Month: October 2020

Singer/songwriter Fly the Nest has released a heartfelt ballad, ‘Be Mine’. With willful piano, acoustic guitar, strings, and an emotive vocal performance from Fly the Nest, the song is a wedding song in which one professes their unending love for another. 

Fly the Nest says, “’Be Mine’ was a wedding present for my best mate. I wrote the song for his wedding and performed it at the reception. I also recorded it for them to make the gift something they could always look back on and remember the day.”

He goes on to say, “The song got an amazing reaction at the reception. I think a lot of people, and not just the newlyweds, could relate to the song: a profession and promise of love, of looking back at how far you’ve come but also forward to the future and growing old together. This made me decide to officially release the song.” 

The song features sentiments such as, “As the seasons pass and beauty fades, my love for you will never change,” an ode to love remaining even without youth and beauty. 

The song was recorded, mixed, and mastered in Cabin Space Studios with Gavin Doyle. 

Dublin native Stephen Cooper started playing music at a young age, performing in various bands before starting solo project Fly the Nest, a name inspired by moving on from a previous musical journey and the adventures music has led him on. As well as writing and releasing his own music, Stephen also writes for sync, and says that writing for film and TV has opened up another facet of his creativity. Stephen now spends his time between Ireland and Denmark, and gigs regularly across Scandinavia. During lockdown, Stephen busked in apartment courtyards, setting up a busking system with some fellow musicians. He has also been focused on songwriting and recording. 

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‘Sowing Acorns’ is very much a declaration of who Emma Langford is and intends to be, the woman and the artist.

Following a rigorous three-year-run of live shows, video shoots, and collaborations, since her debut in 2017 with ‘Quiet Giant’, and bravely undeterred by the challenges posed by the pandemic, Langford recently shared her triumphant sophomore release.

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

The songs on this album pivot on an axis of female strength and empowerment (‘Birdsong’), but never shy away from vulnerability; Langford 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.

Reflecting on the release one month on, Emma says:

“It was daunting putting this body of work out into the world after over a year bringing it together – I poured a lot of myself into it; but I knew we had something special, the collective energy from my friends, musicians, listeners, engineers – everyone – was so so positive.

I’ve been overwhelmed by the reaction to ‘Sowing Acorns’. Reviews have felt a bit like having my diary analysed and critiqued, but the response so far has thankfully been beautifully warm and thoughtful. I’m so grateful to the broadcasters and writers who have taken the time to look at the sketches and the old photos; to read the lyrics, and to get to know this collection of songs.

It was important to me with this album that it be enjoyed as a whole package – I love the art of album-making, the process of choosing the artwork, of including personal touches and notes. I’ve really valued reading reviews from fans and journalists alike who respect and appreciate that process.”

Web: www.EmmaLangfordMusic.com
Facebook: facebook.com/EmmaLangfordMusic
Twitter: @ELangfordMusic
Patreon: www.patreon.com/emmalangford
Listen to Emma’s Music on Spotify

Irish electro-pop artist St. Bishop is back with his new single, ‘Dreaming’, which will be released on Friday 23rd October on VETA Music. 

We last heard from St. Bishop when he lent guest vocals to labelmate DYVR’s track ‘Ocean’ in May – a song that garnered airplay on the likes of BBC Radio Ulster, RTÉ 2fm and PlayIrish and caught the ears of publications like Nialler9 and GCN. 

St. Bishop – A.K.A. Stephen Bishop – is originally from Co. Monaghan, but has been living in Dublin since his days as a BIMM student. Blending his roots in rural Ireland, soul and electro-pop he confidently tackles issues of sexuality, gender identity and radical self-acceptance.  

St. Bishop says that he wrote ‘Dreaming’ as a sort of apology to an ex. He says: “This song reflects on a previous relationship of mine and discusses how not being open and honest with my feelings and not communicating properly ended up putting a huge strain on the relationship and pushed us apart. It’s an apology and a showing of gratitude. A moment to say I am sorry for how the situation was handled, to let them know that I still want them to be a part of my life and that ‘I am still dreaming’ about them.”

