Author: Breffni Banks

Balancing high-intensity raps with considered spoken word, 29 year old Limerick man Willzee draws listeners in with his flawless flow and social commentaries. Willzee is part of a musical movement that brings his hometown Limerick to the top of the Irish rap scene.

He is preparing to release his debut album later this summer via the Berlin label Welcome to the New World, and today shares a new song, a spoken word piece, from the album.

‘A Dream of Peace’ Willzee reflects on the events in 2020 and their impact on individuals and the whole world. Willzee says “Life is such a precious thing for not only humans but for all living beings on earth, over the last couple of years we have seen the loss of thousands of lives due to a global pandemic, us as people have been worn down by the unknown, my hope with this piece is to help remind people that we are not alone, together we can get there better,”

The music was composed by Enda Gallery and produced by Enda Gallery & Matthew Paull. And video directed by Conor Buckley, camera by Daniel Potts, Motion Graphic by Hugh Heffernan, and edited by Graham Patterson.

Coming from a traveller community and growing up in the streets of Limerick, Willzee faced adversity, struggle and hardship as well as facing criminal aspects of life. In recent years he found rap, spoken word and film and has immersed himself in music and acting as a true expression of himself.

In late 2020, Willzee released a ‘Nick Nack’ – a story that reflects the life that the songwriter has managed to escape, by channelling his talents in a positive direction.

He went on to win the 2019 Virgin Media Discovers Short Film Competition with his script for the film ‘Innocent Boy’ which premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival in February 2020. He has appeared in music videos for his label mate Enda Gallery’s 2019 single ‘It’s Alright’ before they returned with a stunning collaborative piece ‘Dear Friend II’ which placed the spotlight on Limerick City’s documented troubles with gangs, drugs, and knife crime. As the rapper and actor has turned a corner in his life, he maintains the same can be said of his community – urging a different course for communities in need of care, locally and worldwide.

Willzee now announces his debut album to be released this summer with it’s first single ‘A Dream of Peace’ out now.

Linktree to more from Willzee: https://found.ee/ADreamOfPeace

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willzeetwow/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/willzeetwow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillzeeTWOW

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2gJDPJbvj52DkO2q7jG2NS?si=ouHW1FKKRAKHLccIARWVRg

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/de/artist/willzee/1500335806?l=en

YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC-EJTHLzLflLzpliPuEfvDw?feature=share

The West Cork Chamber Music Festival is delighted to introduce its virtual twin, Bantry and Beyond. As the Festival musicians could not come to Bantry, the Festival has gone to the musicians. Festival-goers will become virtual travellers to destinations around Europe and USA. They will visit famous concert halls in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Chicago; historic Great Houses of Ireland and the Netherlands; a centuries old abbey with a fabulous library; Palaces in Prague and Vienna; old churches in London, Bantry and Amsterdam; a vaulted tunnel under a vanished convent in Cologne; studios in Amsterdam and Berlin; and Music Centres in Hungary and Italy.

The thirty Festival concerts will commence with four themed week-ends starting in Vienna on 28 May before moving to daily concerts 25 June – 4 July followed by a coda of five concerts later in July. The concerts will be streamed by the platform OurConcerts.live.

Curating thirty filmed concerts with sixty musicians in seventeen venues with sixteen different production teams in ten countries in two continents during a pandemic has shown how flexible the music sector can be under pressure. Musicians, camera teams, sound engineers and venues have given much of their time to help bring these thirty performances into being.

Great music in the hands of great musicians is always an intoxicating mix. A virtual recording by top production companies has one advantage over the live concert, namely the close-up intimacy of the performance, a front-row experience with quality audio. There will be World Premieres of new quartets by Deirdre Gribbin and Garth Knox played by Pacifica and Ragazze Quartets with Irish premieres of works by Lera Auerbach and Finola Melville.

