Author: Breffni Banks

Rising electro-pop artist Vale has announced that his debut EP will be called Aftertouch and will be released on Friday 29th April 2022.

It is a collection of songs that has, Vale says, evolved from a moment when he was unsure if it would ever be shared with anyone. “Some of it is rooted in darkness, more of it is questioning our place here. It can sound in places, cold, careless or maybe even hurtful… but it’s quietly hopeful, moving along, step by step,” he elaborates.

Today, Friday 25th February, he gives fans a further glimpse into what to expect from the EP by sharing new single ‘I Don’t Need You Right Now’; a song that will captivate listeners with its haunting electro soundscapes.

The single is the follow-up to ‘Allow and Breach’, Vale’s previous single that sparked a support slot with Soda Blonde in Cork’s Cyprus Avenue.

The Tipperary-based producer and vocalist has been building his catalogue and prolifically testing the waters with songs like ‘Tore It Down’ and ‘The Sun Is My Filter’.

Collaborating with people like Nashville-based producer Owen Lewis, Icelandic musician Sin Fang (of the band Seabear) and producer, multi-instrumentalist David O’Connor, Vale is the new project of Eoin Hally, who will be familiar to many from his previous band, Pale Rivers.

Having been conceptualised just before the dawn of lockdown in Ireland, the USA and Iceland, an incredible Vale live show is in the works with a full four piece band that includes Alex Ridley (HousePlants, Daithí) on drums, David O’Connor (Pale Rivers, The Workshop Studio) on Ableton and samples duty, Kate Twohig on piano and OP1 and Hally himself on vocals and, as he puts it, a whole bunch of synths.

Speaking about the single, Vale says:  “This is a track  that sat on my computer for ages but I just couldn’t let go of it. It always felt like a Vale song but didn’t quite sound like one. Late last year I was drawn back to it and it’s core idea: The need for the future-perfect. Landing in a moment and realising that what you were looking for was not the direction that you thought you were headed to; in fact it was way off in some other corner of a place you didn’t know you needed to be. That is what ‘I Don’t Need You Right Now’ is for me.”

Without a doubt, Vale is Hally’s most striking musical project to date; one that showcases honed writing skills and production that isn’t afraid to push boundaries, but nor is it afraid to show restraint. The result is expansive music that is as lush as it is sparse, with just the right level of restraint in between crescendos. This is music that is crying out to be experienced underneath a stretch tent, resplendent with an immersive AV show.

Deirdre Murphy is a multi-disciplinary artist. She counts herself as a musician, singer, choreographer, dancer, playwright, and sartorial adventurer. Originally from Alaska, Deirdre travelled nomadically throughout the USA collecting many adventures and stories before moving to Ireland 16 years ago. She has been creating work for international audiences in theatre, dance, and music ever since. She is a community builder and purveyor of love.

Deirdre is the writer and composer of “Capitalism: The Musical” (2017), acrobatic musical theatre which has toured Ireland and Italy, and has been translated into Italian and French. She is the creator/collaborator of many original works of music, dance, aerial dance, theatre, and performance art. She has co-curated and produced three festivals and numerous performances, and has been featured in Oonagh Kearney’s short films “The Wake” and “Her Mother’s Daughters.” She performed in the Electric Picnic, Body and Soul, many other festivals with macabre aerial performance group Guerilla Aerial. Deirdre’s work has been performed in Ireland, the USA, Italy, Germany, France, and Canada.

Deirdre’s second single ‘Hands Down’ will be released on all platforms on February 25th, 2022.

The track is a beautiful gentle song about connection to each other and the natural world. Produced and mixed by Oli Ryan, It features Thunderclap Murphy on ukulele, Denis McAuliffe on mandolin and violin, and Oli Ryan on percussion, double bass, and guitar. The video, shot in the Burren with director and filmmaker Ciara Malone, is a statement in simplicity and grace.

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F3miii continues his story with his outlandishly themed single ‘With U’.

The song deals with overcoming fears in friendships and love, as F3miii navigates his way through his final stages of “teenage-hood” and introduces himself to adulthood.

F3miii’s individual take on music comes as a form of self therapy. The vocalist finds solace in creating music about love and heartbreak that people can relate to.

In terms of artform, F3miii’s style is completely unique, his songs give a feeling of home; mellow yet vibrant and full. This record was produced by F3miii himself.

‘With U’ is out Friday February 25th.

Instagram | Spotify

Born in France, Tom Delany has been playing Irish traditional music since the age of 12, when his father Rory, who emigrated from Ireland in the 1980’s taught him to play the tin whistle.

