‘Magic Rising’ is the first single and title track from the new album by unconventional Irish rock outfit Willowjack. The single was released on Thursday 22nd July, with the album landing on 13th August.
‘Magic Rising’ is a song about reawakening the magic that is inside us all, a celebration of our intrinsic connection to the earth, the forests, the seas, the stars, the mystic. With an intoxicating, genre-bending sound and a typically carnivalesque darkness it builds to become a glorious lament of growth and of time passing.
Influenced by rock greats from Prince to Nick Cave, Willowjack began as a chance encounter between Byrne and Moore in a Lighthouse on the west coast of Ireland. The songs are generally written on acoustic guitar and developed from there, with the violin adding colour to the natural richness of the vocals.
The accompanying video on YouTube was shot during lockdown, with the duo now readying themselves for the release of their new album on August 13th.
Willowjack are singer/songwriter Donal Byrne and Violinist Colin Moore.
Following the critical and radio success of ‘Lost in Translation’, folk-pop songwriter and artist, Luke Clerkin, is set to release a follow up remix. Berlin based producer jaako’s take on the song turns the cinematic piano ballad into a chill disco-influenced summer bop. The remix will be released on July 30th. This will be Clerkin’s first venture into the dance music genre.
Talking about the release, Luke said, “When I first showed the original song to my friends, one of their responses was that we should do a remix. So, I suggested it to jaako, and within a few days, he sent me a demo, and I loved it! I’ve been wanting to delve into dance music for a while now and with this remix I get the chance to show people how well my voice works in the genre. I also get to further introduce my work with jaako, as this is still only a small taste of what we’ve done together.”
“I feel we’re releasing this song at the right time as well. With the country and the world beginning to open up, and the weather improving, the song reflects that hopefulness. I’ve also never really had a summer song before, so, this will be a first for me, and I’m very excited to hear what people think.”
Luke Clerkin is a two-time SCC Song Writing competition winning Irish songwriter and artist. He has been playing and releasing music for the last 6 years. His music has gained international airplay and support, whilst also topping the Irish Singer Songwriter Charts on multiple occasions.
Luke is known mostly for playing over 250 gigs in 2015, as a way of honing his craft. Since then, he has headlined famous Dublin venues such as Whelan’s, The Workman’s Club, and The Button Factory. His music has brought him all over the world, with multiple tours of Germany, as well as festival slots in America, The UK, and Ireland. Luke has also completed an apprenticeship with Ed Sheeran’s mentor and Nizlopi frontman, Luke Concannon.
jaako is a producer and songwriter from Germany. During his studies at Popakademie Mannheim, he produced queer German TikTok sensation LEOPOLD. After relocating to Berlin during the pandemic, jaako has become a collaborator for many national and international upcoming artists, amassing over 800.000 streams. Working with producer Tobias Kuhn (Milky Chance, Alice Merton), he has contributed to the songs and albums of German national superstars like Sarah Connor, Milow and Annett Louisan.
‘Lost in Translation (jaako remix)’ will be released on all streaming and download platforms on July 30th.
Following almost a year’s hiatus, singer ELLYD returns with her new guitar driven electronic single ‘Speak Slowly’ on July 23.
The Dubliners latest offering is just as catchy as her last single ‘On My Way’ which received national radio air-play and reached number one in the iTunes charts.
ELLYD wrote and produced ‘Speak Slowly’ in her home studio, before sending it to London based engineer Sefi Carmel (Bowie, Massive Attack, Bruno Mars) who gave the single its final mix and master.
Speaking about how ‘Speak Slowly’ came about, the singer said: “‘Speak Slowly’ is about communication, lack of communication, the problems that arise from that and the frustration felt from it.
Initially when I wrote the hook for the song, I kind of felt like it was going to be a slow-ish tune. But when I started production, it quickly became clear what it was meant to be.
My last release was ‘On My Way back’ back in September 2020 so it’s been a while since I’ve put new music out there. I’m very excited!”
Growing up, Roche came from a very musical family. His late Grandad Charlie O’Keeney was heavily involved in music from playing fiddle and keys with his band The Silver Wings. Having never taken music lessons as a child, he began to teach himself the piano following his grandfather’s death in 2016. His interest in music grew from there, and he slowly taught himself the guitar, mandolin and the bass guitar in a busy three year period.
