Author: Breffni Banks

Power rock-pop four piece, The Blizzards are back with brand new music, sharing their new single ‘Friction Burns’, out today!

Over the last 18 months of Lockdown, the band used this time to explore their music and work on really defining their sound. Honing their melodic, dynamic hooks and crafting their pop guitar-driven song-writing. A true reflection of their musical identity, ‘Friction Burns’ is the first release of this new era, and a taste of what is to come in 2022.

‘Friction Burns’ reflects the absolutely terrifying anticipation of letting yourself go in a new relationship with all the scars of past relationships and mistakes hovering.  Inhibiting you from giving yourself fully, but facing those fears head on for the right person.

The release of the new single ‘Friction Burns’ is the start of the bands next chapter. Niall Breslin (aka Bressie) (Guitar / Lead Vocals), Louize Carroll (Bass), Justin Ryan (Lead Guitar) and Dec Murphy (Drums) have huge plans for 2022. The band are stronger, more passionate and energised than ever and are ready to share it all with their fans and make some new ones along the way.

The Blizzards also utilised their creativity and efforts to support others during this unprecedented time,  initiating many projects to support fellow musicians, crew and creatives across the music industry. From encouraging local folk of their home-town Mullingar to pick up a Ukulele, (Watch Lockdown Acapella Rockdown)  and being at the forefront the charity ‘We Are The Support Act’ set out to support the out of work crews whose industry shut down over night. Their latest project ‘Help Us Help Our Heathcare’ project, whereby the band recorded their well-known hit single ‘Trust Me I’M A Doctor’ with the RTE Orchestra to raise vital funds for frontline workers post covid.

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‘Redemption’ is the latest single to be released off Greg Clifford’s forthcoming album ‘Lines Of Desire’. This offering from the eclectic multi-instrumentalist is a gritty number that ponders the notion of salvation and achieving redemption. The inclusion of swampy soulful tones on the lap steel guitar and the impactful gospel choir reinforces this notion.

Speaking about the new single, the singer-songwriter said: “We are inherently conditioned and told to accept before we can begin to come close to an original and true thought. ‘Redemption’ is about questioning one’s faith and belief systems.”

The music video, filmed by Greg’s father Dave and edited by Greg himself, alludes to themes such as anguish, rage and the suppression of the individual, which is suggested by the inclusion of close ups of Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights.

The song was recorded in Sun Studios (Dublin) and was engineered, mixed and mastered by Ian Flynn. The ‘Lines Of Desire’ LP will be released in the coming months accompanied by a book and making of the album documentary.

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Dark Indie-Pop meets Dark Indie-Folk in ‘Destroyer’, the new release from ROE feat. Ciaran Lavery.

After the success of recent single Cruel which saw her on the BBC Radio 1 playlist as BBC Introducing track of the week, ROE ventures further into her self-styled “existential indie” sound through a collaboration with fellow Northern Irish songwriter, Ciaran Lavery.

Written by ROE and Ciaran Lavery, and produced by Tommy McLaughlin (Villagers), the track brings together two of Northern Irelands most prodigious song writing talents for the first time.

“Destroyer was written about how much you can let someone swallow you up before becoming aware of what they’ve taken from you.” ROE

 “Destroyer is knowledge of being in something deeply unhealthy, but simultaneously holds a power over the controlled. I feel the song attempts to capture that inner and outer conflict that prefaces the questioning of leaving someone.” Ciaran Lavery

‘Destroyer’ by ROE featuring Ciaran Lavery will be released as one half of a new double A-side single on 29^thOctober, followed by “Too much for anyone” on 12^th Nov.

Limerick, Ireland singer/songwriter Fergal Nash releases his new single “Snapshot” on Friday 29^th October.

Again produced by rising Cambridgeshire U.K maestro Martin John, (who oversaw June’s hit single ‘Walking Tall’ clocking 10,000+ Spotify Streams), Nash describes it as “something to lift peoples spirits as restrictions lift. It has a chorus I’m certain people will be singing along to!”

“It takes a step forward from Walking Tall. If that was the green shoots of recovery, this is the celebration party!”

The track will be followed by a full-length video on Friday 5^th November.

Follow Fergal on Social Media:

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LYRA releases the brand new single ‘Lose My Mind’ out today, via Rubyworks label. It is the first new single to come from the as-yet-untitled new body of work due for release later this year. The Cork native has delivered a dark pop dance anthem which radiates her sonic Celtic beat and captivating vocals.

