Author: Breffni Banks

New Irish artist JRILLA has been steadily building his audience since the release of his debut single ‘Intro’ during 2020. Following up a meteoritic rise on Spotify and Youtube, JRILLA released the video to ‘Beggin U’, dropping at midday on Saturday March 19, 2022.

This rising young star has been making rap on hip hop drill since the age of 17 from his bedroom, free-styling with friends and has been on the grind since. The name JRILLA was given to him by friends from his Cork neighbourhood, later joining up with M5 Sound Studio in Cork city when he decided to develop his skills further. With almost 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, the new single ‘Beggin U’ has clocked up over 300,000 streams since its release in February.

JRILLA brings positive influence into the negativity of living and keeps everyday struggles in the forefront of his music. His relatable storylines and melodic rhythm have grabbed the attention of the online community. JRILLA released his first official single in 2020 as well as the YouTube hit ‘Somebody I Used to Drill’ which gained over 3.5 million YouTube views and 4 million streams on music platforms such as Spotify / Apple Music & TikTok.

Following up the online success of ‘Beggin U’, JRILLA, the stunning accompanying video was shot at the new Marina Market in Cork and will be followed by a superb one-take video for his new his new banger, ‘Lonely for the First Time’, out soon!

Twitter: @iamjrilla

Instagram: jrilla_47_

TikTok: jrilla_

Lisa Canny is certainly an artist like no other. The Irish multi-instrumentalist unites traditional folk music with pop, RnB and electronica to make a sound that is completely unique. Proudly embracing her description as a “disgrace to the tradition”, Lisa Canny is a force to be reckoned with right now as evident on her new single. ‘Know It All’ is a punchy and empowering track, filled with playful strings and dynamic vocals.

The rising talent has been working furiously under numerous projects, and now sees the release of her long-anticipated multidisciplinary E.P. project FOLK+, alongside her headline show at London’s Hoxton Hall (April 15th) and a fully-immersive FOLK+ launch experience at The Old Church (June 1st). Canny is at her absolute strongest in a live setting. Expect everything from hard-hitting, banjo-driven-bangers to looping-harp and 3-part harmony arrangements; to finally heart-wrenching acoustic ballads that feel descended from the songbooks of Laura Marling.

Discovered by Miles Copeland (The Police, CIA Records) at a gig in LA, Canny was flown to France to ASCAPs Annual Songwriters Retreat to work with some of the industry’s top artists, producers and songwriters. From there she signed her first publishing deal and, soon after, packed her bags for London. Last year alone saw Canny sell out London’s infamous Jazz Café – not to mention a 26-date European tour.

Speaking on the new track ‘Know It All’, she explains: “It’s about pretending that you know what you are doing when you actually haven’t a clue. It signifies all the times I moulded and morphed myself to suit somebody else’s image for me, rather than staying true to my authentic self.”

‘Know It All’ is out March 30th

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Clare artist David Hope releases his new song ‘Moon and Back’ this Friday March 25th. The track is taken from his forthcoming new album ‘And the Sea’.

A deeply personal ode to saying goodbye, to parting words and loss “Moon and Back” is a beautifully sad song depicting something we all must do in our lives “Goodbye, such a sweet and simple word, yet a dagger to the heart, tears your world apart”

The song as with the album over all represent Hope’s most deeply personal and engaging body of work to date. Built on a core mix of very deep and well crafted lyrics combined with a great ‘live in the studio’ style of recording, this song will draw the listener into the world David has created.

While David has undoubtedly drawn influence from blues and American folk music, his sensibilities, wit and wistful melancholy are unmistakably rooted in the West of Ireland.

‘The Irishman from rural County Clare is easily right up there with his contemporaries and compatriots such as Mick Flannery and Declan O’Rourke’

– Folker Magazin (DE)

‘The songs of the Irish Bard, mixed with piano, electric guitar and backing harmonies, connect the exuberance of Bob Seger and Frankie Miller with the folk profundity of Ralph McTell.’

-Rolling Stone (DE)

‘With a rough-hewn voice somewhere between that of Tom Waits and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy (with a touch of Springsteen), Hope combines elements of folk, country, blues and soul, his songs are strong and have alived-in, authentic, almost sepia-toned feel…are on a par with anything out of the American heartland.’

– Hotpress (IRL)

Social Links:

www.davidhope.ie |Twitter – @DavidPHope |Instagram @DavidHope

FYA FOX marks her territory, emerging onto the scene being tipped as “Hot For 2022” by HotPress. Rest assured this alt-pop empress isn’t messing around when it comes to her first release of 2022! ’Hit Me Where It Hurts’ conveys a once vulnerable side to FOX, but does it end like all good fairy tales? Set for release on Friday, March 25th.

Returning from a slight breather, this has been described as FOX’s best release to date. FYA totally captivates the listener with the opening line “Is this what emptiness feels now you’re gone”. We want to know more, what has happened?