Roche titled this debut EP ‘Anomaly’ because, ”Each song on it deals with something that can change your life and at the time of their occurrence seems wrong and out of place. Or in other words an anomaly. 1. ‘Confess’ – two people being together that aren’t made for each other / contrast between different relationships. 2. ‘Me And You’ – classic break-up from someone you loved. 3. ‘Rewind Time’ – Death of someone that was very close to you. 4. ‘Lost’ – Having your daily life ripped away from you (Pandemic).”
Lost is track number 4 on ‘Anomaly’. This song examines the mental impact caused by COVID-19. ”I think it has given everyone too much time on their hands to think and while this can be a good thing, like anything too much can be bad for you. Pair that then with lockdowns and no social interactions and all the anger and frustration that comes with it. It can be too much to handle.” Roche explains.
”We are all yearning for a sense of normality at this stage, but obviously public health and safety has to come first and the bridge in this song is the glimmer of hope we all have. We are all in this together and we will come out the other side of this a better world and more appreciative of what we have.”
This is Mike’s forth time working with Galway based producer Dave Skelton (Rofi James, Faraway Martin). Mike and Dave combined their efforts to bring ‘Lost’ to life filling the production with a heavy Alt/Rock sound. ”The music was very important to me in this song in the sense of I really needed the production to replicate the emotion behind every lyric in this. The song builds throughout adding more instruments from piano, guitars, drums and eventually a full orchestra. I wanted a big finish to this EP and this was the perfect song for it.”
Today (7/21), Irish four-piece modernlove. shares ‘come over x’, the newest single off their upcoming debut EP ‘monochrome blue’, along with a music video. The EP is due September 1st on Akira Records (Henry Green, Zola Blood, Shura, CHINAH). Across 6 radio-ready tracks, the band confronts issues like romance, rejection, 21st-century communication and the daily impact of all three. It’s a vulnerable declaration of devotion that builds through sweeping soundscapes and ethereal chords. The accompanying video follows the lyrics quite literally of a budding secret romance, with dizzying ’90s visual effects drenched in purple hues.
modernlove. detail about the meaning behind the song,
“‘come over x’ tells of the naivety and sincerity of young love in the modern world. It follows the story of a young person attempting to sneak their love interest to their room avoiding detection from their parent/guardian. A simple love ballad but in the context of today.”
‘come over x’ follows the similarly stylized ‘lmk (if you wanna see me)’, which arrived with a music video and a BBC Introducing session. Amid swirling synths, mechanical vocal effects, and rapid-fire percussion, the song evokes a feeling of being simultaneously overwhelmed and isolated. The accompanying video echoes the sense of detachment as the camera drifts in and out of focus on the lead singer sauntering then chasing something he’ll never reach. The track earned editorial support from FLOOD, Hot Press, Rodeo Magazine, and Just Jared as well as a spot on Ones To Watch‘s Spotify playlist.
Last year modernlove. released the first two EP singles (and their first-ever singles as a band), ‘Liquorice’ and ‘Bop’. Both received strong playlist support, landing on NMF UK at Spotify, as well as Fresh Finds, Alt-Pop and The Pop List. Radio has come via 2FM, BBC Ulster, XS Manchester, Across the Line and Radio X. The band also recently shared a music video for ‘Liquorice‘; a colorful indie dance party with shifting glances.
Like their name suggests, modernlove. explore the complexities of the modern lives of twenty-somethings. Even though their lives are still complicated, Barry, Cian, Danny and Graham of Drogheda have already nailed their sound; they deliver polished, indie-pop with a glossy ’90s sheen and intricate details.
To celebrate the EP release, the band will be playing a Dublin headline show on November 5th in the Workman’s Club, as well as their first London show at The Social on November 12.
Irish Singer Jacqui Sharkey has just released her brand new single ‘The Light’, today her debut release with label Peer Music.
‘The Light’ is a powerful melodic and emotional ballad that captures the turmoil of the world today and offers hope and inspiration that showcases Jacqui Sharkey’s hooky and well constructed songwriting technique. The clever arrangements by John Reynolds feature brilliantly constructed acoustic and mandolin licks by Nashville based Tim Galloway and stylishly understated and skilful guitar runs by London based Graham Kearns. The track also features renowned Irish drummer and percussionist Liam Bradley and London based Clare Kenny on bass and was produced in London, with Jacqui Sharkey’s vocals recorded remotely by former Villagers guitarist Tommy McLaughlin at Attica Audio Recording studios in Donegal.
