Author: Breffni Banks

Donegal singer songwriter George Houston started his music career in September 2020 with his debut single ‘Boo Fucking Hoo’. The track had instant local success pushing him to record his debut album Cold Toast followed by his second studio album Undesired the following year cementing his distinctive sound with brooding vocals, airy harmonies and candid lyrics. The artist has since seen traction and a steady growth of listeners across the country and beyond.

George has received much praise for his music, having been played on radio and playlists nationwide that has gained a strong following for the artist with over 75k streams on Spotify. Cold Toast was set as Ocean FMs Album of the week and both albums have been played across Ireland on stations such as RTÉ Radio One, RTÉ 2XM, Today FM, iRadio, Dublin South FM, Red FM, Dublin digital radio, Dundalk FM, Highland radio, Drive 105, Radio Nova and Shannonside FM to name a few, making the young artist one to watch.

Since the release of his debut album, the eclectic pop artist has had the opportunity to play at Body and Soul, Whelan’s ones to watch, The Regional Cultural Centre, An Grianán Theatre, Buncrana Music Festival, Dunfanaghy Festival, The Earagail Arts Festival, BlackBox Belfast, and the famous Stendhal Festival with the legendary Sister Sledge and Hayseed Dixies headlining.

Other acts he’s had the pleasure of supporting include Duke Special, John Doherty, In Their Thousands, Tramp and the award-winning Ciaran Lavery who co-wrote George’s first single of 2022 in an exciting collaboration titled ‘Painted Faces’.

The artist has also had the honour of supporting the amazing Hothouse Flowers at their sold-out show in Derry December 2022.

The singer has developed a strong live reputation with an ability to make even the largest of venues feel intimate; whether doing an acoustic set or playing with his full band including Steamy McCay(TRAMP) on drums, singer Ciara Doherty on Guitar, Malcolm Boyd (Happy Out) on Bass and his sister Kate Houston on backing vocals and keys.

George’s live sets are known to wow audiences with his ageless voice and nostalgic sound, ensuring an experience not to be missed as seen on his debut national tour, ‘The Undesired Tour’ this April with sold out shows in Derry and Belfast.

George Houston now continues to build his momentum even further as he sets out to release his new projects he’s been working on, the first body of work the ‘PAIN’ EP will be dropping September 15th ahead of a brand new album that the artist will be dropping in October.

After releasing ‘Be Someone’ and ‘Colours’, Mark Prendergast’s Man Alive project has showcased a very different side to his talents away from the chart-topping, arena-filling success of Kodaline. Now he completes the introduction of Man Alive by releasing the debut EP ‘Colours’ alongside a video for the new song ‘What Are The Chances’. Listen HERE. Watch the official video HERE.

On ‘What Are The Chances’, Mark captures the late night torment of wondering if there’s any hope of salvaging a relationship after a break-up. While past mistakes are acknowledged, he eventually accepts that rekindling the romance might be an idea that’s doomed to fail as he laments, “I’d like to think I’d do things better, I’ll probably end up doing the same.” Musically, the song embarks upon a similar journey of discovery, building from acoustic guitar into a rich finale full of dramatic beats, plaintive piano and beautifully ethereal vocal harmonies. Mark wrote the song with James Vincent McMorrow and Ciaran Warren.

Two other new songs complete the ‘Colours’ EP. The postcard intimacy of ‘Five Minute Drive’ offers “a place to park your broken heart” while ‘Everytime I See Red’, possesses a similar warmth, all richly textured vocal harmonies and dreamy acoustic pop. Collectively the EP sees Mark relishing breaking rules and challenging expectations by switching up sounds from raw introspection to maximalist production, all alongside lyrics which span a spectrum of emotions.

Mark says, “Some songs are about going through a really shitty time, and there are some about wanting to sit around the house, and just not have to deal with real life. Like everybody else in this world, you go through moments where you’re fucking great and you go through moments where you’re not. I suppose each song is just about a different kind of emotion, and that discovery of figuring out who you are and all that kind of craic.”