Bantry and Beyond opens with a Classical Prelude of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms that leads the way into a powerful Russian series from Mussorgsky to Shostakovich. Solo performances feature Ibragimova, Tiberghien, Gluzman, Fedorova, Petcu, Fejervari and Grynyuk. There are great Quartets, a cello series, singers from Ireland, France and Germany, great violinists and period instrument ensembles.

West Cork Chamber Music Festival is generously supported by the Arts Council, Crespo Foundation, Fáilte Ireland and Cork County Council as well as many individual donors and subscribers.

For further information, visit the websites of the West Cork Chamber Music Festival (westcorkmusic.ie) and OurConcerts.live ( ourconcerts.live).

Irish international phenomenon Picture This announce their third studio album, ‘Life In Colour’, set to be released on June 25 via Republic Records/Let’s Get It! Records. Following the massive success of their Irish #1 airplay single ‘Things Are Different’, Picture This have also announced the follow up single ‘LA House Party’, available now plus an additional instant-grat, ‘If Ever However Whenever Forever’, also released today.

Picture This comment on the forthcoming 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 ‘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 3.4 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 ‘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. 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’.

TRACKLISTING

1. Intro
2. Life In Colour
3. LA House Party
4. Addict Of Magic
5. Winona Ryder
6. Die For You
7. Oslo
8. Things Are Different
9. Can You Feel It
10. 17
11. If Ever However Whenever Forever
12. Unconditional
13. I Don’t Feel The Same Way Anymore
14. Lucky I Was Loved

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

JUNE 2022

17^th      Cork, Ireland                                       Musgrave Park

18^th      Dublin, Ireland                                     Malahide Castle

19^th      Belfast, Northern Ireland                     Ormeau Park

The Academic are pleased to announce details of a new EP. The ‘Community Spirit EP’ will be released on the 9^th July through Capitol Records.

To coincide with its announcement, the band are also excited to share a first taste of the EP. ‘Kids (Don’t End Up Like Me)’ is streaming now and a thumping return for a band absolutely straining at the leash to take their sky-scraping indie pop anthems out on the road and into the ears of their ever-expanding fanbase.

The ‘Community Spirit EP’ was written, recorded and produced by the band through lockdown and if the past fourteen months put their touring plans on ice just as serious momentum started to gather outside of Ireland, The Academic have dusted themselves down and are ready to go again.

Vocalist Craig Fitzgerald: “’Kids (Don’t End Up Like Me)’ is one of the first songs I remember writing back when I was a teenager. It was the first time that lyrics had come very easy to me. It’s written about the fear of not getting out of your hometown and amounting to anything. Thanks to the lockdown, I had plenty of time on my hands, but nothing to write about, so I started looking through all my old notebooks and found this song fully written. I had a gut feeling that it might come to life now with a few more years of living behind me since it was originally written.”

Whilst Kaiser Chiefs’ Nick Hodgson produced last year’s ‘Anything Could Happen EP’, Craig himself swung behind the metaphorical glass to take control of production on the ‘Community Spirit EP’. “I’d spend a lot of time during lockdown working on my production chops, trying to get the most out of the little equipment I had. The band put their faith in me to take a stab at producing this. Whilst it’s definitely super DIY, it’s been a cool experience and helped us realise we can make music on our own.”

It’s perhaps too early to suggest that a new band has a signature sound, but The Academic seem incapable of writing anything less than golden, infectious guitar-fuelled indie pop. It’s bold, heart-thumping, cinematic disco music for indie kids, that instantly recalls some of the better guitar bands that lit up the early 2000s, but brings it sharply into focus with the energy of four young Irish lads bursting at the seams to introduce themselves properly to audiences across the globe. They’re already deemed hometown heroes, but as ‘Kids…’ suggests, whilst Mullinger and Ireland might have opened their arms to The Academic first, there are towns, cities, states and countries still eagerly awaiting that first embrace.

Listening to ‘Kids (Don’t End Up Like Me)’, you wouldn’t know it was pieced together by a band in their own bedrooms. Exuding confidence in a shower of melody, it’s a big song by a potentially big, big new band.