President of Peer Music Europe Nigel Elderton said:
“I am delighted to be working with such a talented artist and writer as Jacqui. I hope that this current release will introduce her music to a much wider audience outside of Ireland.”
Singer/Songwriter Jacqui Sharkey was raised in Scotland but has lived most of her life in the creative heartland of the Donegal Gaeltacht where her powerful soul baring voice has been perceptually enrapturing audiences and indeed musicians alike in the region and beyond for some time now, with her remarkable and spellbinding range.
Jacqui Sharkey has from a young age been performing and writing songs, while honing her craft; a holistic exercise she finds great solace in, and particularly therapeutic amid the trials experienced “in a struggling world”. Her prolific songs with a genre blurring blend of Contemporary/ Alt. Country/Americana are written in a heartfelt way about life and its intricate challenges, which is acutely observed by Sharkey from a number of unique viewpoints.
In more recent times, Jacqui Sharkey’s songs and growing reputation have been coming to the attention of the wider music industry community, mainly due to recent events causing her focus, like that of many, to turn to her true purpose in life, something she says has been “invaluable”. It was no surprise that her music took centre stage and new influences appear strongly in her body of new work, and it was not long before legendary London based producer John Reynolds (renowned for his work with artists such as Damien Rice, Passenger, Sinead O Connor, Indigo Girls etc.) connected with her striking and evolving output.
‘The Light’ the debut single from Irish Singer Jacqui Sharkey on Peer Music is out now across all digital platforms.
N.O.A.H return with a brand new summer anthem ‘Hands Up’, out today across all streaming platforms.
The highly anticipated track was produced by the GRAMMY-Winning Ruadhri Cushnan in Camden Studios and mastered by John Davis (The Killers,U2, Dua Lipa). To mark the release of ‘Hands Up,’ the band will perform one of Ireland’s first indoor shows on July 24th at The Solstice Theatre in Navan, which will also be streamed live.
‘Hands Up’ has a serious summer vibe that will get you excited for your favourite festival. Ultimately, the song is about giving oneself to a higher power. For the band, this undeniable force is music and its ability to take control of the body.
The band are currently working on their debut EP, ‘Echoes Of The Night’ which is set to be released on vinyl on 1 October 2021, and will play their first headline show of 2021 in LostLane on 2 October, followed by another show in The Fiddler London on 8 October.
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 now Dublin-based band hail from County Meath, and comprises lifelong friends Ryan Hill, Adam Rooney, and Ronan Hynes. N.O.A.H are determined to share their music with the world and leave a lasting impression on the Irish and wider music industry. It 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 2FM and Spin 103.8, both of whom crowned ‘Shine’ their “Track of The Week”.
‘Hands Up’, the brand new single from N.O.A.H is out now across all streaming platforms.
“I got the idea for this new track from the public reaction to ‘Dreams’, when people said the Irish Women In Harmony collective reminded them of ‘A Woman’s Heart’. So our new single ‘Only A Woman’ is about what it is to be a woman today. And what better way to celebrate that than to feature the chorus of the iconic Irish song ‘Only A Woman’s Heart’ written by Eleanor McEvoy. We’ve added our own original spin on it with beautifully written spoken-word verses by FeliSpeaks, with vocal features by our own Aimee, Erica Cody, and myself, plus a vocal cameo by Eleanor McEvoy herself. We hope the song connects and inspires and empowers a new age of womanhood for all.” – RuthAnne Cunningham.
Having just celebrated the first anniversary of the release of the record-breaking ‘Dreams’, Irish Women In Harmony return with the uplifting ‘Only A Woman’, their first new music release of the year. With the success of ‘Dreams’ – 3.5 million video views, 5.6 million streams and over 8,000 plays on Irish radio – still resonating with fans and media alike, the timing of the return of Irish Women In Harmony feels right.
Originally released in 1992, ‘Only A Woman’s Heart’ – sung by Mary Black and Eleanor McEvoy – was the cornerstone of the multi-platinum ‘A Woman’s Heart’ compilation, one of the best selling Irish albums of all time. Award-winning singer-songwriter / producer RuthAnne, who has co-written hits for Niall Horan, Britney Spears, Jojo and Martin Garrix, brings her immaculate twenty-first century pop savvy production skills to this new track built on the foundation of the original. The track marks the recorded debut of fast-rising Nigerian-Irish poet, performer and playwright Felicia Olusanya, better known as FeliSpeaks. Originally from Co. Longford, now based in Maynooth; FeliSpeaks timely, lyrically observed verses are punctuated with soaring, heartfelt choruses from IWIH mainstays Aimee, Erica Cody and RuthAnne herself. Closing the circle is a haunting vocal introduction from Eleanor McEvoy.