As Kodaline spent a decade touring the world and accumulating over 2 billion streams, Mark had always written his own songs in a style that didn’t fit the band but never had an outlet for them. And then lockdown hit, followed by a break-up, and Mark suddenly had infinite inspiration and all of the time needed to bring his own project to fruition. Even now he stated that he never aspired to be a singer, but the songs that he wrote were far too personal to pass over to someone else to perform. A key part of the process was about channelling his creativity in a different way. In Kodaline he has the strength that comes from being part of a gang, but Man Alive is entirely reliant on his talents.

Early in the project, Mark was in Los Angeles where he played an early version of ‘Be Someone’ to Aisling Bea. Not only did she love it, but she constantly encouraged him to stretch far beyond his comfort zone. She even had an input into the project name, after bluntly stating that its initial moniker, Blood Type, was “shit, and it just doesn’t match your music.” She has continued to back Man Alive ever since, first stepping up to host Mark’s launch party for the project, and recently declaring her love for ‘What Are The Chances’.

Since that launch party, Mark has played as Man Alive just three times: a sold-out London headline show at The Waiting Room; an acoustic Ruby Sessions performance in Dublin; and an informal pop-up in Kuala Lumpur during the current Kodaline tour. He’s open minded as to what comes next for Man Alive, but he already has an album’s worth of material prepped. For now, though, immerse yourself in the eclectic sonics and powerful emotions of the ‘Colours’ EP.

Watch the video for ‘What Are The Chances’ below:

Bedroom producers All of Eden are an indie duo comprised of brothers Jake Tyler and Troy Daniel Mac Amhlaigh. Recording every element of their music from their home studio, the brothers have crafted their unique sound which hinges itself on their distinctive vocal texture.

Poetic and evocative in nature, their songs touch on many aspects of love and despair, the struggles of depression and of heartbreak.

It is a period of time that brought forth ABIENCE, their debut 7 track EP set for digital release on Friday, September 15th.

They spent the past few years travelling, discovering alternative influences and refining their sound in the process. “ABIENCE sort of grew in that time and came to its head…We basically spent the past year confined to our home, honing our ideas into fruition”. Troy Daniel describes ABIENCE as their most authentic work to date.

The band also have two bonus tracks in the pipeline, “I Love You Too Much” and “Better Days” set for digital release this Autumn. Together, the 9 tracks will solidify All of Eden’s soundscape as diverse yet somehow cohesive.

ABIENCE is available on all major streaming platforms now.

Information Blip is the first full length album from Search Results following two extremely well received EPs – Mirrors (2021) and No Punchline Arousal (2022). It was recorded and mastered by Darragh Hansard at his Orc’s Lair studio (Darragh is also a member of Dublin garage psych band Thee UFO). All tracks are written by the band.

Now BIMM graduates, Search Results provide an alternative take on the current Irish post punk/alt rock scene with a beguiling mix of melody, harmony and spoken word all set to tight grooves which veer from post punk to pop to jazz with a dash of high life in the mix.

Sharing vocal duties, Fionn Brennan (guitar), Jack Condon (drums) and Adam Hoban (bass) formed Search Results after moving to Dublin in 2019. They bonded over a love for punk and garage rock, emulating the energy of bands like Parquet Courts and The Velvet Underground.

“With hints and heavy nods to 70s proto-punk band Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers and 80s psychedelic rock band Camper Van Beethoven, Search Results’ music would not feel out of place on any of the late John Peel’s 1980’s late night radio show playlist” – Garry Baylon, The Goo

“Search Results are everything I look for from (for lack of a better word) ‘guitar music’. Seeing them was a joyous experience with notes of The Feelies, Beat Happening, The Vaselines et al. permeating their music. An artistic oasis in the current Post Punk, Diet Mark E Smith landscape, Search Results are different and that’s reason enough to check them out” – Ethan Golding, The Goo

Information Blip is available on all major streaming platforms now.

