Author: Breffni Banks

Crash Works is a partnership between Crash Ensemble and New Music Dublin who commission and support the artistic and professional development of music creators (of any genre) at pivotal stages of their careers. Creators benefit from a wide range of support covering artistic mentorship, workshops, producing work, through to self-promotion, and making funding applications.

For ‘Crash Works I’, Crash Ensemble collaborated with leading Ireland based creators: composers Amy Rooney, Anselm McDonnell, songwriter and composer Laura Hyland, pianist and composer Yue Song, and harpist and composer Úna Monaghan. Each creator had development time with the ensemble over a 2-year period to work on the concepts and ideas for their commissions.

The first phase of Crash Works offered each music creator the opportunity to share their work in progress – performed by Crash Ensemble – at a work-in-progress showing to an invited audience of national and international presenters at New Music Dublin in April 2022.

The second phase of Crash Works culminated in the premiere of their new commissions for full ensemble on Friday 21 April 2023 at New Music Dublin festival at the National Concert Hall.

The concert at New Music Dublin 2023 was recorded and is out now on Crash Records.

Speaking about the new album, Artistic Director Kate Ellis said “Crash Works I is a collection of 5 brand new works from 5 brilliant music creators all at pivotal stages of their careers.  These works were recorded live at New Music Dublin in April 2023 and are the culmination of 2 years of thinking, creating, collaborating, investigating and exploration in collaboration with the ensemble and our creative team. We are very very proud of the creators and excited to share this work with the world.”

And Crash Works continues! Four new music creators will be commissioned to write a new work for Crash Ensemble, which will be premiered at New Music Dublin Festival in 2025. Each of the music creators will receive a commission fee to write a 10-minute work for full ensemble as well as taking part in the 2- year development programme.  The Open Call is live now, and the closing date for applications is 13th October 2023.

September 15, 2023 – Today, Mick Flannery releases his eighth studio album, ‘Goodtime Charlie’. Recorded in Cork City with long-time collaborator and producer Christian Best, this collection of 14 tracks spans various genres, from folk ballads to alt-pop and americana. Notably, it marks the first international artist to release on ‘Oh Boy Records,’ the beloved Nashville label, founded by John Prine.

Renowned for writing songs with fluency, expressing layered aspects of the human condition, its flaws, triumphs, and general uncertainty. Mick’s latest offering – ‘Goodtime Charlie’ is no exception.

Writing for this album started pre-pandemic whilst touring in the USA in January 2020.  ‘Give Me Up,’ written in Los Angeles with producer Tony Buchen and Australian musician, producer, and songwriter Justin Stanley, ‘OKLA’ (“a love letter to a dead dream”) had been written in Nashville with writer Adam Landry.

Amidst lockdowns, Mick turned to virtual collaborations. His weekly online sessions with Ana Egge yielded three album tracks: “Neon Tonight” (“about a band waiting to go onstage, feeling nervous and excited”), “Machine” (“a song about an emotionally distant mechanic, who just loves driving, wondering why people lead such complicated lives”), and “Someone to Tell it To” (“a song about a journey and the gratitude of having someone traveling with you”). Another virtual collaboration emerged with rising star Tianna Esperenza (the granddaughter of Punk royalty Palmolive from The Slits), on the song “Old Friend,” this would be first of three duets on the record. The second, the folk-noir track, “The Fact.”  Mick is joined by Valerie June, an American singer-songwriter whom he has previously shared the stage with on both sides of the Atlantic, most recently having Valerie as his special guest in Dublin at The National Museum of Ireland last month.

The third duet is the previously released ‘Minnesota’, addressing the relationship between individuals and their state. Where Anaïs Mitchell’s voice takes the lead. Their collaboration extended to a live performance of the duet at Cork Opera House this past weekend. Joined by Anais’ band Bonny Light Horseman, and arranged by Bryce Dessner for the RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Consequently, Goodtime Charlie has more collaborations and co-writes than on any previous records. “It sparks you out of your comfort zone,” Mick says, “It opens up new perspectives, you wonder ‘how would someone else do this?’ The result is the best album of Mick’s already stellar career. Whatever the other voices add, whether on the record or in the writing, it creates a suite of songs that twist and turn surprise and engage like no others to this date.

“It’s more fun too,” Mick notes, “I don’t take myself as seriously as I did when I was 20. Back then, you’re all about yourself. I’m open to more fun now, trying things, hence, Goodtime Charlie.”

The song ‘Goodtime Charlie,’ the albums’ namesake sets the tone for a game of two halves. With ‘What They Say’, ‘Morning Rain’, the aforementioned ‘Give Me Up’ and ‘Neon Tonight’ lending to a free-spirited, 70’s feel. A nod to The Band and Van Morrison of the era.  There is a nostalgia weaved through these songs that juxtapose the deep and soulful ballads that make up the other half of this epic piece of work.

