Author: Breffni Banks

Today, Wednesday 30th June, Maria Kelly releases ‘good enough’ –  the next single from her highly anticipated debut album, due for release later this year.

Continuing the open, courageous lyrical style that has earned Maria fans the world over, ‘good enough’ is a song that shows Maria at her most vulnerable – yet with a spark that she has identified as a ‘turning point’ that she experienced during her therapy sessions.

“I’ve been going to therapy on and off for years, and ‘good enough’ is a track that came from a lot of learning,” Maria opens up. “For me, the song is a turning point – a moment of looking at the painful parts of my life and giving myself permission to feel them – not ignore, or escape, or distract, but to really feel them.

The main emotion is anger; anger for what was handed to me, frustration for the way that I’m wired – but there’s an undercurrent of understanding too. If I now know where these things came from, and how much they truly weigh, it’s up to me whether or not I want to continue to carry them with me for the rest of my life.”

As we move closer to the release of Maria’s debut album release, a theme that emerges is one of acceptance and finding the strength to meet yourself where you are, wherever you are. ‘good enough’ builds on previous singles ‘eight hours’ and ‘Martha’ as Maria continues her exploration of her own mental health journey.

Though introspective, Maria’s new record is inherently one that is designed to provoke not just thought and emotion – but also action. Her underlying message to the listener that ‘you deserve the right help and you deserve support’ comes through her music like a good friend who wants you to be well – but knows that gentle encouragement is the best method of persuasion.

Maria Kelly’s world of delicately woven alt-folk is laced with a sincerity that cuts to the bone. Finding comfort in the confessional styles of artists like Regina Spektor, Daughter, and Lucy Rose, she soon transferred her own introspections to music, developing a sound that is as delicate as it is disarmingly frank.

Maria Kelly is signed to VETA Music along with friends such as HAVVK, Sive, St. Bishop and DYVR. A number of critically acclaimed releases have been accompanied by shows across Europe playing with and supporting the likes of Villagers, James Vincent McMorrow, KT Tunstall, and Paul Noonan (Bell X1) and All The Luck In The World. Maria quickly became known for her heart-wrenching live performances, unassuming humour, and a ‘pin-drop’ vocal that is impossible to ignore. Maria’s work has continued to gain momentum internationally, rallying support from the likes of Mahogany, Consequence of Sound, and The Line Of Best Fit along the way. Streaming and radio impact numbers for Maria’s songs are in the millions, with her most recent two singles performing incredibly well.

With the world at a standstill, 2020 saw Maria retreating to a small cottage on the south coast of Ireland. During this quiet in-between, Maria has found space to write and record her eagerly anticipated debut album – a blank canvas and an open sea with which to take stock and reflect on her 20s so far.

‘Polyanthus Scent’, out now, is the second single from Ian Ashford’s second album ‘Inheritance” due out in the summer of 2021. The project is an Irish- Franco collaboration.

The Dublin musician’s new single, ‘Polyanthus Scent’ is a reflective and moving ballad about discovery and being drawn into a world that’s as foreign as it is familiar.

Ashford’s composition is based around stumbling upon a portrait in an old green house as a boy and from there, the song’s wistful and reflective meditation begins.

Ashford’s band features Bastien Choukroun, Simon McCourt and Arthur Duburcq.

A stirring composition about family and memory, Ashford’s number is a quiet and revelatory joy.

https://ianashford.com

https://www.facebook.com/ianashfordmusic

@ianashfordmusic

LaGracia present the second single off their Debut EP ‘No One’s Fool’, a collection of four songs written by musical duo/husband and wife, Gráinne McCarthy and Kevin Healy, making up LaGracia. ‘No One’s Fool’ is a passion project in the works for over 4 years and they were finally able to finish it during lockdown despite the challenges posed by pandemic. “There were a lot of vocals that needed to be recorded, along with extra production and keys which we wanted, so we had to do most of it remotely, and going to the studio as often as possible,” says McCarthy, an established performer, credited with a number of Irish television appearances, such as The Late Late Show accompanying Lucia Evans and The Waterboys, as well as being a long standing member of Danny G & the Major 7ths.

These heartfelt and soulful songs are an honest insight into episodes from a tumultuous time in the lives of McCarthy and Healy. ‘Can’t Ever Know’, follows a similar theme to ‘Say’, with more of a focus on feeling misunderstood and separating from those who are toxic.

LaGracia are a popular band on the Dublin and West of Ireland circuit. Hailing from Sligo and Roscommon: with Gráinne on vocals, Kevin and Tom on guitars, and Dublin: Dennis Cassidy on beats and Gar Frequency on bass and production. For the purpose of the EP, they recruited Jesse Chandler (Midlake, BNQT), who recorded additional keys remotely last year from Texas.

Their sound has been described as nostalgic, reminiscent of the 90’s R&B era of En Vogue, TLC and Lauryn Hill, while lead singer-songwriter McCarthy has a voice that evokes classic soul/ R&B singers like Etta James, Dusty Springfield and Roberta Flack. The overall sound is brave, passionate and soulful.

‘Can’t Ever Know’ is the follow up to “Say”, (released in April), from their Debut EP. It is thematically similar to ‘Say’ in that it was from the same period of time where McCarthy, an established vocalist, realised that, “Some people will never fully understand who we are and what we are about both personally and artistically and that’s OK. You need to find your own tribe in order to excel.”

In contrast to ‘Say’, which has a more produced feel, in ‘Can’t Ever Know’ you can really hear a more live band sound from LaGracia. The Latin influenced acoustic guitar and percussion immediately set the tone for the song which is reminiscent of Santana and Lauryn Hill’s collaborations.

It has a throwback feel with 90’s inspired vocals prominent on the chorus and in the outro. The song evolves and peaks with a striking finish of layered a cappella vocals from McCarthy. She states that she is constantly evolving her songs and trying new harmonies and BV’s, and explains, “One of the backing vocals that appears in the outro came to me on the last day of recording vocals and now it’s my favourite part of the song. It really adds emotion to the ending.”

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Following the news of Mick Flannery and Susan O’ Neill show at Whelans for 6th November being sold out, they have added a second show due to demand. They will perform on 7th November 2021. Tickets are available from Tickets.ie and Ticketmaster.ie. These shows are proudly presented by Singular Artists.

In a first for Mick Flannery, he and Irish newcomer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Susan O’Neill have come together on a collaboration album ‘In The Game’.

The album was written and recorded over the summer of 2020 during lockdown between Cork, Ireland, and Los Angeles. Produced ‘virtually’ by LA based, Australian producer Tony Buchen (Courtney Barnett, Smashing Pumpkins, Tim Finn), and featuring musicians from both Ireland and America.

Sunday, 7th November 2021 – Tickets available now from Friday, 2nd July at 10am
Tickets €30.00 available from Ticketmaster.ie and Tickets.ie

Saturday, 6th November 2021 – SOLD OUT!

Album ‘In the Game’ Out September, 2021

Dave Flynn’s Irish Memory Orchestra Launches Composer’s Vision, an exciting new mentorship opportunity for young blind or vision impaired composers.

Dave Flynn’s Irish Memory Orchestra is searching for 3 talented young blind or vision impaired composers to work collaboratively on a new choral work that will be premiered by the IMO Youth Orchestra & Choir, alongside Dave Flynn’s The Vision Symphony, in Galway on Easter Saturday 2022.

Applicants should have some experience of composing in any style of music and the 3 selected composers will receive monthly mentorship over Zoom from composer Dave Flynn and in-person mentorship by Irish Memory Orchestra members during the rehearsal week from 12th-16th April 2022.

Travel, accommodation and food expenses to attend the premiere performance in Galway will be provided.

Eligible composers must be:

–    – Aged 10-24

–    – Blind or vision impaired

–    – Born in or resident in Ireland

–    – Able to submit examples of their work as audio/video and/or scores

The selected composers will be encouraged to either sing or play with the IMO Youth Orchestra & Choir in Galway from 12 – 16 April 2022, with a full scholarship provided.

The IMO Youth Orchestra & Choir is funded by the Arts Council Young Ensembles Scheme

Apply online at https://www.irishmemoryorchestra.com/composers-vision.html

Deadline for applications: Friday 30^th July, 5pm

Irish international phenomenon Picture This today release their third studio album, ‘Life In Colour’, via Let’s Get It! Records / Republic Records.

Picture This comment on the new album, “Our fans have been amazingly patient with us over the last two years and allowed us to get a body of work together that we feel is really worth the wait for them and we’re excited for them all to get their hands on it! We will be back with even more music a lot sooner than you would think too!”

Picture This preceded the album with the Irish airplay #1 single ‘Things Are Different’. Co-produced by GRAMMY® Award winning producers The Monsters & Strangerz [Justin Bieber, Halsey], German [Camilla Cabello, Liam Payne], and the band, the track has amassed 4.3 million Spotify streams to date. Inciting tastemaker applause, MTV UK recently declared them, “your new favourite pop band.” The guys also performed the song on The Late Show with James Corden. Plus, they sat down with Corden to chat about their new partnership with Joe Jonas and his recently announced Let’s Get It Records!

Additionally, ‘Life In Colour’ boasts current single ‘LA House Party’ and ‘Unconditional’. Thus far, tracks from the record have already gathered over 25 million total streams and counting prior to its arrival.

Next up, Picture This will headline a tour across the UK, kicking off on October 6 in Nottingham at Rescue Rooms and concluding October 15 in Manchester at Manchester Academy. They will then play their first Irish shows since 2020 with a three-night run in Killarney’s INEC on December 16^th, 17^th and 18^th, 2021. Due to Covid restrictions, the band’s Irish Summer tour has now been re-scheduled to 2022. See new dates below.

Picture This will make alternative pop vibrant with ‘Life In Colour’.

Tour Dates

OCT

6^th      Nottingham, UK                           Rescue Rooms
7^th       Newcastle upon Tyne, UK            The Boiler Shop
8^th       Sheffield, UK                               The Leadmill
10^th     Bristol, UK                                   O2 Academy Bristol
11^th     Birmingham, UK                          O2 Academy 2
12^th     Brighton, UK                                Concorde 2
14^th     London, UK                                 O2 Academy Brixton
15^th     Manchester, UK                           Manchester Academy

DEC

16^th     Killarney, Ireland                          INEC
17^th     Killarney, Ireland                          INEC
18^th     Killarney, Ireland                          INEC

JUNE 2022

17^th     Cork, Ireland                                Musgrave Park
18^th     Dublin, Ireland                            Malahide Castle
19^th     Belfast, Northern Ireland            Ormeau Park

Sion Hill has just released his brand new single ‘No Way Back From Your Love’ with Norwegian DJ/Producer MYXE – radio edit and club mix out now.

‘No Way Back From Your Love’ is a brand new fun, house-pop summer banger by Ireland’s international border-breaking Sion Hill, and Norwegian DJ and producer, MYXE. The track features a genre-blending melody, a notable signature of Sion Hill and gives just a small taste of what he has been working and collaborating on over the last year.

‘No Way Back From Your Love’ was originally written in London in 2020 by Sion Hill (Nate Johnston) & Louis Ryan for piano and voice and was actually intended for someone else to sing, but when MYXE heard Johnston’s vocal, he loved it so much that he decided to keep it in.

Speaking of the single Sion Hill said: “He sent me back the mix and when I heard it I was like – wow, this is a banger. It works. Let’s roll with it.”

The song talks about getting too deep into a relationship with someone without realising it. The song’s lyrics were inspired by the Beatles’ –  ‘All You Need Is Love,’ by playing on the idea of – if you can envision something, then it is not impossible: “There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done, Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.”

Sion Hill has teamed up with acclaimed MYXE to build on the success of his recent singles ‘Fuel Kids’, ‘Last Minute’ and ‘Speak Up’ (which have a combined 4.5m streams on Spotify alone, not to mention his debut album, ‘Elephant’) that garnered significant success across radio and digital streaming platforms. MYXE has had several releases with well known labels in the industry, and has streamed to platinum on his release “Breaking All The Rules”.

