Author: Breffni Banks

Lukewarmdaily96 is an Irish singer-songwriter whose music is as intriguing as his name. The Cork City native began storytelling with melody-driven songs as an admiration for songwriters such as Elliott Smith, Phoebe Bridgers, and Alex G. His music lays itself comfortably alongside indie and bedroom pop, while maintaining its own unique characteristics thanks to Luke’s distinct, wistful voice and instrumentation. His new track ‘Hit The Hay’ sees jangly guitar playing tinted with sparse sampling and harmonies, to produce a wonderfully dreamy, escapist atmosphere.

Speaking about his new single, Lukewarmdaily96 explains –

“We have a remarkable ability of ignoring red flags when in the pursuit of being loved. Whether it be friends, family or romantic relationships, we often convince ourselves to stay. When being loved seems rare, we would rather endure abuse than cast ourselves out loveless in the cold. ‘Hit The Hay’ is about leaving, a concept that gives the song an overall sense of melancholic relief. It was recorded at around 2am in my bedroom and this is truly a compliment to the overall sonic sound and emotion that was captured accordingly. Presented with vulnerable lyrics through close mic’d recordings, there is a quality achieved which expresses the conflicted feelings of finally parting and moving away.”

His unique brand of lo-fi bedroom-built music has clearly impressed to date. Upon releasing his debut single ‘Peaching’ last year, Luke found himself featured on leading Spotify playlists such as ‘New Music Friday’, ‘Our Generation’ and ‘Duvet Day’. After this initial catapult, he went on to release his debut EP ‘Cluck’ to further acclaim with press from US outlets such as Earmilk and Atwood Magazine seeing this enigmatic artist’s music resonate far from home. ‘Hit The Hay’ is released on 15 April.

Fresh from the success of ‘You Me Myself’, Irish brothers Harry and Alfie Hudson-Taylor push things forward with the release of new single ‘Hold Out Hope’, as the countdown continues to the release of their eagerly-awaited third studio album ‘Searching For The Answers’ on June 3rd.

‘You Me Myself’ has enjoyed over 1,200 plays on Irish radio so far, and the track has helped drive Hudson Taylor’s monthly streaming figures over 400,000. ‘Hold Out Hope’ is another uptempo, positive-energy track with a message everyone can relate to in these testing times:

“Hold out hope ‘cos better days will come.”

To coincide with the release of ‘Hold Out Hope’, Hudson Taylor are delighted to announce an Irish tour, their first since 2019. In addition to their 3Olympia Dublin headline show on Saturday 4th June, they will be playing at the following venues:

• Fri 3^rd June St Iberius Church, Wexford.
• Sat 4^th June 3Olympia, Dublin.
• Sunday 5^th June The West’s Awake Festival, Clonoulty/Rossmore, Tipperary.
• Thursday 9^th June Monroe’s Live, Galway.
• Friday 10^th June Limelight 2, Belfast.
• Saturday 11th June Sandinos, Derry.
• Wed 15^th June  Cyprus Avenue, Cork.
• Thurs 16^th June Dolans Warehouse,Limerick.
• Friday 17th June The Crescent Concert Hall, Drogheda.
• 9^th July Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre, Kilmangah, Kilkenny

‘Hold Out Hope’ is released on Friday 15th April. ‘Searching For The Answers’ is released on LP, CD and on streaming platforms on Friday 3rd June.

Breakout Irish rockers N.O.A.H drop their uplifting brand new single The Way We Are Told today, 15th of April. 

With the help of Grammy Winning producer Ruadhri Cushnan, the band combines modern indie/alternative with 80’s nostalgia, ‘Springsteen meets Foster The People’.

This new single follows the highly regarded debut EP Echoes of the Night , which features collaborations with the likes of the Irish hip hop duo, Hare Squead  as well as New Orleans style brass band Booka  Brass . The EP was produced by the Grammy-Winning Ruadhri Cushnan  in Camden Studios and mastered by John Davis  of Metropolis studios London.