Today also sees the premiere of the official video for the recently released single “Young.”  The song has been described as ‘an instinctive, soulful study of adolescence, free will and finding the energy to pick the important fights.’  Directed by Mark Logan from Dublin’s CLTV Films, who has recently directed music documentaries for Fontaines DC as well as Dublin’s famous ‘The Busk’. Of the process, Logan said:

“I believe we live in a time that is devoid of courage, the courage to stand up and speak out for what is right and what we believe in. I believe the youth have been deprived of such an important becoming. Instead, they are lost in a sea of technology and isolation. From each other and themselves. In this film I’ve imagined the four distinct stages of one man’s life.” 

Listen to it below:

Irish singer-songwriter ULTAN CONLON found a haven for his unique sound and sensibility in Los Angeles, California with Grammy Award-winning David Garza (Fiona Apple) producing Ultan’s 5th record, The Starlight Ballroom, which is out now (September 13th, 2023).

Ultan first met David in LA in 2017 while playing some shows with him at Largo, the nightclub where Sean and Sara Watkins host The Watkins Family Hour. Ultan says: “When I met David and we played some songs together I saw his unbridled energy and talent and knew I wanted to work with him.” Fast forward 6 years and The Starlight Ballroom is born.

The formidable group of musicians includes producer and co-writer Garza on numerous instruments, Amy Wood— Drums (Fiona Apple, Iggy Pop, St Vincent) Sebastian Steinberg — Double Bass (Fiona Apple, Iron and Wine, Neil Diamond, KD Lang) Dave Curtis – Strings and Programming (AJ Croce). The Starlight Ballroom is engineered and mixed by John Would (Fiona Apple, Warren Zevon).

The Starlight Ballroom was a Ballroom of Romance in Westport Co Mayo which opened in the early 1960’s and closed in 1981. Thousands of people would pack into the hall to see local Irish Show bands and the best international acts of the day. Roy Orbison played The Starlight in 1969 and Ultan’s song The Starlight Ballroom takes in and ponders the night in question.

With The Starlight Ballroom in tow Conlon headed for Los Angeles and with the aid of David Garza created a world of characters and misfits (The Old Songs) and dreamers (Susie Gossip).

Whether it be an isolated begrudger (All Sewn Up) or a scorned lover living in the past (Hurts Like Heaven) to a young girl on her bike crossing the gravel dirt roads of 1960’s Ireland looking for a fantastical place (Paradise Lane) at the end of the day you’ll find them all in the one place, The Starlight Ballroom.

Listen to it below:

Over the last twenty years, Dublin-born and Berlin-based artist David Hedderman has cultivated an impressive career as a visual artist with his vibrant style of portraits which often feature beautifully textured and captivating backdrops for his figures to exist within. Hedderman’s striking idiosyncratic style seamlessly translates in his songwriting, as demonstrated in his dynamic and deft debut album, Pulling At The Briars. These ten multi-faceted compositions are sensitively layered with sumptuous and sweeping instrumentation. Its tonal palette is enhanced by a rich palette of emotive guitar melodies, soft percussion, and wistful flourishes of pedal steel, piano and violin. These beautiful soundscapes are endlessly inviting, each return drawing audiences closer towards the many aspects of his artistry.

Written over a 15-year period, Pulling At The Briars captures a transitional period for Hedderman during which he relocated to Berlin, Germany from Dublin, Ireland in the mid-2000s. The initial months and years were shaped by intensive periods creating art whilst cultivating a community of like-minded creatives in Berlin. With regards to the latter, Hedderman engaged in regular music sessions, eventually inviting musicians to his Kreuzberg studio to play together. This ritual not only served as an invigorating social outlet but through playing music, Hedderman was able to process several informative events that occurred throughout his twenties and thirties.

Recorded live over five-days with Brendan Jenkinson (Aoife Nessa Frances, John Francis Flynn, Villagers) in Sonic Studios, Dublin, Ireland, Pulling At The Briars was produced by Conor O’Brien (Villagers), Hedderman’s close childhood friend and former bandmate in The Immediate. The atmosphere conjured during the recording sessions was amplified by the potent cast of collaborators featuring Peter Broderick, David A. Tapley (Tandem Felix), Corey Blair, and Aidan Gorman, each of whom add rich flourishes to the expansive material.