A. Smyth is happy to announce a gig in the Grand Social for November and release a new single ‘Tempt’ along with the accompanying video directed by Rioghnach Ní Ghrioghair.

Rioghnach comments “It’s not easy creating something during a pandemic but it’s been a joy to work with Aaron on his new video. We wanted to create something humble yet intimate for such a delicate song and we were so grateful to work with powerhouse talents Aaron Monaghan and Clare Monnelly in its creation”.

Smyth adds “This song looks at how robust the human spirit is. No matter how dark it might get, we have a fail-safe switch that always believes there’ll come a crack of light”.

The Grand Social, presented by Singular Artists, will see A. Smyth return to performing live when he plays there with his band on 24^th November. Tickets, €14.50 + charges, on sale today via https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/196734/5289920

Smyth’s debut album ‘Last Animals’ was released in February and garnered a great deal of praise.

The limited edition clear yellow vinyl is now available to order via:   https://asmyth.bandcamp.com/album/last-animals

All tracks on ‘Last Animals’ were written by A. Smyth, produced by Darragh Nolan (Asta Kalapa) in Darragh’s Wexford studio last year, and mastered by JJ Golden in the U.S..  ‘Tempt’ was recorded fully live and in one take.

A. Smyth has played venues such as Whelan’s and Grand Social in his hometown Dublin, as well as performing at Ireland Music Week and Other Voices festivals – with an appearance on the latter’s TV show last year, as well as playing international showcases at Primavera Pro, Eastbound Festival and All Together Now (among others).

His debut album ‘Last Animals’ follows a string of early and very well received singles released over the last three years with the songs collectively racking up over 1 million Spotify plays and received play on Irish radio stations RTE Radio 1 and Today FM, with support also from Huw Stephens at BBC 6Music, with two tracks featuring on Made In Chelsea’s soundtrack.  The last single When It Calls was included on Garden Indie, Made in Eire and A Breath of Fresh Eire Spotify playlists.

Picking up fans, such as Badly Drawn Boy and Robert Carlyle, along the way. The artwork for the album and singles is based on the old Irish coins.

Influences include Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Big Thief, Marvin Gaye, Jeff Tweedy, Sharon Van Etten and more.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

After the sold out events in October 2020, SoFFT Nights make their highly anticipated return to the beautiful surroundings of Dunderry Park, Co. Meath this July, August and September. Some of the most exciting Irish music has been added to the line-up. Wellbeing incentives such as meditation, shamanic drumming, healing through dance and talks will be showcased across the festival.

Co-founder of SoFFT Productions and festival creator Nastasha Duffy says: “People coming out of lockdown are curious. We have had lots of time for self reflection but not much of a chance to do it in a community or supportive environment. We’re also really missing communal experiences. As well as the concerts, Sofft Nights Summer 2021 day festivals will be hosting all sorts of interesting events from shamanic journeying and storytelling to forest gong baths and nighttime astronomy lessons. We have been through a lot and these gatherings are about connecting back in with each other in meaningful ways!”

FULL MUSIC LINE-UP

Cormac Begley with special guests Bunscionn and Lemoncello, 16th & 17th July

Soda Blonde with special guests Maija Sofia and Nava, 27th & 28th August

Pillow Queens, Roe, Art of Algebra and Dani Larkin, 3rd & 4th September

Ticket information:

All purchased tickets will be available for the new rescheduled dates

Tickets are available from Tickets.ie

Photo: Ruth Medjber

ELKAE (pron. ‘L.K.’) will release the second single ‘Distraction’ from her debut EP, ‘Girls Like You Like Me’, on Friday 28th May.

ELKAE has also announced that the EP will be released on Friday July 9th; a project that truly reflects who she is and shows what she can do. “With ‘Girls Like You Like Me’, I threw away the rule book and just let myself create,” she says.

Dubliner Laura Keane is better-known to many as ELKAE – the electronic soul artist, songwriter and producer renowned for her high energy live shows.