German-Irish singer songwriter Sinéad Ann evokes wistful, mystical music influenced by the misty landscapes of Ireland. Sinéad Ann’s music casts light upon the shadows through juxtaposing, ethereal melodies.

She was awarded the Irish Youth Music Awards BIMM Bursary in 2017 and then went on to study a BA in Commercial Modern Music in BIMM Institute Dublin, graduating in 2021.

Sinéad Ann released her debut single Lemonzest in October 2022 which saw her land coverage with Dublin South FM, WLR FM, HotPress, RTE Entertainment and many more making her an artist to watch.

An invitation to perform at Celtic Connections in January 2023 followed. In May, she collaborated with folk artist Reylta for a double headliner in An Taibhdhearc, Galway and Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin. More shows are to be announced for autumn and winter.Sinéad Ann performs as a solo artist or accompanied by her ensemble including Irish bouzouki, harp and more.

Sinéad Ann’s new single is due for release on September 13^th 2023 and she is certainly one to watch with her impressive, remarkable, luscious, distinctive vocals that stand out from the crowd. Her music is full of colour and she is bound to make a name for herself in the music industry.

Listen to the track below:

Leila Jane is an Indie Pop singer-songwriter based in Dublin whose song writing takes on the spirit of her early blues influences where the visceral need to express is evident. Imelda May believed Leila’s music had a unique sense of heart and therefore chose her to be the recipient of the ‘Imelda May Scholarship’ at BIMM Institute Dublin. Leila has been singing and fronting her own bands for over ten years. She has played at festivals such as Electric Picnic, Glastonbury and Body & Soul. Videos of her busking on Grafton Street are often featured on Dublin City Today’s Youtube channel. Her most recent releases include an EP called Revolve Evolve which Nialler 9 acknowledged as ‘’showing her affinity for ’60s alt-folk and classic harmonic sounds’’ and her single ‘Wild’ which was shortlisted to represent Ireland in the Eurovision.

‘Poison’ was originally released on Leila Jane’s self-produced EP, Revolve Evolve. This new, compelling remix version, created by Michael Heffernan, gives the song a menacing and cinematic twist.

The anger of having experienced a sexual assault bubbled to the surface and out poured ‘’Poison’’. Ironically, the song remedied the unbearable emotion and put everything into perspective for Leila Jane. Most abusers don’t account for their actions which leaves the victim in a state of self-doubt, mental illness or addiction to the ‘poison’ itself.

Through ‘Poison’, Leila Jane aims to reignite the flames and imbue the vulnerable perspective with the dignity it deserves.

‘Poison’ is available on all major streaming platforms now.

Miranda Faul is a 23 year old singer-songwriter from Kildare and Sligo, based in Dublin.

Miranda’s music is characterised by her unique blend of folk, blues, rnb, and indie pop influences, and her poignant lyrics and soulful vocals. She is influenced by a wide range of artists, including Dido, Hozier, and Jorja Smith. Her songs are deeply personal, drawing on her own experiences and emotion. She has a gift for capturing the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of everyday life weaving them into catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics that resonate with listeners.

She released her debut single ‘Rise Above It’ in 2022, which Hot Press praised for its “punchy vocals” and “infectious melody”. She has since released two singles– “Can’t Get No Break From The Blues” and “Renegade”. Since her emergence, Miranda has performed in various iconic Dublin venues including The Grand Social, The Workman’s Club, Fibber Magees, Sin é, and The Opium Rooms.

Her new track “Summer” is delicate with gentle layered harmonies, armed with only an acoustic guitar she lulls listeners into a tender stupor– ready to take the industry by storm.

“Summer” is available on all major streaming platforms now.

Today Irish band Thewlis proudly announce their fifth single The One Before The One. The track will be released to all streaming platforms on Friday September 15th.