To mark the release of ‘Echoes of The Night,’ the band performed a headline show in The Fiddler London  on Oct 8th followed by a sold out show in Monroe ’s Galway  on Oct 9th. It’s a blistering project that grabbed the attention of those on the Irish music scene, not just the rock and noise genres.

With word spreading fast and the ever growing press, N.O.A.H signed with Natasha Bents’ newly founded Mother Artists Live Agency  (Foster The People, Idles, CMAT ). The band even made their first TV appearance on RTÉ Six One News  to talk about their story and quick rise within the industry.

The journey all started back in January 2020, after the band decided to reform a previous musical endeavour. The band took inspiration in its naming, from the biblical story of ‘Noah and the Ark’, which is centralised around the theme of new beginnings, a fundamental idea to the band’s vision and core values. N.O.A.H’s debut single ‘Shine’ was released back in September 2020, and since then the band has gone from strength to strength.

The band have garnered consistent radio play and media attention across Ireland as well as the growing adoration and praise of peers and fans in the UK. Moreover, the band recorded an exclusive acoustic rendition of Shine for radio presenter Laura Whitmore on BBC5 Live  in the UK.  Further interest was shown from Irish national broadcaster RTE2 FM  who placed Hands Up  on their main playlist rotation.

With Lander Pr, Mother Artists, Live Nation  and MCD  the band are ready to make their mark in the UK and Ireland with a debut UK tour and a summer of Irish festivals some of which include Sea Sessions & Kaleidoscope.

This emotionally honest new tune is the first of several singles scheduled to support these busy few months.

http://www.noahofficialband.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NoahBandIrl

https://www.instagram.com/noah_official_band/

https://twitter.com/_NOAH_Music

New song, Heavy Lifting was inspired by “our instinct to help those around us in times of need” and is being released in support of Helping Irish Hosts, an organisation recently established to empower local communities across Ireland as they respond to the current humanitarian emergency in Ukraine.

Singer Matt Lunson and his family are currently hosting recently displaced Ukrainians themselves and Heavy Lifting features guest vocals from his daughter & co-host, Maisie-Jane.

Matt, Maisie-Jane and Cormac Curran will perform the song this Sunday 10th April at the Abbey Theatre as part of the show SOLIDARITY, accompanied by 15yr old Ukrainian dancer Taiissia Shvets, choreographed by Michael Keegan Dolan (The Dance / Teac Damsa). The song was recorded in Treehouse Studios, Wicklow with Brian Crosby.

Hosted by Panti Bliss, SOLIDARITY will feature musical performances from BellX1’s Paul Noonan, Camille O’Sullivan, Kila, singer/songwriter Sharyn Ward and Maria Doyle Kennedy, readings from actor Denise Gough, playwright Mark O’Halloran, author Sinead Gleeson, performance artist Amanda Coogan, actor Stephen Rea and poet Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe. (In aid of Irish Refugee Council, Doras and Emergency Alliance).

Reclusive Dublin band One Day International release their first music since 2008 debut album, Blackbird.

Helping Irish Hosts: https://www.helpingirishhosts.com/

The Abbey Theatre – SOLIDARITY: https://www.abbeytheatre.ie/whats-on/solidarity/

Nettwerk is excited to announce the signing of up-and-coming Irish singer-songwriter Seba Safe (real name Michael D’Alton) to the label roster, and today he’s shared a poignant new track “Oscars”. It showcases his heartfelt vocals and songwriting, with simple yet melancholy lyrics that give the song a fresh twist.

Seba Safe calls “Oscars” a “classic break-up blues buzz” song. “It’s about acting happy when you’re not, so friends and family don’t worry about you. Using happiness as a front. Also, the song questions the authenticity of other people’s happiness.”

One of the most interesting songwriting talents to emerge from Ireland’s shores in the last year, “Oscars” is his first new material since the success of his debut EP Map Runner and marks a strong label debut for the Galway musician, giving a glimpse on what’s to come.

Writing candidly and honestly on personal relationships, love, loss and change, Seba Safe’s pertinent lyrics are wrapped in a sound that combines elements of Pop, Folk, Indie and R’n’B seamlessly, establishing himself as one of Ireland’s most promising and emerging songwriting talents out there.