‘Dreaming’ by St. Bishop is out on Friday 23rd October 2020. 

Following the success of his last single release ‘Ballena Bar’ which has gathered over 350k on Spotify, with a feature on Spotify Editorial prestigious playlist ‘Jazz Vibes’. Nicolas Kluzek returns with 2d single from forthcoming E.P:  ‘Blue As An Orange’.

“After the consistently positive feedback to his “Mediterranean’ single, Nicolas Kluzek was motivated and has now made a whole EP in this summery Caribbean flavor. The second single is ‘Blue as an Orange’.

Enjoy the airy acoustic guitar melodies and let the sound of the song bring you from the grey autumn directly back to a sunny beach.” Mark Stock.

‘Blue As An Orange’ by Nicolas Kluzek is available across all digital platforms now.

Dublin-based indie rock band Lavelle are this week announcing the release of their latest single ‘Ashes In The Tray’ on all digital platforms.

The latest release off their forthcoming album, ‘Ashes’ is built around a memorable descending motif, with clean, sparse guitar layered on top of a prominent bass groove, and heavy drum cymbals leading into an energetic chorus.

Together since 2014, three-piece Lavelle have spent the past two years in and out of Dublin’s Camden Recording Studios working on their debut album ‘Stem The Flow’ (scheduled for release in early 2021) with veteran Irish producer and sound engineer Conor Brady.

The band’s four-track EP ‘Feel Like I Do’ was released in April 2017, followed in previous years by several singles off the album. Most recently the band released the melancholic track ‘For You I Will’ amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

Commenting on the theme of their latest release, Lavelle’s lead singer and songwriter John Ryan said: “The song is about how the ‘good times’ go too quick. Lyrically it looks back on a day of reconnecting with a past love, spending time laughing and walking the streets, bar to bar. Remembering the first thing that was said after meeting again and looking back on a perfect day that can be hard to find again.”

‘Ashes In The Tray’ is available on all digital platforms today, Friday, 16th October.

For more information about the band, visit lavellemusic.com

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Edwina van Kuyk is a Limerick born Irish/Dutch songwriter & artist. An alumni of BIMM Dublin, she uses her soulful vocal and love of storytelling to create captivating original performances. Edwina previously performed as a backing vocalist for Dublin grunge/disco band, Munky before performing solo with her own work and has supported artists such as Little Hours and Scott Williamson. Named ‘Best Newcomer’ by The Circle Sessions in 2019, Edwina has gigged in numerous venues (Whelans, The Button Factory, Pepper Canister, The Ruby Sessions) and festivals (Electric Picnic, Longitude, Knockanstocken). Her debut release is due out on 30th October 2020.  

‘Hurt For Me’ is Edwina van Kuyk’s debut single set to be released on Friday, October 30th.  This pop-soul acoustic track features Edwina’s soulful vocals and rich harmonies accompanied by piano and cello. The song was composed and arranged by Edwina during the lockdown period of the pandemic and recorded in a collaborative process between New Zealand, Ireland and The UK. 

50% of the proceeds of the track from 2020 will go directly to MASI (The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland).

“I find myself feeling helpless much of the time because of what is going on in the world right now. I want to help bring awareness and raise funds for charities such as MASI which are providing support to those in direct provision. However big or small, I would like to contribute.” – Edwina van Kuyk

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Recorded in Dublin at AP Studios, ‘Trasna na gCianta’ is the first single from Shane Ó Fearghail’s new album ‘Born From Tradition. This song has found it’s way into the world through another song, as songs tend to do. That song was ‘Round The Hardway’ from Shane’s first album ‘The Watcher & The Comet’. Written by Shane and Róisín Ní Bhriain, ‘Trasna na gCianta’, was recorded between Dublin and Vienna. Sung in Irish, it is a song about love and the Irish language in across the ages. 

Shane Ó Fearghail is an Irish Singer-songwriter living in Vienna. From Dublin, his musical style fits neatly into the Irish Indie Folk box. Likened to REM, Neil Finn (Crowded House), Rufus Wainright III, Glen Hansard and Ron Sexsmith, it is easy to see where his songwriting loyalties lie. Irish music is his first love. 

With four albums and three EP releases to his name ‘Born From Tradition’, the newest long play. An Irish folk album in mirth and measure, it is a collection of songs that comes back to that idea of home and roots. The foundations of this album were laid in Dublin hills at AP Studios. It was however finished during lockdown in Vienna. ‘Born From Tradition’ is a quiet affair. With no real fanfare. No real fuss. This album is about songs, sounds and reconnection. 

WEBSITE http://shaneofearghail.com
YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/user/ShaneOFearghail
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/shaneofearghailmusic/
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/shaneofearghail/
SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KU8ymkiySyRtUEZ0P0y0c
iTUNES https://music.apple.com/at/artist/shane-%C3%B3-fearghail/680910962

Photo: Sabine Mann 

Dublin-quartet Inhaler have announced details of their new single ‘When It Breaks’, out now on Polydor Records. A searing indie-rock anthem, ‘When It Breaks’ was recorded over the summer and its lyrical themes chime with the unease and disquiet of the world in 2020.

Speaking about how ‘When It Breaks’ came together, the band said:

“We wrote ‘When It Breaks’ in the last couple of months. Over lockdown we were floating around the instrumental demo, it was dark but also pretty hopeful sounding. When we went back to the studio over the summer and really got to put our heads together again, we felt like we had to write something about what was going on and how we felt about it. Coming off tour into lockdown was a huge adjustment for us after we had just got used to life on the tour. At first, it was a welcome break but pretty soon we were dying to get back to any festival or any gig where we could get our fix! The lyrics and the music communicate the anxiousness of how we were all feeling and still are now a couple months later. It’s definitely the most politically-driven song we’ve released so far. It’s our interpretation of this strange and imperfect world we’ve come to live in. Things are gonna change and we are gonna be there when they do.”

Inhaler are Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, Ryan McMahon and Josh Jenkinson. The four-piece formed whilst still at school in Dublin, bonding over a love of Joy Division, The Stone Roses, The Strokes, Depeche Mode, Interpol, The Cure and more. They have amassed a diehard fanbase despite only releasing a handful of singles, each displaying the band’s knack of intricate songcraft and sonic grandeur. Their tracks have been streamed over 35 million times globally. They sold over 10,000 tickets on their last tour and played to sold-out crowds across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Inhaler recently completed work on their highly-anticipated debut album, expected for release early next year.

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Feather Beds is the solo work of Dublin-born/London-based drummer/artist/producer, Michael Orange. He returns with a new 4 track EP, ‘Fragile / Temper’, his first new music since his acclaimed album, ‘Blooming’, from 2017. ‘Fragile / Temper’ features 2 brand new tracks along with remixes from Jilk, and Robin Richards from Dutch Uncles and is available on Limited Edition 12″ Vinyl. Blurring the lines between dream-pop, shoegaze, electronica, ambient and experimentalism, the self-produced EP also features 4 accompanying videos and sleeve design produced by the artist himself.

His debut album, ‘The Skeletal System’, was released in 2015 while Orange was based in Montreal, receiving widespread critical acclaim. The second album, ‘Blooming’, was released in 2017 on Montreal label, Moderna, and again received glowing reviews from the likes of CLASH, Line of Best Fit, The 405 and Guardian. Fat Cat Records also picked up on the single, ‘Play Dead’, featuring it on their site.

‘Fragile / Temper’ is released on 16th October on Sad Songs and will be available to buy at Rough Trade, Norman Records, Tower Records, All City, Freebird, Steamboat and Musiczone.

BUY VINYL: bit.ly/FragileTemperVinyl