“This song came from my experience of people expressing their opinions and doubts of me as an artist in the music industry”. FYA collaborated with Richy McCourt over a zoom call during lockdown, from there the track was produced by Matt Weir & Si Fransis. Wrapped in a pulsating synth with a lingering baseline, the track builds tension replicating suppressed feelings from past experiences, but we see FOX regaining confidence as the chorus drops.

Following a stellar set of releases in 2021, performing at Ireland’s leading music festival for emerging artists Ireland Music Week, and selling out her debut headline show at Whelan’s in November 2021, FYA FOX is a name to remember for 2022.

FYA has gained major support across Irish national & regional radio stations along with plays on BBC Radio 1, ‘Track of The Week’ features on RTE 2FM, Spin South West and Today FM just to mention a few. Support from HotPress tipping FYA as “2022 Ones to Watch” along with support from Record of the Day, Nialler9, The Last Mixed Tape, Flavour Magazine, Fortitude & Alfitude + many more. FYA’s latest release ‘NUMB’ (55k streams) was playlisted on ‘New Music Friday’ & New Pop UK. Previous releases were playlisted on ‘Fresh Finds’ & ‘Fresh Finds Pop’, along with being listed on BBC Radio Ulster ‘Where Music Matters’ Feb & Sep 2021 playlist.

Headline Show June 2nd 2022, The Sound House, Dublin

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Photo: Lucy Curran

Last month, Fontaines D.C. released a second track from their highly anticipated new album ‘Skinty Fia’ – to be released on April 22nd on Partisan Records. ‘I Love You’, was met with international acclaim and joined the first single, ‘Jackie Down The Line’, in building widespread excitement for the band’s third album.

Today, the beloved Irish band – who just took home the trophy for “Best Band In The World” at the 2022 BandLab NME Awards – released the album’s titular track ‘Skinty Fia’, accompanied by a music video.

To celebrate the release of ‘Skinty Fia’, the band will embark on a UK & Irish National Tour taking place in Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Derry, and Belfast this November and December.

Skinty Fia is an Irish phrase that translates to English as “the damnation of the deer” and the album’s cover art features a deer, plucked from its natural habitat and deposited in the hallway of a home, illuminated by an artificial red glow. The phrase, which is used to display disappointment or annoyance, resonated with frontman Grian Chatten as the correct expression of his feelings towards the “mutation” of Irish culture abroad. The song explores the idea through the lens of a relationship doomed by paranoia, alcohol, and drugs.

The accompanying music video, directed by Hugh Mulhern, captures the tension in the song, as Grian maneuvers his way through a bustling party crowd, seemingly unnoticed, in what turns out to be a disorientating, surrealist dreamscape. ‘Skinty Fia’ operates as the album’s anchor, setting the tone for the rest of the record, as the band explores new musical terrain while lyrically they grapple with a need to broaden their horizons following a recent relocation to London.

There are echoes of Dogrel’s rumbustious rock ’n’ roll, and the bleaker atmospheres of A Hero’s Death, but ‘Skinty Fia’, the third in the triumvirate, is much more expansive and cinematic. Fontaines D.C. are a band in a state of constant evolution and this time the result is an album of shifting moods, startling insight, maturity, and considerable emotional wallop.

Pre-order Skinty Fia HERE

TOUR DATES

Wednesday, 30 November: Vicar Street Dublin 

Saturday, 3 December: Leisureland, Galway

Monday, 5 December: Live at The Big Top, Limerick 

Tuesday, 6 December: Millennium Form, Derry

Wednesday, 7 December: Ulster Hall, Belfast

Tickets on sale Wednesday, 30th March at 10 am available from www.singularartists.ie

A strict limit of 4 tickets per person

Connect with Fontaines D.C.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | BandCamp | Spotify

Clannad is celebrating an exceptional award-winning 50-year career with the exciting announcement of a farewell Dublin show date in 3Arena, Friday 9th December 2022.

Speaking about the upcoming Dublin show date, singer Moya Brennan said:

‘Our Farewell show in the 3 Arena Dublin will certainly be an occasion for celebration, our 50 years as Clannad, our hugely successful recording career, and of course our pride in our Irish culture, language, and song. This will be a fitting and fond farewell to Dublin and will feature a career-spanning setlist, worthy of this bittersweet occasion. We look forward to welcoming our fans from near and far to Dublin in December.’

The Grammy and BAFTA award-winning band have sold more than 15 million records worldwide.

To coincide with this very special Farewell Dublin show, BMG has released ‘In a Lifetime’ Anthology; a multiformat, career-spanning anthology containing tracks from Clannad’s 50-year recording career. It is available as a 38 track 2CD set, 2CD deluxe, 2LP, 2LP deluxe, and an expanded deluxe 100+ track set as well as digital versions. The anthology will both delight and excite Clannad’s enormous and loyal fanbase as well as introduce this legendary, influential, and culturally important band to a whole new generation of music fans.