By thirteen, Tom had picked up the Uilleann pipes, and was already performing regularly around France. Inspired by the travelling style of piping which he encountered in recordings of Johnny Doran, Paddy Keenan and Davy Spillane. Tom’s music was later greatly influenced by the playing of Mickey Dunne, John McSherry and Blackie O’Connell.

Since his first of many visits to County Clare, Tom has developed a particular fondness for the music of the west of Ireland. A founder member of the band Four Winds alongside Daoiri Farrell, Tom plays in duo with Caroline Keane and is a member of the transatlantic collaboration Coast to Coast.

Tom says; “I’ve been toying with the idea of making an album for a few years. The more time I spent playing with people around the world the more I realised how many ways there are to interpret Irish Music and that’s the beauty of it. Personally, I grew up listening to the music of the 70’s- bands like the Bothy Band, Planxty or the Chieftains heavily influenced my approach. So once I started putting this album together the tunes and arrangements naturally came to me”.

Gerry O’Beirne adds “Tom Delany has been living near Dingle for the last few years and on these tracks you can hear traces of the individualism that courses through the Corca Dhuibhne music scene. Evident too is the drive associated with the music of the storied session pubs in Ennis where he has played with some of the best. But this ning  rollinmusic harks back especially to theg roistering troubadours of 1970’s Ireland and it’s clear that he has spent more time than most listeto the LPs of Mulligan and Claddagh, Topic and Gael Linn”.

Joining Tom on the album are some of Ireland’s finest Caroline Keane on Concertina,  Alan Murray on Guitar & Bouzouki, Brian O’Loughlin on Flute, Laura Kerr on Fiddle, Conor Lyons on Bodhrán, Camille Phillipe on Mandolin, all hewn together beautifully in studio by former Lúnasa guitarist Donogh Hennessy.

Tom adds; ““I teamed up with some of my very good friends who I knew understood the concept and my taste in music.  Most of the tunes recorded have been around for decades if not centuries and will more than likely be at the centre of the tradition for a long time. The pipes are obviously at the forefront but the album also includes whistles, concertina, fiddle, flute, mandolin, bodhran, guitar and bouzouki played by some of my favourite players and all really old friends”. ”.

Tom Delany is launching his new release on Saturday 26th February as part of the Russell Memorial Weekend in Doolin, Co. Clare. Featuring Caroline Keane, Dom Keogh, Ruben Bada. The event is taking place in “The Attic” at Hotel Doolin. 7pm start, Free admission.

Photo: Fiona Morgan

Irish born singer – songwriter Megan O’Neill is set to release her stunning new EP ‘Time (Thought You Were On My Side)’ on the 8 April. The lead single from the EP ‘Wildfire’ is out now across all digital platforms.

Speaking of the new EP Megan O’Neill said “This EP feels like the beginning of a new sonic chapter for me. Over the past two years I’ve been heavily influenced by different sounds and styles and I think that comes across throughout these five songs.”

Deemed a “rising star” by uDiscover and Timeout Magazine London, Megan O’Neill’s songs have received great attention over the past year – including her recent single Ireland, which hit over 400,000 views on social media during release month and was shared by major media outlets Joe.ie, Her.ie, Image Magazine, Irish TV and more. The video was also picked up and shared by none other than Olivia Newton-John as well as being added to the RTE Radio 1 playlist for three weeks running.

Megan O’Neill released her second full length studio album last year (March 12th, 2021) – titled ‘Getting Comfortable with Uncertainty’. This much anticipated album follows her last release, ‘Ghost of You’ (June 2018) which hit #1 on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts in the UK and Ireland, and two EP’s previous to this (‘Coming Home’, 2015 and ‘Stories to Tell’, 2017).

‘Time in a Bottle’, the bonus track off the new album, featured on episode one of hit Netflix TV Show Firefly Lane. One week later, she performed the song live on the RTE Late Late Show – reaching an audience of approximately 2 million and the single charted that same weekend in Ireland across all genres. ‘Time in a Bottle’ was the highest new entry on the Irish Homegrown Charts at the end of February and was playlisted by RTE Radio 1.

Alongside her releases as an artist, Megan O’Neill writes for many other artists across the world in multiple genres. Over the coming 12 months, she has some incredibly exciting releases on the horizon with artists in the UK and Ireland – yet to be announced. Megan also works independently as a songwriter with multiple publishing houses, writing to brief for sync projects and for other artist projects.