“I had so much fun with this single, explains LYRA, I wrote ‘Lose My Mind’ in the recording studio, it is a song about losing all your inhibitions, being free of mind, the idea that you can be possessed and yet exhilarated at the same time”.

“To hit that high, to feel alive”

‘Lose My Mind’ was written and co-produced by LYRA and Dane Etteridge (former Ordinary Boys guitarist), it was mixed by Grammy nominated Darren Heelis (Sam Smith, Tom Walker, Liam Payne) in the US. Darren Heelis also worked with LYRA on her previous single release the Jackie Lomax cover of ‘New Day’, which achieved #1 chart positions with iTunes and Shazam.

 The video for the single ‘Lose My Mind’ was filmed on location within the infamous haunted corridors of Loftus Hall, situated at Hook peninsula County Wexford. It was directed by Debbie Scanlon (Wolf James Creative) who has worked with Bastille, Nina Nesbitt and Hudson Taylor.

Discussing the video LYRA says: “I love to push the boundaries of my theatrics, my visuals and performance elements and after the past 18 months on hiatus, I wanted the music to lift everybody’s spirits (excuse the pun). I can’t wait for you to see the video, it’s sexy, it’s hauntingly seductive and aptly timed for Halloween”.

‘Lose My Mind’ is certain to be a dance anthem echoing LYRA’s haunting vocals, infused with her signature Celtic drum sound and sonic beat dropped in.

The singer – songwriter has amassed a huge following and support since her busy touring schedule this summer (with festivals across the UK and Ireland), she has featured on our TV screens this Autumn as part of the judging panel on The Big Deal for Virgin Media in Ireland.

• See LYRA perform at this year’s New Year’s Festival, Countdown Concert in Dublin Castle. PICTURE THIS are set to headline this year’s event with special guests from LYRA and RYAN SHERIDAN
• LYRA is set to embark on a headline Irish Tour dates to be announced soon.
• Currently her music has garnered over 15+ million combined global streams to date
• 2022 will see LYRA teaming up with Grammy Award winning Bill Whelan on the new Riverdance animated movie – the single (which was co-written by them) called ‘Light Me Up’ will coincide with the general release of the movie.

LYRA.ie | Instagram | Facebook |Twitter| Spotify |Tik Tok

Today, Friday 29th October, groundbreaking hip-hop artist Denise Chaila returns with new single ‘Energy’.

What’s more, she also announces that ‘Energy’ will be the second single to be released from her upcoming EP ‘It’s A Mixtape’ – set for release on Friday 26th November on narolane records.

‘Energy’ sees Ireland’s hottest rapper strip things right back and display her artistic range as she allows her vocals to take centre-stage, the refrain ‘you can’t take my energy’ as much a warning as it is an affirmation. As sweet as Chaila can be, she never lets us forget she’s got bite.

Label co-owner and producer MuRli feat​ures on a melodic verse, extending the showcase of narolane’s collective diversity that this track allows us.

Denise Chaila says: “I wrote this song when I was tired and grieving. Somehow, the experience of creating it (from conception to recording to filming) became a massive learning curve. Singing ‘you can’t take my energy’ while mentally and emotionally drained, living through incredible uncertainty and trying to find stable ground from moment to moment became a challenge I didn’t intend to set myself. One I’m glad I did.

“The song began as a beat with a time signature that I just couldn’t understand how to write to. One which I allowed to linger in my drafts for months because I was too nervous to attempt writing to it and potentially ruin a very beautiful song. Every step of the process has been measured, unhurried, full of conversation and gentle risk taking. Stepping outside my comfort zone like this made me gag as much as it made me smile.

“This song and the work surrounding it has ultimately been an opportunity. I’ve spent the year asking myself what I want to do with myself when my heart is broken. What my work ultimately means to me. What purpose it serves in my own life. And from the wellspring of these questions, beautiful threads of curiosity have emerged from me.

“In the end; hope is more than a sound bite for a podcast, pain is more than a line in a song, there are things I’ve gone through in the last year that I’ll work through for the next ten, and nobody can bait me out enough to take from me what I do not choose to give freely. You can’t take my energy.”