The multi-award winning Clannad has without doubt done more than any other group to take Irish music and the Irish language to a worldwide audience. Fusing elements of traditional Irish music with more contemporary folk, new age, and rock they have created a beautifully unique and ethereal sound that combines haunting melodies and mesmerising vocals to transcend the sands of time whilst appealing to a worldwide audience of all ages.

Tickets from €49.50 include booking fee

Go on sale Friday, 25th March at 9 am from www.singularartists.ie 

Connect with Clannad

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify

As the release date of her debut album ‘Immortalised’ creeps closer, Dublin alt-rock / postpunk artist Ava Vox presents the single ‘Alone Again’, featuring bassist James Blennerhassett, who has worked with Elvis Costello, The Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithful and Van Morrison, as well as drummer Robbie Casserly (Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler, The Commitments, Riverdance). This haunting hymn is the second taste of her debut LP.

“The song ‘Alone Again’ is about an abusive relationship, where the victim eventually gets the courage to escape from their abuser. Once away, they realise it was the right thing to do for them, and they feel happy and safe at last. But then the abuser lures them back again, saying they will change, it will never happen again,” says Ava Vox.

Not long ago, Ava Vox released ‘Crash’, a post-punk banger with lively video, produced by Isaac Burke, echoing an ominous warning about environmental devastation with a visualization of the world crashing down. She early debuted with a cover of The Cure’s ‘Love Song’, followed by her ‘Strange Days’ single, which included her rendition of Soft Cell’s ‘Tainted Love’ and Bowie’s ‘Life on Mars’.

The ‘Immortalised’ LP was produced by Ray McLoughlin (RMC Recording Studios), a musician / producer who has performed or recorded with innumerable artists from Cliff Richard,  Daniel O’Donnell to Francis Black and Rick Astley, and also served as musical director for shows for RTE, BBC, PBS America and SKY.

A Dublin native, Ava Vox (real name Elaine Hannon) now lives in County Meath. While involved with various music projects in the past few decades, her Ava Vox persona emerged in September 2020. With a unique vocal timbre and commanding delivery with a dash of goth rock and post-punk, her musical style ranges from slow melodic atmospheric to dynamic rock.

Venturing out as a vocalist at 17, Elaine quickly graduating from backing to lead vocalist. In the mid-1980’s, Elaine formed gothic rock / post-punk band The Seventh Veil, which ultimately disbanded in 1991. After significant airplay and excellent reviews by the likes of Hot Press Magazine, Eamonn Carr, and the Evening Herald, the band won the Battle of the Bands competition, the prize being recording time with Dublin producer Paul Thomas, well known for his work with U2, Kate Bush, UB40, Status Quo, Davy Spillane and Clannad.

As of March 25, the ‘Immortalised’ LP will be available across online stores and streaming services, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

Ava Vox ‘Immortalised’ Album Launch gig & celebration returning to stage again, on Friday 25th March at The Thomas House, Thomas Street, Dublin 8.  Doors open at 8pm.  Special guest DJ Terry Darklands.

Tickets available on Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/ava-vox-immortalised-album-launch-gig-tickets-268547170817

Keep up with Ava Vox
Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify |

Goldie Bron$on is a 20 year old Independent Music Artist based in Cork City, Ireland.

He released his first single last May. His passion goes so far that he loves performing no matter the crowd or location. His sound comes from a wide range of influences which shows he has versatility across a number of genres, from Pop to Hip-hop to Electronic sounds, such is his love for making music.

But you can clearly know Goldie Bron$on due to his unique voice and brilliant songwriting ability, in taking a serious subject but making it listenable in any situation from your car.. to getting down at a party. ‘If I Ruled The World’ is a very special song for Goldie and he hopes to spread it as far as possible and perform it wherever he can.

Hot Press Magazine has even tipped this Cork singer-songwriter for a mainstream breakthrough in the near future. However Goldie shows his connection to what is going on in the world with his next single; an alternative pop song with multiple genres fusing together to form “If Ruled The World”, releasing on March 25^th.

It is definitely the most personal song he has released so far with it being written just as he began to gain confidence to do music. Previously, and part of the reason Goldie Bron$on is Goldie Bron$on is due to the fear and reluctance he had to do music during school and kept it to himself until he was 18 and won his school talent show. Having written songs since a young age this song shows Goldie’s maturity and growth both as an artist and a person. Goldie Bron$on was a different character who he could be to make whatever it wanted to be while also speaking about things that affect him or his views on the world. Just earlier this year he reached number 2 on the Apple charts on a collaboration with London DJ Pivotal.

‘If I Ruled The World’ is a song about his own struggle to face his fears and insecurities in life but its also a call of encouragement to others to do the same. At the time Goldie was finishing up writing this song the Black Lives Matters movement had just went to the mainstream as well as seeing a lot of violence. Goldie encourages people to be true to themselves and also stand up for what’s right which is love and respect for everybody regardless of Race, Sexuality, Nationality etc.

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