Irish Women In Harmony will continue to support, nurture and encourage female artists. They have accomplished a lot in the lockdown era, watch them fly in the months ahead.
PRiiCE are the new alt-pop duo you need to know. The Irish pair create music that finesses the line between indie pop and hip hop, a sound that is unconstrained and offers a sense of escapism. Their debut single ‘Sunflower’ is bright and liberating, brimming with euphoric vibrations. The track is immersed in serene beats and funk inspired synth, and the four to the floor drum groove and bouncy bass line sow the seeds for what’s to come from the duo.
This is the first taster of PRiiCE’s forthcoming EP which promises to be a moving collage of electro-pop, indie and hip hop. The confines of genre are clearly of little concern to this enigmatic duo. PRiiCE blend rhythmic vocals and unforgettable melodic riffs to form well rounded alt-pop songs that feel like chilling out at an after session with your mates. This is feel-good alternative pop at its very best.
‘Sunflower’ was released on 23 July and calls to mind acts such as Everyone You Know and Easy Life, with even some hints of Disclosure’s recent ENERGY album. Discussing their new single, PRiiCE said: “‘Sunflower’ came together really quickly and became a real turning point for us in terms of the music we had been writing. ‘Sunflower’ sparked some new approaches to writing for us and was really the birthplace of PRiiCE. It’s the result of a day’s work after an unfortunate hard drive malfunction, but maybe that adds to what the song is.”
Prepare to bask in the summer air and the breath-taking talent of some of Ireland’s most exquisite musicians as Lisa Hannigan and Iarla O’Lionáird take to the steps of the Pepper Canister Church for intimate outdoor performances this August. Framed by the splendour of Dublin’s Georgian houses, ‘Am & Áit’, presented by Selective Memory, will be a near spiritual experience for music lovers as these gifted musicians breathe life back into this historical quarter of the city and well-loved venue, performing outdoors on the steps of the church – the architectural jewel in the crown of the Dublin city centre’s South Georgian Core.
In their first live gigs in Dublin since Covid broke out early last year, the ethereal Lisa Hannigan will take to the stage with her band on Saturday 21st August, while the velvet-voiced Iarla O’Lionáird and the brilliant Aoife Nessa Frances come together to perform on Sunday 22nd August.
Starting at 7.30pm each night and finishing by 10:30pm; there will be specially curated video art for each performance projected onto the front wall and dome of the church during the headline acts’ shows.
There will be only 400 tickets on sale for each show, which will be an exclusive and enthralling encounter for the audience who take in the show in comfort as both events are fully seated with socially-distanced pods.
Declan Forde of Selective Memory said: “The last 16 months or so have seen all our lives changed hugely by the onset of Covid, and obviously the live music industry has been one of those most effected. We’ve chosen to do an outdoor show partially to help create more employment with the infrastructure suppliers and employees who are the lifeblood of the outdoor events industry. And what better outdoor setting in the city centre than the spectacular beauty of the Pepper Canister Church. We have designed the shows and chosen artists that we feel appropriately reflect the unique setting. It must be said these shows are only possible with the funding from the Live Performance Support Scheme, which is helping keep our industry alive in these challenging times.”
St Stephen’s Church, better known as Pepper Canister Church: this landmark location was one of the last of the Georgian churches built by the Church of Ireland in the early 1800s. St Stephen’s Church is fondly referred to by Dubliners as the Pepper Canister, the nickname derived from the shape of the spire. While still used as a place of worship, the venue has played host to some of Ireland’s finest musicians in the past, including The Gloaming, for whom Iarla O’Lionáird is the lead vocalist and lyricist.
The majestic backdrop of the Pepper Canister Church, with its impressive pillars flanking the stage, is set to be a memorable location for an unmissable celebration of song, togetherness, and the eternal beauty of the streets of Dublin – something we have all yearned for during these challenging times.
Tickets are €20 plus booking fee and go on sale only at www.selectivememory.ie this Tuesday 27th July at 9am.
These shows are funded by the government Live Performance Support Scheme.