Denise Chaila’s biggest headline show to date has just been announced for Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre on the 25th February 2022. This comes on the back of major festival appearances at the likes of Pitchfork Paris, Pitchfork London and Haldern Pop Germany.

‘Energy’ follows Denise’s previous single, ‘061’ – an ode to her hometown of Limerick in the west of Ireland that ignited support across press and radio gaining props from the likes of DJ Target, Jamz, Iggy Pop, CLASH, TRENCH, i-D and The FADER. Denise is one of the most-played Irish artists in her home country, with over 50 million radio impacts (listeners) in 2021 alone. Last year, she became the first person in history to win her country’s highest music award – the Choice Music Prize Album of the Year Award – for a mixtape, ‘Go Bravely’. On November 26th, she pays homage to that event with the title of her new EP, ‘It’s A Mixtape’.

‘The Light’ is the new single from two of Ireland’s breakthrough talents, Malaki and Tolü Makay.

A soothing offering that reflects on success and happiness, the collaboration blends Tolü Makay’s soulful R&B sound with Malaki’s impassioned rap flow as he delivers a punchy verse about breaking free from social norms.

As both artists are strong advocates of mental health – Malaki tackled his personal battles with depression on new EP ‘DFTTYM’, while Tolü Makay’s debut EP ‘Being’ explored self-love – ‘The Light’ poignantly demonstrates their move towards finding self acceptance and celebrating progression.

Speaking of the track, Malaki explains: “It’s hard to recognise how far you’ve come whilst achieving so much mentally and musically. This track pays homage to the struggles I endured whilst trying to get to where I am today. Thankfully I have broken from the chains and become everything I’ve always wanted to be.”

The song was co-written by Malaki, Tolü Makay, Matthew Harris, and Chris Bubenzer, and produced by Marcin (Martin Emiji).

A heavenly display from two rising Irish stars, ‘The Light’ caps off what’s been an impressive year for the pair who have both established themselves as ones to watch within the soul, R&B and hip-hop sphere.

Rap artist Malaki has become renowned for fusing personal expression with piercing social and political commentary in his music, and in the last year has gained impressive recognition from BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders as well as publications such as CLASH, Fred Perry Subculture, The Pit, and many more.

Tolü Makay also continues to blossom after unveiling her much anticipated debut EP ‘Being’ in October 2020. A seasoned vocalist with influences that span the likes of Erykah Badu and Nina Simone to Amy Winehouse and Asa, Tolü’s become one of Irelands most up-and-coming performing artist this year having played at RTÉ’s ‘The Heart of Saturday Night’ and Other Voices Galway International Arts Festival.

‘The Light’ signals a bright future ahead for both Malaki and Tolü Makay. Stream/buy at  https://ffm.to/vjaexjx

The pair each have their own tour dates over the coming weeks:

Live Dates – Malaki (Tour)

01/12 – Voodoo, Belfast

02/12 – Cyprus Ave, Cork

03/12 – Roisin Dubh, Galway

04/12 – Kasbah, Limerick

07/12 – Camden Assembly, London

09/12 – Academy, Dublin

Live Dates – Tolü Makay

2021 Ireland Tour – The Tolü Makay Experience (Sponsored by Kildare Outlet Village)

12/11 – Grand Social, Dublin

14/11 – Grand Social, Dublin

16/11 – Grand Social, Dublin

17/11 – Cyprus Ave, Cork

21/11 – Roisin Dubh, Galway

2022 Tour

March 2022: USA tour

Malaki: SPOTIFY | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

Tolü Makay: SPOTIFY | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

Following the championing of his first two releases by the likes of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, 98fm and the Sound Sniffer, Caoivín returns with his third single “The Space Within”, an exploration of the theme of introspection featuring a unique blend of traditional Irish music and contemporary elements.

The track will be released on all streaming platforms from Wednesday October 27th

Caoivín (pronounced “Kwee-veen”) is the pseudonym of Dublin-based producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist Caoimhín Mac Uaid.

Born into a musical family, Caoivín began playing traditional Irish music at the tender age of 5 and spent the majority of his early childhood summers travelling to and from various different fleadhs and music weeks.

In his late teens and early twenties, the musician began to develop an interest in a wide variety of other genres outside of the traditional Irish music realm which led him to discover bands and artists such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, DARKSIDE, JJ Cale, Bonobo, Khruangbin, Tinariwen and many others.