Hedderman explains the significance of the album’s title and how it reflects the overall narrative of this deeply personal and resonating work. “It came from a trip I made to the West coast of Ireland making portraits of people. I was also doing some work outdoors with my friend and we were told we had to pull briars out of some walls in the lashing rain. Afterwards, I remember it being a very heightened memory after that trip of it being very cathartic and symbolic. The act was quite literally doing something in the pursuit of clearing, unclogging. I’ve often seen that as how I’ve treated music in a cathartic way, as a form of therapy. Holding the guitar and singing is my way of getting things out. The album’s title is a lyric in one of the songs and I think it nicely umbrellas the whole album in how it addresses the ways that I try to untangle life.”

Introducing David Hedderman’s sound, ‘Blue Jeans’ is the debut single from Pulling At The Briars. The song, out now (Friday, September 15^th), is a luminous representation of the album as it delicately weaves the lush textures of pedal steel, violin and the haunting resonance of piano which beautifully permeate throughout the record with a mystifying air.

Of the themes anchoring ‘Blue Jeans’, Hedderman explains: “It’s a song that mixes the minutiae in life with the big things and seeing them through a filter; watching or experiencing things from a distance in order to be able to process the big questions”.

Listen to the track below:

Hailing from the east of Ireland, RATIOS are an indie-rock trio returning with their brand-new single ‘Take A Stab’, is out today.

Back in September 2021, the band formed as a guitar and drums duo. Dan O’Shaughnessy and Liam Brady entered the studio to release their debut single ‘Yellow Ribbon’ which they were aiming to both draw some attention to their sound and attract a bassist to join. Mike O’Sullivan discovered the duo in an ad that the band had published. He became a driving force behind the band’s sound and invited a whole new platform for them to experiment creatively.

Since then, RATIOS have showcased their diverse rock and other genre flavourings in iconic venues like Whelan’s, Fibber Magees, and The Workman’s Club, performing loud, raw, and energetic shows.

Returning with their brand-new single, ‘Take A Stab’, the creation almost dates back ten years; the three-piece lineup revived and fully developed the lyrics and structure in 2022. Dan had penned lyrics and a rough structure back in the day before the trio cemented the complete track.

‘Take A Stab’ expresses boredom, frustration, and a lust for life in a small town, urging the storyteller to retreat. Moments of sheltering himself from his mundane surroundings provide a resonating feeling that will strike a chord with many listeners.

On the song, RATIOS say:

“During a rehearsal session, Dan said that he had a song idea that traced back to around 10 years ago. As soon as we heard the main riff, we knew this song would be our next release. The hooks and ideas kept coming once we started to develop it, even more so when it came time to enter the studio. It’s the most accomplished song we’ve released so far, and we love the different sounds that are layered on this track. We think the sound reflects each of our influences while also bringing something fresh into the current rock sphere. Lyrically, all three of us can relate to the main sentiment of the song – a feeling of discontent with what’s around us and wanting something more. We want the world to present a means of escape from our mundane surroundings and to go on to something bigger. The song evokes a feeling of setting out a challenge – for the world to ‘Take a Stab’ at you and see what you can do.”

Listen to the track below:

Delicate and delicious, Irish alt-rock artist The Butterfly Graveyard is located somewhere between The Blue Nile, Jeff Buckley and the deep blue sea. He makes a fragile music, soft as a butterfly’s wing but sometimes rough and uneven like the underbelly of a leaf, translucent when held up under the light. Vertigo is a glorious alt-rock track which shows off the unique vocal ability of frontman Terence O’Connor.

‘The idea behind this song was to find a word that captures the essence of falling in love. From the soaring heights of a new adventure all the way down to the terrible lows. I was searching for something that might represent love as an illness, a disease or a kind of malady. Something that made you feel dizzy and unsteady on your feet as you stumbled and fumbled your way through the emotional roller-coaster. I then thought of Vertigo which is a sensation that makes the person feel as though they are spinning and could fall at any moment. Ultimately it is a cautionary tale to thread carefully, watch your step, keep climbing higher and higher and remember don’t ever look down.’

Listen to it below:

From the opening ethereal voices of ‘Touch Me’, Toria announces herself as a new sound in Irish female alternative rock. Melancholic and moody tones are broken by an energetic and passionate alt rock soundtrack. A mix of beauty, passion and frustrated anger; lyrically, musically and physically. Following in the footsteps of so many iconic Irish female artists, Toria is a refreshing musical voice that demands to be heard.

‘This track was written in my earlier days as a musician, and is one I’ve become really proud of. I wanted to experiment with layering lots of harmonies, and challenged myself to write the track using the same continuous chord progression, while also building a tension throughout that would intrigue the listener. The journey I’ve been on with this song, from creating the demo alone in my bedroom, to recording the final track in Jejune Studios, has been such a fun experience. I feel honoured to have had so many talented people work on this song with me. It will always hold a place in my heart.”