With an artistic range that saw him collaborate with Æ MAK on “I Dance In The Kitchen”, the track saw heavy radio and DSP support including being named ‘Track Of The Day’ on KEXP.

Last year saw Seba Safe securing solid DSP editorial support, selling out a second headline show in Dublin’s The Grand Social, and garnering significant airplay support from BBC’s 6 Music, RTE 2FM (including Record of the Week from Tracy Clifford), RTE Radio 1 playlisting amongst many others. With more new music to come, 2022 is set to be another breakthrough year for Seba Safe.

See Seba Safe when he plays with alt-rock & Irish soul band Rossa Murray & the blowin’ winds.

12th May                     Ballinadee Bus, Cork

13th May                     Bello Bar, Dublin

14th & 15^th May          Sunflower Bar, Belfast

Seba Safe on:

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Corner Boy are set to return with their highly anticipated new single ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’, which is set for release on 8 April. The sonically sprawling and anthemic track is the first single to be released from Corner Boy’s upcoming debut album.

For nearly a decade late-night driving, couch surfing and service station dinners fuelled Corner Boy’s ever-evolving foot stomping ramble through the many pubs, clubs, rooms and ruins of every shape and size up and down Ireland and further afield.

As a result a collection of songs quietly willed their way into existence representative of this experience living and learning on the road and crafted by the associated peaks and troughs that come with the transient territory.

Fast forward to March 2020 and with the band’s 2002 Ford Transit van (Sheila) now indisposed a moment finally arrived for Corner Boy to record their debut album. Under the tutelage of producer Gavin Glass the band sought refuge in Orphan Studios and some 18 months later, emerged from the other side with a debut album in hand.

Very much the aural amalgam, the album explores in varying degrees combinations of folk, rock, traditional, bluegrass and alternative. Accompanied by heartfelt lyrics as earnest as they are resonant.

‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’, the first single from Corner Boy’s upcoming debut album, is set for release on the 8 April with further details on the album to follow.

Balancing high-intensity raps with considered spoken word, Limerick man Willzee draws listeners in with his flawless flow and social commentaries. Willzee is part of a musical movement that brings his hometown Limerick to the top of the Irish rap scene.

He is preparing to release his debut album later this month, April 29^th, via the Welcome to the New World label, and today shares a new song from the album.

‘My Light’ features soulful backing vocals, and lyric contributions, from Tullamore’s Tolü Makay – Stream/download: https://found.ee/MyLight

“My Light is a story of a couple’s journey through the highs and the lows, the loss of 3 angels and how love held together the strings of a relationship worn thin through self-blame, alcohol and drug abuse. This is based on a true story I’ve experienced, focusing on the love of another and the support given when trapped in your own self-pity.” (Willzee)

The story of Willzee is the story of rising from adversity, struggle and hardship. As a young man Willzee was angry at the world, born a member of the travelling community. As a series of moments shed light on another way to live, Willzee discovered music as a way to express his true self freely. He began to dream about turning everything that shaped him into something good that could help the next man or woman.

With a musical style harking back to the golden years of 90’s rap, and musical heroes such as Eminem, Hopsin and proud Traveller, folk-rapper Steo Wall, Wilzee’s rap is a gritty take on the issues faced generation’s Z and Alpha. His music is informed by global issues such as climate change, local issues like the scourge of hard-drugs, as well as the personal issues he has encountered in his life.

Throughout Willzee’s upbringing there has been many stages of the artists life where he would feel socially excluded from circles from either being “Too traveller for the settled people or too settled for the travellers”. Through positive reassurance, patience, love and understanding from Willzee’s foster parents, he began to steer him towards a brighter positive future and use his pain as healing for others.

Willzee‘s first official appearance was as the lead actor in the music video of fellow label artist Enda Gallery’s single ‘It’s Alright‘. Willzee also channels his talents into spoken word and script writing. He won the 2019 Virgin Media Discovers Short Film Competition with his script for the film ‘Innocent Boy’ which premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival in February 2020.

His first spoken word release in 2020 ’Dear Friend II‘ plots a different potential course for Limerick but moreover, for communities in need of care all over the world, he urges us to “let the past be the past, but take it further.” Followed by an impressive single release featuring UK MC Mic Righteous, Willzee announced his debut album to be released this year with it’s first singles ‘A Dream of Peace’ and ‘No Remorse’.

With a powerful stage presence and a personality to match his latest offering hits with the same bone shattering precision.

‘Kuti Gris’, the debut album from WIllzee, drops on 29th April 2022. Pre-save it here: https://found.ee/willzee_kutigris

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The shared determination of two longtime friends to craft original music has brought new Irish act Rosenallis to your airwaves. Their soft-rock style and a multilingual approach to lyrics subtly connects the Latin, Celtic and Anglo cultures.

Rosenallis debuted their single “Fuego” (17th Dec) followed by “If I’ll Come Home” (22nd Dec). A further five new tracks will be released in 2022, beginning with ‘Memory Factory’ on April 8th.

“Memory Factory” is a story of good times found during the pandemic, where a unique freedom was found to create memories and love on a secret journey across the mesmerizing landscapes of the Emerald Isle.

The seven tracks took months of preparation and twenty hours of recording. Between lockdowns, studio time was squeezed in at Dublin Studio Hub. “Fuego”, and “Heart of Revery”. Kevo’s lead vocals and the earthy acoustic guitar heard in “Letters”, “Goldfly”, “If I’ll Come Home” and “Mountain Ash” was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios. His electric guitar was recorded in Dalkey. The drums were recorded at Jealoustown Studios in Meath. “Mountain Ash” was written with respect to the history of the Connemara mountains and starts off on a deep build-up and moves on a quick tempo. In contrast “Memory Factory” will be one for the slow romantic. But each of the seven charts another sub-theme.

To single out the most outstanding will prove to be an arduous task, as each of the seven is unique in its own way, whether high-tempo, slow, bluesy or romantic. For producer Larry Hogan though “it has to be Fuego. It is a real… it’s almost 1970’s. It’s quite funky but at the same time it kind of takes you away to foreign climes and exotic places. There’s lot of that kind of imagery going on.”. The catchy hook and lifty key change in Fuego give it an added dimension that can hitch in listeners.

Two guest artists feature on the Rosenallis tracks. As part of the production, producer Larry Hogan as his Dublin Studio Hub has injected a variety of instruments across the seven tracks- keys, piano, guitar, bass and brass – and thus has been hugely important in further developing the songs. Longtime friend Garrett Eaton in L.A., an alumni of Berklee College of Music in Boston, has added lead guitar overdubs on “Fuego” and “Memory Factory”.

The way Rosenallis have set themselves up early on can largely be summarized by the word unwavering. Both their approach to music-making and their personalities are certainly this. Kevin O’Connor, lead vocalist says: “We play what sounds good to us, and hopefully the fans will like what we do. But if not, we are going to go ahead and do what we do!”. The lyric language begins too as a blank canvas. “Whether Spanish, English or Irish Gaelic – it’s whatever comes out and sounds right. If it passes the foot-tap test it’s passed the first mark.”. Both “Fuego” and “Letters” bear elements of Spanish, while there are songs in progress completely as Gaeilge.

As the songwriting started just before the pandemic era, it was not practical to begin band practices with a large group or hold auditions. However a bass player, pianist and lead guitarist will be needed in future by Rosenallis. It is expected that releasing the tracks first will bring a better chance of sourcing a right fit.

The search for a name was becoming necessary towards the end of 2019, as the songwriting began to take shape and the drum lines started rolling out. While drudging through James Joyce’s famous novel “Ulysses”, a reference to a small village in County Laois was stumbled upon that had a nice ring to it. Historically the name evolved from the Irish language. Ros Fhionnghlaise translates as ‘wood of the clear stream’. Originally Rosenallis was only intended as a placeholder name. Then it stuck.

Rosenallis step by step:

KEVIN (“KEVO”) O’CONNOR: Songwriter, lead vocals, guitar. Aged 30, is a mechanical engineer in railways who studied at University College London. He is currently living between Galway and Tel Aviv. Fascinated by languages and travelling.