To date Megan O’Neill has toured the UK, Ireland, US and Germany. She has performed at private Oscars’ parties in LA alongside Gavin James (on invite from JJ Abrams) and has had her song ‘Don’t You’ featured on ABC’s hit TV Show ‘Nashville’ (Season 3). Megan has also opened shows for the likes of Sir Tom Jones, Lighthouse Family and Jamie Cullum to name a few.

Megan O’Neill’s brand new single ‘Wildfire’ is out now across all digital platforms, with her EP ‘Time (Thought You Were On My Side)’ set for release on 8 April.

For More Information:

Megan-oneill.com / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter

Hot off the heels of their debut release, ‘Cyclical’, Box Clone are now ready to deliver their follow-up single ‘Lie to the People’.

This politically-fuelled second offering from the band builds on their previous work and pushes their sound to new heights.

‘Lie to the People’ explores political ideals and also the narrative of one’s reluctance to reveal the truth about themselves.

Box Clone are continually expanding their sonic footprint and this electrifying new tune ensures that they are a force to be reckoned with in 2022.

‘Lie to the People’ is out next Friday 4th March.

https://linktr.ee/BoxClone

17-year-old singer/ songwriter Liliana could not be more excited to release her next single “Again”!

With some of her influences as Dua Lipa, Adele and Olivia Rodrigo, this track is something she’s hoping you’ll want to play “again and again”

After the release of her debut single “What Are We Now?” last year, she has been working constantly on new music and has been dying to share this one with the world! “Again” is about an “on again off again” relationship . Although your relationship with this person might not be good for you , you can’t help but go back to them , even though you know you shouldn’t! I mean, who can blame a girl for trying?

Growing up with the shows of her time, artists such as Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato were the main inspirations in what she wanted to be. She’s so happy that she can now share her music with the world in hopes of putting a smile on someone’s face!

Alongside this new song, she’s been working hard writing songs and also with her team making a lot more music that she cannot wait to put out.

https://linktr.ee/Lilianapinheiro

Alt pop sensation Bobbi Arlo is set to unleash her highly anticipated new single “Parasite” – out on 24 February across all digital platforms.

“Parasite” marks the start of a new musical journey for Bobbi Arlo as she embarks on what promises to be a very exciting and hectic 2022.

Speaking of the single Bobbi Arlo said:

“Parasite was the result of one of my first ever collaborative writing sessions. I wrote the song with UK songwriter Mikey Gormley who came across my music on Spotify’s New Music UK playlist. We worked with my producer Adam Shanahan and created a dark break up song that has a relatable common thread, and that’s a love you can’t really escape from but want to because it simply sucks the life out of you aka a parasitic love”

A ferocious talent with the sassy attitude to match, Bobbi Arlo has come from nowhere to establish herself as one of Ireland’s most exciting in demand new acts. With each release and with every live show, she consistently raises the bar and leaves her fans yearning for more. Fast becoming known for her knack for crafting pop anthems, the future is red hot for this alt pop siren.

“Parasite”, the brand new single from Bobbi Arlo, is set for release across all digital platforms on 24 February.

For more information:

https://twitter.com/bobbi_arlo

https://www.instagram.com/bobbi_arlo

https://www.tiktok.com/@bobbi_arlo

https://www.facebook.com/Bobbi-Arlo-354798451757268/

Just imagine been back in your favourite bar with your Army of Friends using music to forget your troubles and putting the world to rights, it just feels so right that you don’t want to go home.

Recently Marty was searching through hard drives for some old song files and rediscovered ‘Rice’s Army’, a classic mashup of a few very well know Irish Songs mixed with some of Marty’s own lyrics and music.

Back in 2009 Marty only at the beginning of his recording career originally recorded this song using basic equipment and very few microphones for the enjoyment of his Army of Friends in Rice’s Bar – flashforward to 2022 and Marty now well acquainted with recording his own music  joined back up with his old bandmates Brendan McCourt and Ashling Hughes and gives this song the little TLC it deserves.

Gigging all over Ireland with his band Marty seen many pubs and bars but it was when he got close to home to Ballybay with his own Army of Friends the magic always seemed to happen in Ciaran Rice’s Bar.

I think each and everyone of us can associate with this song and remember that place that felt like home and friends you will never forget.

Sadly Ciaran Rice Passed away in Feb 2010, so when Marty rediscovered this song he thought it would be a lovely tribute to mark 12 years since Ciaran Passed and let his fans near and far hear the story of Rice’s Bar.