Toria trained in classical piano from an early age, moving between alternative pop ballads and Beethoven. Her desire for more musical outlets led her to guitar, singing and eventually song writing. Having spent time growing up living in different parts of Ireland, she began testing out her new material at musician gatherings in small Irish towns. Toria’s passion for music in its many forms and her desire to write and perform ever more poetic compositions led her to music performance college in Dublin where she earned her degree. Toria is now constantly performing with her band throughout Ireland at festivals and spotlight venues as well as writing and recording music.

Listen to it below:

Tipped as ‘one of the best voices in Ireland’ by GoldenPlec, Dublin born Irish-Greek R&B artist Melina Malone is a force to be reckoned with in the Irish music scene. With collaborations with some of Ireland’s finest artists from Mango X Mathman to Zaska, Booka Brass, Glasshouse Music, and Irish Women In Harmony her powerful vocal performances often leave audiences captivated and Melina can be seen regularly drawing large crowds whenever she performs.

Taking influence from all things Neo Soul, from soul queens Erykah Badu & Jill Scott, to their more contemporary counterparts Amber Mark, NAO & RAYE, Melina Malone’s next single Naive lands ahead on Sept 15th, of her Ireland Music Week showcase debut, and her debut album ‘Aphrodite’ is a powerful debut with heavy nods the aforementioned Soul trailblazers, while also blending flavors of Bossa Nova & 90’s R&B. Melina aims to redefine the standard of Irish R&B with this record. ‘Aphrodite’ is set for release on October 6th 2023.

Her latest singles ‘Lovers Sunday’ & Tru Luv’ have garnered support from the likes of RTE 2FM, BBC1xtra, 98 FM, BBC Introducing, Nialler9, Goldenplec, IMRO, Noctis Magazine, Ones to Watch, and more, plus Spotify Editorial playlist slots on ‘A Breath Of Fresh Eire’, ‘Fresh Finds UK & Ire’, and ‘LED Lights’

On next single Naive:

“Naive is another really special one from the album. I wrote this with musician/producer Steven McCann in 2019 and it’s been a regular appearance in my live sets since then. I brought the demo to Adam Shanahan in 2022 at the very start of the album record, (it was the first track we worked on) and he did such a sublime job on production. It’s the opening track from the album and the beginning of the story for me so I wanted really dramatic, orchestral strings for the intro, (with the help of Ryan Hargadon on keys) building tension and placing the listener right in the story. The production and beat is very heavily inspired by 90’s R&B girl groups like SWV, Brownstone and Destiny’s Child. I love the emphasis they place on intricate soulful harmonies, and you can hear the harms are STACKED, there are layers upon layers in there and I wanted them to be a main feature in the mix, sitting right up there with the bass or keys.

It tells a story of the breakdown of a relationship and how you can sometimes lose yourself in the process of that. This track is the catalyst for the journey this woman goes on to get back to herself and her femininity.”

Listen to it below:

Stamped with an individuality and high style of her own, Chubby Cat has just been named at one of the Hot For 2023 Irish Acts by Hot Press.

She’s already been making waves in Ireland with her earlier singles, Not a Vibe, Big Dog Barking, 21st Century Panic Attack, Baby Blue & Ache picking up support at Irish Radio, blogs and assorted DSP’s including Spotify’s New Music Friday, Fresh Finds, GLOW, UK & IE: Fresh Finds & New Pop UK

Several of Chubby Cats previous releases have been made ‘Track of the Week’ on Spin South West, 2FM, and received significant play on 2FM, Today FM and a host of other regional stations.

Previous support includes Nialler9, Golden Plec, Atwood, Lock Magazine and she was included in the Influential ‘Now Hear This’ playlist on the Independent UK (one of the UK’s biggest daily newspapers).

Chubby Cat is building a significant live audience having recently supported hot UK act Crawlers and Tourist for their sold out shows in Dublin while she also recently performed at the prestigious Output Festival in Belfast, We’ve Only Just Begun Festival in Whelan’s, The Mother Summer Block Party in Dublin, Sofar Sounds Belfast and Indiependance Festival in Cork.

Chubby Cat plays Ireland Music Week this October on Thursday 5th in Workmans Cellar at 9:50pm

On ‘Kissin’ In The Valley-O’:

“I wanted to create a song that was relevant to me and the people around me in terms of growing up in our 20’s and 30’s. KITVO talks about the housing crisis and the struggles people face when trying to rent somewhere to live that’s not too expensive, too damp or unsafe, worrying about having money for food or money for electricity, breathing in all kinds of mould and getting sick as a result, trying to keep relationships going when you live with housemates who you don’t get along with etc.

It makes me very happy that I’m able to release a song that was made with one of my closest friends in his home with nothing fancy, just real conversations and genuine feelings and emotions. Creating songs that are relatable for myself, other indie Artists and other people in general is really important to me and I like to think we’ve done that with this new track.”

Listen to it below: