Month: October 2020

‘Just Thinking’ marks Landers second public release, out 6th November. 

After only a couple of rehearsals, Landers decided to record a live session in a large warehouse known as KAOS in the outskirts of Berlin with their friend Aidan Floatinghome (works with Perlee, Wallis Bird, Hundreds). 

Over a short period of 4 days, almost all tracks were recorded live in one room with a limited amount of recording equipment. The experience from the KAOS session helped them to understand new ways of expression, emphasizing the importance of a loose, free, and shared process. What came out of it was a vulnerable weaving of jazzy, ambient soundscapes with a strong folk backbone from many hours of improvised recordings. 

Instead of creating a full album/EP so immediately, the band felt that the session itself is something worth sharing first. It gives them time to not rush things creatively and to also have a chance to invite new listeners to sit beside them through the early development process, just like the way they usually share rough demos with close friends.

Their debut single release ‘Clear Blue Sky’ (released April 17th 2020) was welcomed with open arms by the press and public. The track was included in An Taobh Tuathail Vol. 9 playlist (the flagship alternative radio show on RTÉ Irish Radio) curated by the John Peel of Ireland, Cian Ó Cíobháin. Brian Coney from The Thin Air had this to say of Landers first single: ‘Landers are a new-fangled, Berlin-based experimental folk trio with an incredibly promising future ahead of them. Impressionistic and improvisational, ambience meets gossamer structure headon across 10 minutes.’ 

The second installment of the session that’s to be released is under the title ‘Just Thinking’. It features another two tracks from the KAOS session. Each track delves into the feelings one experiences when confronted with the reality of today. ‘Just Thinking’ and ‘Heart Is In The Land (Reprise)’: addiction and memories. 

The title track ‘Just Thinking’ introduces a new sound, playing as a counterpart to their first release, yet still manages to connect to the overall earthy sound of the session. The second track ‘Heart Is In The Land (Reprise)’ is an ambient soundscape, reminding us of the sound of their first release. Both tracks are completely live and look to transmit a raw and pure energy. 

Whilst mixing the tracks over the internet during the pandemic, the band’s perception of the tracks shifted and they decided to add a new element in the form of a saxophone to ‘Just Thinking’. Performed by Icelandic jazz musician Sölvi Kolbeinsson, it reinforces the raw experimentation of the band, while also expressing the uncomfortable feeling of the year 2020. 

Both their debut and their latest release are available on hand made limited edition tape cassette, designed and crafted by berlin-based artist Daniela Elorza.

Landers are an experimental folk band currently based in Berlin. Christopher Colm Morrin (who formerly released music under the moniker Robotnik in Ireland) met Paul Breiting and Max von der Goltz by chance in early 2019. After they met each other by chance in 2019, the band quickly realized they shared a common drive to make music that felt honest and true to their hearts. Dazed and excited about creating something of their own, they started putting pieces of songs together from scraps of poetry and old lost demos.

Zen Arcade are a garage rock band from Cavan, Ireland who release their debut single ‘Don’t Say A Word’ on out Friday 30^th October 2020.

Coming in at 2 minutes, 30 seconds , ‘Don’t Say A Word’ is an exercise in simplicity, intended to reflect the bands approach to polite conversation. 

As they say,  “The song was recorded in response to it being written.” 

Formed in late 2019 and comprised of 3 ex members of The Strypes, whose stellar rise saw them tour 3 critically acclaimed albums all over from Glastonbury to Fuji Rocks and feted by all from Jools Holland to the Artic Monkey before calling it quits.

 The Zen Arcade like to do it differently and birthed a podcast series and multiple fanzines before making a record but it’s been the right move, ‘Don’t Say A Word’ is a short sharp invigorating calling card .

‘Don’t Say A Word’  is out on Dental Records on 30^th October 2020.

U.M.A.N is the stage name for artist Brian Flanagan a Singer/Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist and is an abbreviation for U Must Act Now which links to the inspiring lyric found in a lot of his songs.

He released ‘Flamin Day’ an Irish Radio hit in 2017 which reached No 1 on iTunes and was proceeded by a sold-out Irish Tour, it being used on three national ad campaigns as well as a performances on The Late Late Show.

He released ‘Laurie Blue’ a tribute to Adele which one of the most listened to Irish Tracks in 2016 reaching No. 1 on the iTunes all genre chart

He was signed by Universal Ireland releasing a remixed version of The Adele Song in 2018 which is due for re-release in the coming months to coincide with Adele’s album release.