In keeping with her now-distinctive style, ELKAE borrows from disco, funk and soul with her latest offering – a hooky, infectious, modern anthem, which showcases her many skills as a songwriter, producer and vocalist. Keane’s powerful, soulful vocals are layered over polished production and driving beats to deliver more of what we have come to expect from ELKAE.

Thematically, the song sees ELKAE expanding on previous themes of falling in love, making mistakes and ultimately a journey of self-discovery and learning, through the pain and joy of relationships.
“Distraction is a song about going for that one girl you know you shouldn’t. You know they scream trouble, but you can’t help yourself!” explains ELKAE.

“That danger and excitement someone brings can sometimes be addictive, especially when you start to break down walls and see their genuine side come through. However, in the end, I realised that the allure and toxic excitement of this relationship had distracted me from all the trouble that it was bringing to my life at the time.”

ELKAE recently received widespread praise for her performance on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions’ Y&E series. The performance and review can be seen here.

A multi-instrumentalist and critically acclaimed performer Susan O’Neill is one of Ireland’s most celebrated emerging talents.

Following her last single at the end of 2020 ‘Almost’, Susan shares her latest offering ‘Give Me Good Reason’ a production made possible by the MISP Songwriting bursary set up by the Department of Culture.

Speaking about the song, Susan says:

“’Give Me Good Reason’ was a half-finished old track that I am very glad to share with you now. It was sitting dormant on a hard drive until I shared it with Mick Flannery who played piano and co-wrote some beautiful parts into the song to bring it to where it is now. Hope you enjoy it. Tony Buchen produced the track from Sydney, Australia.”

Susan has also been collaborating on a duet project with multi-platinum, award-winning artist, Mick Flannery. The pair released a duet, ‘Baby Talk‘, to rave reviews in 2020, and took home the award for ‘Best Original Song’ at the RTE Folk Awards.  Susan and Mick will release a full-length duet album late summer 2021.

BUY / STREAM ‘Give Me Good Reason’ by Susan O’Neill: https://smarturl.it/snl2sd

UPCOMING SHOWS:

TONIGHT [Monday 24th May], Susan joins the line-up for ‘Dignity’ – a celebration for Bob Dylan’s 80th Birthday.  This performance for Other Voices, will be broadcast live from the U.S Ambassador’s residence in Dublin, at 8pm (GMT+1). Other performers include Paul Brady, Mick Flannery, Lisa Hannigan, Loah and writer Joseph O’Connor amongst others. Watch the performance, for free, at: https://youtu.be/6iHd-DAWdFA

On Saturday 29th of May, Susan and Mick Flannery will showcase new songs from their forthcoming duet album, with a special streaming concert from the stage of Glór Theatre in Co. Clare. This performance is supported by Culture Ireland, and will be presented in partnership with various North American venues, festivals and promoters. Tickets €15 available at: https://mickflannery.bandcamp.com/merch/mick-flannery-susan-oneill-may-29th-nth-american-showcase-of-new-songs

https://www.son.ie/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundsofSON/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundsofson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundsofson/

Bandcamp: https://soundsofson.bandcamp.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1YHKDPqd413c6QH1d3Pgua?si=LRNfacd6T6iDH0f6CfebeQ

The 4 of Us return with their new single, ‘Waiting Game’. Speaking about the track Brendan Murphy says: “‘Waiting Game’ is about how the past 12 months under varying levels of lockdown have affected our families. One of the few upsides has been the chance to spend more time together. The song came about through our weekly Facebook / YouTube live shows – and the video for the song is a compilation of clips from those live sessions.”

The 4 of Us have been a steadfast part of the Irish music scene for over 30 years. Blending contemporary roots with rock, the award-winning band was formed by brothers Brendan and Declan Murphy from the border town of Newry in Northern Ireland. Regulars on radio playlists since the release of their debut album ‘Songs For The Tempted’ in 1989 their music has also been featured on American, UK, and Irish TV and film soundtracks.

The video for ‘Waiting Game’ is comprised of seven months of the weekly live sessions, shot on an iPhone, and edited into three minutes.

www.the4ofus.com