Thewlis are Danny McElhinney, vocals/rhythm guitar, and Cormac Curtis, lead guitar/backing vocals.
The track was produced by the great Pete Holidai at Pilgrim Sound who also played bass, keyboards and programmed drums and percussion.

The One Before The One is a melodic piece of guitar rock with tight harmonies; a bittersweet love song based on a question asked of Danny on the occasion that a much younger friend of his announced her wedding. All names have been changed to protect past protagonists.

Thewlis have released four singles since December 2021. The Boy Behind Bowie’; ‘County Level’; ‘One Day Summer’ and ‘The Manslaughter Ballad’ received extensive local and national radio play.
These tracks can also be found on all streaming platforms. Thewlis have received media coverage in outlets such as RTE.ie; hotpress.com Irish Daily Star and Extra.ie

‘The One Before The One’ will be available on all major streaming platforms on Friday 15th September.

Cian Thomas is a singer songwriter from Mullingar, who after five years of writing and performing original material, has released his debut single ‘Mandy’.
Born into a musical family, Cian has spent his entire life exploring all avenues of music, which led him to an extremely broad and varied spectrum of music from which he draws inspiration. These diverse influences are especially evident in ‘Mandy’, with references of The Cure, REM & The Smiths at the forefront.

The captivating track transcends genres, opening with an instant ‘ear-worm’ guitar riff, before an explosion of energy wraps itself around lyrics that rival the most tender of love ballads.

“I wrote Mandy five years ago. It’s definitely a special song for me because it’s the first original song that I ever took outside of my bedroom and actually played for people. I started playing it live and it just became part of my identity, I always got such a warm reaction from people when I played it, so I always knew it would be my first release.

I didn’t set out to write Mandy with any sort of direction in mind. I just sat down with my guitar one night and it came together very quickly. For me, the song encapsulates everything I was feeling at that time, and the excitement, carelessness and recklessness of being 20. I find it really interesting now when people tell me the different influences they can hear in the song, some of them I’ve never even heard of!”

The track was recorded with Mick Cronin in Transmission Rooms Studios in Drumlish, Co.Longford, and mixed by Martin Quinn in Jam Studios, Kells. “The song is a lot of fun to play live, and I think that energy comes across on the recording”.

Mandy is available to stream now on all platforms.

This past year has been truly memorable for Faraway Martin. His previous release, “I Got Fire,” was featured in a Hyundai advertisement for the FIFA World Cup, drawing significant notice to this Irish artist. Subsequently, he took center stage at the opening night of the FIFA Fan Festival, captivating an audience of 40,000 attendees. This event featured performances by renowned artists like Calvin Harris, Sean Paul, Paul van Dyk, and the Irish throwback Boyzlife, making it a remarkable moment during the World Cup.

His latest single, “Young” is a musical time capsule that beautifully encapsulates the essence of youth and the treasured moments that stay with us forever. With its soulful melodies and relatable lyrics, the song has a unique ability to transport listeners back to the days of carefree innocence and endless possibilities. 

The release of “Young” comes on the heels of his previous successes in the industry, including performances at Qatar’s Formula 1 Grand Prix and The Qatar MotoGP. Last year, he performed at Sea Sessions, Claremorris Folk Festival and various local festivals in Ireland. He has also played Electric Picnic and has opened for Toploader, Aslan, Mick Flannery, Mundy, The Blizzards and Hermitage Green.

Faraway Martin expressed his excitement about the release, saying;

“I wanted to create a song that captures the essence of youth and resonates with people on a personal level. It’s a reminder that no matter where we are in life, we all carry a piece of our youth with us.”

Listeners can experience “Young” on all major streaming platforms on September 15th, followed by a single release party at Live in the Library, Mayo on Sept 16th. Faraway Martin will be performing live at The Big News Coming Soon Live Podcast with influencer Alan Clarke in the TF Theatre on Sept 23rd.