He was commissioned to compose a tribute to American Billionaire Chuck Feeney which was presented to the Feeney family on behalf of the UL Foundation in 2018

His last live performance prior to Covid 19 was as the main musical guest for the international Pendulum Summit 2020 where he performed his tracks to the 3000 attendees with his band and 15 piece choir.

He has performed and recorded with Folk Blues legend Eric Bibb on his Irish tour which included a Late Late Show featuring a duet from Bibb & Flanagan.

He wrote charity single ‘Maybe This Christmas’ which was performed by a host of Irish Celebrities including Mary Black, Brian Kennedy, Jack L & the High Kings  and reached number 6 on the Official Irish Charts on Christmas week in 2015

He composed and performed The Rising to commemorate the 1916 rebellion which was narrated by Michael Flatley and included Finbar Furey on uilleann pipes and received critical acclaim.

New single release ‘Feel Beautiful’ is available on streaming services from the 30^th October and will form part of an album due for release in early 2021.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialUMAN/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/53ufNhd9buGiKGF9kKBPFE

Sharon Shannon’s first single from her latest studio album, ‘The Reckoning’ will be released on November 27th this year. ‘The Reckoning’ will showcase Sharon Shannon’s first-ever collaboration with esteemed songwriter Jon Allen who provided lyrics and vocals for the track. Along with this unique pairing, the track will also feature Sharon’s first recorded composition on the electric guitar.

The founding melody of the track was formed in an unlikely lockdown scenario when Sharon participated in an online challenge to learn a new skill. After five days of intense lessons and hours of practice, the viral ‘Jolly Roger’ Facebook video was born. The clip of Sharon and her electric guitar has accumulated over 289,000k views since its upload. With a fresh coat of musical flair and Allen’s poetic lyricism added, the video has been transformed into what we now know as ‘The Reckoning’. 

If you listen closely, you can still hear Sharon’s original riff included in the finished track.

‘The Reckoning’ is the first single from Sharon’s upcoming album of the same title. The album was composed, written and recorded during lockdown and is scheduled for release on November 27th, 2020. Sharon is pulling out all the stops this year with her most innovative and original album to date. For the first time in her discographical history, every single track on the album will be an original composition by Sharon Shannon herself.

In light of travel restrictions, ‘The Reckoning’ achieves the impossible by combining the talents of musicians from across the globe; from its Galway instrumental and London vocals, all the way to a production studio in Lanzarote with previous collaborator Craig Mulvagh.

Discussing the album, Sharon says: “Normally when we work on an album, we do one track at a time. But with this, it seems to be an avalanche when you’re working on thirteen or fourteen tracks every day. It’s like a minefield!”

Sharon Shannon is an iconic Irish musician known for her arrangements of traditional tunes and Irish-influenced compositions. She has earned her name as a pioneer in the industry through her eccentric collaborations, not just in traditional music, but across multiple genres; Hip Hop, Cajun, Country, Classical and Rap. 

‘The Reckoning’ single is available on all online platforms from October 23rd and the album of the same name will be released on November 27th, 2020.

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Together Animals announce the release of their debut EP with the single of the same title, ‘Rise And Fall’ out 6th November.

Produced by Gavin Glass, their ‘Rise And Fall EP’ was recorded in Orphan Recording Studios just days before lockdown and then mixed with each band member and the producer isolated from one other. Gavin Glass also makes a musical cameo on each track. A 100% virtual mix, coming together by staying apart.

The second single from the EP ‘Kings & Queens’ was well received earning radio play from Ocean FM, KCLRFM, Carlow FM, 8Radio, PLAYIRISH Radio, The Acoustic Yard and Planet Radio.

This song is a blend of melodically dark guitar licks, soaring vocals and hook upon hook packed into 3 minutes 30 seconds of hands in the air, head banging, and uplifting rock.

Together Animals are a 4 piece post-grunge band from Dublin. Expect dirty guitar riffs, anthemic vocal melodies, introverted lyrics and razor sharp hooks. Formed in 2019 the band only chose their name in 2020 during the recording process in Orphan Recording Studios. The name stems from a humanistic idea that we are social creatures, we need each other, we are all Together Animals. A dark hybrid of alternative rock and punk give Together Animals their distinctive flavour. It’s grunge but not as we know it.  The band is composed of Dave Horan (vocals and guitar), Chris Stynes (guitar), Paul Hare (bass) and Graham O’Callaghan (drums).