After a tough year for numerous reasons, Sion Hill is truly at the cusp of an exciting new chapter in his career: awarded a recording grant by First Music Contact and the Dept. of Culture, Arts, Media, Tourism, Sport and the Gaeltacht in 2020, he has been working on brand-new studio recordings with internationally acclaimed producers MYXE (Norway) (notably acclaimed by Moby), Kevin Brennan (of Dublin’s Wavefarm Productions, The Girl Talk), Rich Turvey (Blossoms, The Coral) and Marcus Brosch (Annet Louisian, Helene Fischer, Nick Carter). Recordings took place between Dublin, London, Liverpool and Hamburg and guaranteed an exciting year ahead for music-lovers. Sion Hill is set to announce a 2021 European Tour in the coming weeks and cannot wait to get back on the road with his band of misfits.

‘No Way Back From Your Love’ the brand new single from Sion Hill and MYXE is out now across all digital platforms, with both the radio edit and club mix available now.

Dublin Quays Festival – a multi venue Music Festival  taking place along the banks of Dublin’s River Liffey –  are delighted to announce that it takes to the water again with another line up of new, exciting music and top quality established acts. Established in 2017, the Festival has hosted brilliant acts like The Murder Capital and Pillow Queens over its short tenure and thanks to crucial funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media we can now continue to showcase some of the best acts that Ireland has to offer.

The Festival will host 16 shows over 16 nights over the month of August and will take place in four great venues – The Workmans Club, The Sound House, Sin É and The Grand Social –  with final line ups and dates to be announced shortly.

Following Government guidelines organisers hope to sell tickets for Festival shows but if not, all shows will be streamed.

twitter: @dublin_quays

insta: @dublinquaysfestival

FB: @DublinQuaysFestival

Strange Boy releases his much-anticipated debut album ‘Holy / Unholy’ via WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD today, Friday 25^th June 2021.

“When I was working on this album and when Enda (Gallery) was brewing up the beats for me, I got a sort of anxious feeling like I wasn’t going to be able to do the concept we had justice. It was also the worst possible time for me to write an album as there was a lot of suffering going on within my family.

Eventually though, through me being at mental rock bottom, the album revealed itself and the entire thing was writing within a month or two. I wouldn’t say I’m proud of it, I’d say I’m proud despite it. There’s nothing honourable or romantic about being in a bad place so I’m just glad that this album is finished. Regardless of whoever likes it or doesn’t it’s 100% my experience and there’s not much else to it. Just another one in a long line of humans talking about some sh*t that happened. That’s all” -Strange Boy

The Limerick rapper Jordan Kelly, aka Strange Boy, introduced his first LP with singles ‘Waiting’ and ‘Prayers’ which both summed up what this album is about: combining Hip Hop and Irish traditional music, the old and new cultural influences dominant in this country, with a sophistication that would have you swearing this genre always existed.

Strange Boy presents his full set of skills in 10 astonishing tracks telling his story, a story that is unique but relatable for many other young Irish people. The album features guest appearances from fellow Limerick rapper Hazey Haze, Strange Boy’s brother Seán McNally Kelly, and GRAMMY-winning star Moya Brennan, who bring a balance and variety to the album. The music was composed and produced by Enda Gallery in Kilfenora, Co. Clare during lockdown.

‘Holy/Unholy’ by Strange Boy is available on all digital platforms Friday 25^th June 2021 via the Berlin label Welcome to the New World.

Stream/Download the album here https://found.ee/HolyUnholy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strange.boy.theweirdo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StrangeBoyWha / @strangeboywha

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4LXxi3hXUQ0TEeQtmuWLY4?si=OEwMBarbTn-d4p1P7WPAoQ

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/de/artist/strange-boy/1215627698?l=en

YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCmRNfYRfsyAbxkMRXErwlpg?feature=share