KEVIN CLESHAM: Drums. Kevin (or “Clesh”), thirty, is an orthopedic surgeon from Mayo living in Dublin and is the rock of the duo. Likes pretending to be good at golf.

Website: www.rosenallismusic.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rosenallismusic/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rosenallisofficial/

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC71AasS5VesCx1zMLdf_wgQ

Best known for his time as frontman of Dublin quintet The Eskies, who released 2 highly acclaimed albums and toured Europe extensively including festival performances at Glastonbury, Montreux Jazz Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Electric Picnic etc , Ian Bermingham has developed a reputation as a truly singular writer and performer, ploughing a furrow that defies both trend and tradition.

His eagerly anticipated debut album ‘The Death Of Old Sea Legs’ is a genre-bending, un- pigeonhole-able, totally singular record. It’s a timeless tangle of tongue-twisting, brain-burrowing lyrics that lurches from breathless barrage to lilting lament – at times without a moments notice. Crawling with vivid imagery and colourful characters, it’s a window into a world entirely of Bermingham’s own creation.

Displaying all of the storytelling nous and craft of the quintessential folk troubadour, the melodic ear of a pop pioneer and the lyrical largesse that has become so synonymous with Ian’s songwriting, ‘Old Sea Legs’ see’s the Dubliner push himself to new and exciting territory as a solo performer, with a sound that manages to be both expansive yet intimate.

‘The Lighthouse’ is released this Friday 8th April and is taken from his debut album ‘The Death Of Old Sea Legs’ which is set for release on 29th April and is accompanied by a Dublin headline show at The Grand Social on release day followed by an extensive 20 date UK tour throughout the month of May.

The Lighthouse is one last lovesick letter to its central character’s own Dublin, it’s the punch-drunk stupor that comes after a traumatic break up steeped in heartache and dripping with ire.

“Bury my heart in duvet. Have my head washed in stout”

‘Written after an especially bad break up which led me to consider emigrating. I wrote it thinking that as well as being about a breakup, it could equally double as a farewell to Dublin’

Old Sea Legs – Socials Links :

Twitter –  @itsoldsealegs

Instagram –  @itsoldsealegs

Facebook –  @itsoldsealegs

Website – www.oldsealegs.com

Hailing from the Viking City of Ireland, Under Starling are breathing fresh air into the Irish music scene with their unique brand of alternative rock.

All flocks start small, but this gritty four-piece are rapidly forming a group of followers through their energetic live shows and popular releases. Latest singles Icarus and Purple Heights were praised by Hot Press, RTE 2XM and all audiences on their national tour. Between crowd-surfing, mosh pits, and the interaction Danny has with the audience, the band has always been connected with their fans. The escapism offered by their music and live shows brings people together like a flock of starlings. We are like murmurations.

Beautiful with a bite – Under Starling invoke a feeling of euphoria with their reverb-soaked melodies and dark distorted riffs. Powerful drum beats drive a rocky undertone to their pop styled music. The band draw influence from the likes of Biffy Clyro, Foals, and The Japanese House but their own sound is “difficult to pigeonhole” (Music Republic Magazine).

The band has played support to many famous acts throughout the years such as Walking on Cars, Fangclub, and Bitch Falcon to name a few. Their own tours have seen packed out shows in the likes of Fred Zeppelins, Dolans, Roisín Dubh, and Whelans.

Under Starling are currently recording their next EP with noted producer Christian Best with plans to release later this year.

Mongrel is a progressive rock composition, showcasing the darker side of Under Starling. The lyrics depict the struggles faced by the band over the years, with every hurdle providing the fuel to the flame that is Mongrel.

The opening chant “I’m right at the door” ingrains the idea of being on the doorstep of your dreams but not welcome inside. Throughout the narrative, Danny is in a constant battle between confidence and self-doubt. In one instance, he says “when you feel in your bones that your time has come”, he is certain of his destiny. Whereas the essence of negativity is evident in “nothing came out of blood sweat and tears”.

Between the belting vocals, dueling guitars and trashing rhythm section, Mongrel has always been a showstopper.

Mongrel drops April 8th 2022.

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