The Caoivín project takes influence from the range of musical styles which the artist has been exploring from that point up until now, while being rooted at the same time to the long unbroken lineage of traditional music on which he was reared.

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Elaine Mai has just released one of the hottest Irish albums of the year in ‘Home’ and now she is following up on her success by dropping a gorgeous video for latest single ‘Waiting to Breathe (feat. Loah)’.

Elaine Mai says:  “The reaction to the album has been really amazing and I’m still on a high from the release. After such a long journey to this point, it feels really satisfying to be able to see the album out there being shared and enjoyed by people. Playing these new songs live has also been an incredible experience and I’m excited for more shows and opportunities to connect with audiences, I’ve really missed that. I’m also very excited for people to see the beautiful video for my latest single ‘Waiting to Breathe (feat. Loah)’, I think it fits the track perfectly and the director Michael-David McKernan did a brilliant job of telling the story. It draws you in and makes you feel hopeful and excited for this potential new couple.”

The video, directed by Michael-David Kiernan, is seasonally set during Halloween and stars Ally Ryan and Jade Jordan as two lovers at the beginning of a new romance.

Michael-David Kiernan says:  “I wanted this video to feel like an escape for our two romantics; to capture that spontaneous energy that takes hold of you at the start of a new romance. That spontaneity is intoxicating, and so is Elaine and Loah’s track. I had two phenomenal actors to work with in Ally and Jade. Both of them instantly understood the subtlety of performance I was hoping to capture, and Ally gave us one hell of an unchoreographed dance for the video’s finale.”

Since its release on Friday 8th May, Elaine Mai’s debut album ‘Home’ has already amassed over 60,000 streams and entered the iTunes Ireland Electronic chart at No. 2. ‘Waiting to Breathe (feat. Loah)’ has gained over 11,000 streams in the fortnight since its release and has been added to Spotify playlists such as New Music Friday, A Breath of fresh Éire and New Dance Revolution.

Elaine Mai’s sold out album launch party takes place at The Workman’s Club Cellar this Friday 29th of October where she will be joined on stage by special guests MayKay, Ailbhe Reddy and Loah, who all lend their outstanding vocals to singles from the album

Following his summer trance anthem “Save You”, Robert O’Connor returns with a brand new single that sees him sonically shape-shift once again.

Produced by Gareth Shortland (Steps, Will Young), “Been & Gone” is a break-up anthem that Robert wrote in “ten minutes flat” on his coffee break at work. “I have a normal life, I have day jobs, and that lends itself well to song writing”, says the Dublin-born artist. “I write songs that everyday people relate to, and no matter the genre, there is always a real story at the core – this one is about meeting someone who makes you question everything”.

“Been & Gone” marks Robert’s tenth single release since his return from a musical hiatus in 2018. Returning to the scene as a country artist, he has since musically experimented with each release. His critically acclaimed nine-track EP ‘Transcendence’ demonstrated an ability to merge on-trend EDM sounds with classic pop song writing, while his vocal, described by Room Full Of Music as being “reminiscent of mid-90s George Michael”, is the element that ties everything together.

“My music is celebratory of my influences, that’s what brings me joy, to make something that I enjoy listening to myself, that feels quintessentially me”, Robert explains. It’s an approach that has endeared him to critics, going from strength-to-strength with each release. Culture Fix called his last single “Save You” a “pulse-pounding club gem that feels plucked straight out of the late-nineties in the best possible way”, while cult blog Retro Pop said the track was “Reminiscent of early ‘90s Pet Shop Boys”.

“Been & Gone”, Robert says, went through a series of identities before becoming what it is today. “I brought the lyric and melody to my guitarist Gavin Sheridan, we recorded a bare-bones demo that had a Fleetwood Mac feel to it, and eventually sent it to Gareth Shortland, who assembled this emotionally-charged electronic soundscape that’s inspired by the sounds of Scandipop.

The next step was to record vocals, for which Robert enlisted producer Richey McCourt (Aimée, Rebecca Ferguson), who Robert credits with taking the track to the next level. “Richey really embraced the song and made little suggestions as we recorded, which I think made it even catchier – I joked to him that he’s a bit of a Max Martin character, he has a real pop sensibility about him”.

“Been & Gone” will be released on November 5, with remixes by Gareth Shortland, Fletz and Sakgra to follow on each remaining Friday of the month.