.

‘Cucumber & Ice’ represents the love language between Rowlette’s “ride or dies”, as she puts it – her most trusted group of friends that she can always rely on to pick her up when she’s down.

As Rowlette says, “If one of us isn’t feeling great, someone is liable to turn up and insist that we’re going dancing. And most importantly, they will be there to watch crap tv and eat take away with the next day! The day after is where the real bonding and healing happens.”

Her third release of 2020 marks what has been a very impressive breakthrough into her music career with her previous singles being added to Spotify editorial playlists (including Fresh Pop, Pop Right Now and New Music Friday), performing alongside Jack Lukeman, being RTE Culture Tune of The Day twice and packing out her first headline show.

Rowlette says, “As we all know, things have been pretty heavy this year, and I don’t know how I would have gotten through it without my friends. While we can’t go dancing just yet, and I don’t play golf, I wanted to release a fun song that showed my appreciation for my friends.”

https://www.facebook.com/rowlettemusic
https://www.instagram.com/rowlettemusic
https://twitter.com/rowlettemusic
www.rowlettemusic.com

Photo: Ferdia Mooney

The Alternative Sunday Social Club presents Strangers with Guns and Stitch Jones in The Wild Duck on Sunday, September 20^th at 4.00pm

Strangers with Guns are some lads from Dublin that make grunge music. Infusing the sounds of the Melvins, Stone Temple Pilots, Fu Manchu, Nirvana…etc, they deliver exactly the juice you’d expect from that blend. Degenerate Art is the band’s debut album and the dozen songs could be summed up by big-wave bass lines, uniformed distortion and laid-back vocal delivery. Any one of these tunes could make the cut for a D.I.Y skateboarding video straight from the 90s.

Forming late 2014 through a friendship which led to the rehearsal room, Stitch Jones are a 2-piece noise rock combo from north County Dublin consisting of Watchy Watchorn and Ross O’Connor. Their infectious blend of humour and stabs of rock have quickly turned their live act into a must see.  

Wexford singer/songwriter JaXson is set to release his new single ‘Red Lights’ on September 18th, the 24 year old’s third release of 2020. The song was inspired by a realisation that JaXson was carrying the emotional baggage of early life experiences into adulthood with him.

“Everything I learned in my youth has stayed with me into adulthood. I didn’t stand up for myself when I was younger. In my teens, I liked to pretend everything was okay and ignore the harsh realities of life. When I noticed myself, in adulthood, not being brave enough to stand up for myself, and trying to pretend that I was fine when I was not, I felt like I was trapped. I was falling into toxic old habits and routines,” JaXson explains.

“I started writing the song in January 2020 with the lyric ‘Living in my young mind, I’m in quarantine’. I used the word quarantine as I felt I was in a state of isolation, little did I know how popular the word would become two months later!”

‘Red Lights’, JaXson explains, is the culmination of years of learning from his influences and finally becoming the artist he truly wants to be. He admits to being inspired by the emotive lyrics over powerful beats and basslines associated with the likes of Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar and Tyler The Creator as well as rule-breaking mavericks such as James Blake and Frank Ocean.

“’Red Lights’ is the first track where I really convey my true self, I feel like all of my influences over the years have lent a small bit of themselves to this track. I have stayed true to my singer/songwriter roots but I have allowed myself to be open with the production of the track.” 

The song itself, produced by New York-based Marty Mullally, is a powerful journey with soaring, emotive vocals atop a layered R’n’B beat and sees JaXson make a bid to follow in the footsteps of Dermot Kennedy and fellow Wexford native Maverick Sabre.

With the release of ‘Red Lights’ and a huge opportunity to showcase himself at Ireland Music Week in October, JaXson is hoping to end 2020 with a flourish and bring the very best version of himself into 2021. It’s all green lights from here on in.

In 1977 the Downtown Kampus was setup by UCC Entertainments Officer Elvera Butler in order to bring rock bands to play in Cork’s in Arcadia Ballroom (colloquially known as The Arc). For some four years touring national and international bands played at The Arc, which in turn inspired local gig-goers to form their own bands who were then given the opportunity to share the stage with touring acts.

On Saturday August 30th 1980 local bands Mean Features, Microdisney, Nun Attax, and Urban Blitz played a gig which was recorded live and released as the Kaught at the Kampus.  There is currently a giant mural currently celebrating the Kampus EP on Grand Parade.