EP Tracklisting;

1 Rise & Fall
2. Kings and Queens
3. Together Animals
4. Landslide

EP available on all platforms November 6th, 2020
Bandcamp:  https://togetheranimals.bandcamp.com
Facebook facebook.com/thetogetheranimals
Instagram instagram.com/togetheranimals
Twitter https://twitter.com/togetheranimal1

Does winning a TV talent show mean instant stardom or is it career catastrophe..? The unique voice of Fiona Kennedy put her under the national spotlight when she won RTE’s Screentest in the 80’s. Profiles rise and fall but this singer songwriter followed her passion from then, performing and creating music right up to the present day. 

At the time, she found she didn’t fit into the genres popular in Ireland so after releasing her debut single and her own one hour TV special, she went to New York and worked in Skyline Studios. After establishing herself in the Greenwich Village music scene, a return to Ireland in the 90’s saw Fiona being nominated for an IRMA Award for her album ‘Crazy Love’. 

She’s worked with Declan Sinnott (‘All You Give Me’)/Jimmy Smyth (‘Good To Be Gone’) & Bill Shanley (‘The Beach’) among others, and has performed as far afield as Kazakhstan and New Zealand.  

Fiona’s ability to survive and thrive as a professional singer/songwriter through two recessions was recognised in 2018 when she won the Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year Award in the Arts category.

‘All Of The Days’ is the latest single release from Fiona Kennedy and was written during lonely lockdown hours when live streaming was the only way to connect with people through music.

https://www.fionakennedy.ie

Cronin released a new video for track ‘There’s A Darkness’. Put together from footage shot by the band and long term video collaborator Kingston on the road in Norway, Dublin’s Olympia, The Stables Mullingar, Amsterdam, Leeds and Drumlish. Legendary Creation Records boss Alan McGee says of the song “Cracking song ‘There’s A Darkness’. Blown away…great f**king band.”

Taken from the mini album ‘A View From The Next Room’ which the band put together at the start of lock down.

They have also had to reschedule their October dates for November with the current Level 3 Covid restrictions in place at the moment.

These will be the first shows from the band who are never normally off the road since March and their first Irish shows of the year.

These will be limited capacity with full social distancing measures implemented and observing all government health guidelines, these gigs are a must-see for every music fan in the midlands.

They also have an online show for Extra.ie that will be streamed on Thursday October 15th on www.extra.ie from 8pm. Filmed in Dublin’s Wild Duck Venue a few weeks back, it sees Cronin perform a full set for the first time since March.

Live

Saturday 14th November Mullingar Arts Centre
Ticket on sale now.
https://mullingarartscentre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873615716

Saturday 21st November Backstage Theatre
Ticket on sale 7th October.
https://backstage.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173604978

Streaming links for A View from the Next Room at links below. https://ffm.to/vyenvy2

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Niall Toner has recently turned his hand to his old trade, that of a leather tailor. During the 80s and 90s, Niall made leather garments under the TONER LEATHERS brand in Dublin, and developed quite a reputation for his unique designs, and in particular, his legendary TONER Motorcycle Jackets and Racing Suits. Sadly, the late 90s brought recession, and the business ceased. Niall turned to his music on a full-time basis, performed all over the world, served as an IMRO Board Member, presented radio shows on RTE Radio One, and developed his songwriting abilities.

Now, in 2020, with the music business in big trouble, Niall has revived his leather work, and is making guitar straps, shoulder bags, spectacle cases, belts and foot pouffes from e-cycled leather, salvaged from old couches and re-purposed leather garments.

Niall can be contacted by email at : nialltoner.music@nullgmail.com and/or by telephone at 087-2877299/059-9157570

Commissions and Special orders are welcome.

Bright Falls is the project of Thurles singer-songwriter Eddie McCormack, who blends Americana with alternative rock, while taking a narrative approach to songwriting in the vein of artists such as The War On Drugs, the Killers and Bruce Springsteen. After the release of the debut EP ‘Logging’ in July 2019 Bright Falls, backed by a full band, opened the Feile 19 festival in Semple Stadium alongside acts such as Sinead O’Connor and The Stunning and has supported acts such as The Frank & Walters, Ryan Sheridan and David Keenan.

‘The Widows Homes’ is a melancholic Heartland-Rock song, with 80’s style synth sounds mixed with swirling Leslie guitar tones, produced by Martin Quinn (Aine Cahill, The Strypes). The song recounts the aftermath of a love lost. The verses detailing the house in which the couple once shared together, which has now become derelict, symbolic of the relationship that the two share. The chorus sees the protagonist long for a reconciliation of the relationship which they know will never return, providing a sing-along hook among the hopeless desperation the protagonist endures.