On Friday September 18^th — as part of Culture Night — both Conjun Box and Cork Zine Archive present the Kampus turns 40 in the Grand Parade Library. The event will feature testimonials from the Kampus musicians, gig-goers and organisers, along with photographs capturing the gig by Ciarán O Tuama and Pat Galvin.

A new version of the EP which includes previously unreleased material will get it first public airing on the night.

Ricky Dinnen (Nun Attax and Five Go Down to the Sea), is pictured above at the Kampus Turns 40 artwork outside Grand Parade Library.  With the original 1980 Kaught at the Kampus album, which will be celebrated in Grand Parade library on Culture Night.

Photo credit: Siobhan Bardsley

The last 6 months have been unprecedented, a global pandemic, a country in lockdown, frontline medical workers stretched to their limits and ordinary people faced with extraordinary circumstances. It is during extraordinary times that the true nature of people comes to the fore. The Irish people responded to this crisis by doing what they do best, an innate community spirit in all of us saw Irish healthcare workers overseas returning to the frontline, we checked in on our neighbours, a shortage of PPE inspired volunteers to make PPE, we lifted our friends and family up who were struggling with isolation and anxiety. Supermarkets stayed open and public transport continued to run. We held each other’s virtual hands.

It’s time to thank all those all people who made a difference. Hosted by Muireann O’Connell The Great Big Irish Thank You, sponsored by Cadbury, 7UP Free, Arachas, Starbucks and Doritos is a heart-warming, inspiring show at this landmark time in Irish history and will air on Virgin Media One on 4^th October 2020 at 10pm. There will be music from headline act The Coronas and Christy Dignam, celebrity chats from Daniel O’Donnell plus many more and filming from around the country. This special 90 minute show, an Independent.ie initiative, will entertain and shine a light on those who we are all thankful for in these unprecedented times. It’s time to showcase how incredible the nation has been and continues to be during the Covid-19 crisis. ​

Danny O’Reilly of The Coronas said: “We’re delighted to be part of The Great Big Irish Thank You. With the way 2020 has gone so far, it’s definitely our biggest gig of the year! We know people need a distraction from Coronavirus so, having the most unfortunate band name in the world right now, we were surprised when we got the call! Seriously though, it’s set to be a great night and we’re planning a few surprises, we can’t wait.” 

Daniel O’Donnell who will also take part said, “I am proud to be involved, to help thank the people of Ireland for all their courage during the dark days of Covid-19.” 

Director of Content at Virgin Media Television, Bill Malone said: “The Great Big Irish Thank You is an evening of much needed escapism, entertainment and live music and an opportunity to take a moment to acknowledge, and say thank you, to everyone who has played their part, big and small, in making a difference with regard to the challenges this country has faced over the past months. Virgin Media Television is delighted to partner in such a positive and worthwhile initiative.” 

This sentiment was very much shared by publisher of Independent News & Media, Peter Vandermeersch.  

“It’s the biggest story of our lifetime: Covid-19 and its impact on the society,” he said. As a newspaper we have been covering each and every aspect of it: the scientific angle and the medical one; the consequences for our economy and our society; if we can have a holiday abroad or stick to a staycation; the consequences for schools and pubs. “But above all the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent and independent.ie have been writing about people — about men and women who became ill and people who paid the highest price.”  

“But especially about all these people who were fighting the consequences of the pandemic: nurses and doctors, people who clean care homes or keep elderly people company, bus drivers and people working in supermarkets, newspaper sellers and delivery people.”   

“We have a great common name for them: frontline workers. These people are the real heroes of this crisis. Our society kept functioning because of them. We want to put all these people in the spotlight, and say a big ‘thank you’. We will do this in a universal language: music. From the stage we make a very deep bow for all the frontline workers.”  

 The Great Big Irish Thank you is produced by Tyrone Productions for Virgin Media.

Amanda Dunleavy, Executive Producer Tyrone Productions, said: “We are delighted to partner with Independent.ie and Virgin Media Television to bring this very special show The Great Big Irish Thank You to air. Covid19 has asked so much of the Irish people and this is our chance through story and song to say a huge Thank You to all those who have supported and continue to support each other in these unprecedented times.” 

On October 10^th Today FM’s Fergal D’Arcy will also broadcast The Coronas’ performance from Independent.ie’s The Great Big Irish Thank You, plus extra songs and interviews with the band.