Author: Breffni Banks

‘Isle Of The Eagle’ is an album of new and traditional music, spoken word and storytelling recorded on Achill Island by a group of Achill based musicians.

Musician Graham Sweeney is a passionate advocate of his native place, and was inspired to embark on this project when one of the remaining great storytellers of the island, John ‘Twin’ McNamara introduced him to an Achill song, ‘Isle Of The Eagle’ written by the governess of the Pike Estate, Glendarary in the 1800’s.

Graham and his Glasgow based producer, John Michael Berry, whose family also hail from Achill, were struck by the many island connections to the title track. This led them to record a full album of songs and stories with the cream of Achill musical talent.

Musicians and instrument makers have gravitated to Achill for years, many of whom have contributed to this album. Renowned harpist Laoise Kelly, German cellist Claudia Dunkleberg, and Japanese fiddle player Lisa Fukuda joined Achill musicians Diarmuid Gielty, Alan Hughes, Des Cafferkey, Caoilte O’Cuanaigh, Leah Mc Namara and uilleann piper Johnny Butler for the recording. The Album was mastered in April 2023 by Head Engineer Alex Borwick at Grouse Lodge Recording Studios.

The project began before Covid lockdown and had to be deferred, but recording of the album resumed in late 2021 all over the island – from firesides in homes and school classrooms, to local pubs. Graham recorded ‘True Born Achill Man’ by poet and storyteller Francie McNamara (RIP 2022) overlooking Keem Bay.

Achill Island has always attracted artists, including the writers Graham Greene, J. M. Synge, Heinrich Boll, and painters, Paul Henry and Camille Souter. Film-makers have also been inspired by the dramatic landscape of the island, using the breathtaking backdrop in the award winning films The Banshees of Inisherin and My Sailor, My Love.

‘Isle of the Eagle’ will be released on August 11th.

Keith Burke grew up in Skerries, Co. Dublin. The first two singles from his upcoming studio album, ‘I’ll Begin This Letter’ and ‘Before You Go’, were well received and played on Irish National and Regional radio. He has proudly sung his songs at concerts in the USA, Germany, Lebanon, Italy, Spain and Egypt. He writes mainly about adult lives and unconventional love stories found in the ordinary.

‘Narrow it Down to What We Need’ is a future-looking song of optimism, reflecting the sentiments of the upcoming album and collection of songs of which it is a part. It’s as much about making a promise as it is appreciating current fortunes.

It is the third single to be release from Keith’s upcoming fourteen track album. This will be Keith third solo album after No One Wants To Move in 2008 and These Boys in 2016, or fourth if counting his collaborative album The Dancer Who Stole Your Shoes in 2004 with The KB Band.

Recorded and mixed by Anthony Gibney in Audioland studios in Lexlip in 2022 and 2023. The track features Irish musicians from Keith’s Little Black Book Band along with a six piece vocal choir. It is scheduled for release on all streaming platforms on 30th June, with an accompanying Youtube music video.

‘Narrow it Down to What We Need” is available on all major streaming platforms now.

Irish Indie-Rock band The Burma announce the release of their latest single “The Hard Ground” on Friday 30th of June. Following up from their previous Homegrown Top 20 Hit “23” – “The Hard Ground” is the second single from the Irish trio’s upcoming sophomore album, due later this year.

After a busy 2022 saw the band’s debut album become the third best-selling Independent Irish Album the week of its release – The Burma are currently making their way through the Summer festival circuit while also gearing up for a 2023 headline tour, including their first UK shows starting in August this year.

Giving an insight into the new single, the band say: “This song is a bit of a standalone track on our new album. It’s the first time we’ve written a song that showcases our early influences as much as this one. We didn’t shy away from them where we might have in the past. This single also features elements of one of the very first songs we wrote 10 years ago.”

The track opens with an upbeat guitar riff reminiscent of the early 2000’s Indie scene. It blends the band’s knack for melodies with a nostalgic Indie Rock sound. The gritty production brings to mind bands like The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys.

“The Hard Ground” is available on all major streaming platforms now.

1000 Beasts is excited to announce the upcoming release of the fifth single from his highly anticipated sophomore album on June 30th. “Sun Valley Drive” is a bilingual track combining English and Yoruba, featuring the exceptional vocals of Zeenie Summers Sà.Rù.Mí, an Irish/Nigerian artist. “Sun Valley Drive” delivers a vibrant indie-soul sound, infused with lively drums, captivating group vocals, and an irresistible hook. Picture a fusion of Jungle, Fatoumata Diawara, Fela Kuti and L’Imperatrice, creating an invigorating summer vibe.

The concept behind 1000 Beasts is simple. One producer who writes & collaborates with different artists (the “beasts”) on each track to create music greater than the sum of its parts.

Zeenie Summers Sà.Rù.Mí is a Yoruba-Irish musician, storyteller, and workshop facilitator who effortlessly blends diverse West African influences within a contemporary soul/pop framework. With a musical palette consisting of groove-laden guitars, textured synths, and 808-inspired beats, Zeenie creates a unique sonic landscape. Her music is deeply influenced by her multicultural upbringing in Nigeria, Ghana, and Ireland.

“This was the very first track from this upcoming album that I finished. I remember it was a beautiful early summer day in 2022 and I took a trip up to write some music with Zeenie in Galway, the result was Sun Valley Drive – she was such a bundle of joy to work with and it was incredibly inspiring watching her pull detailed melodies and lyrics from out of apparent thin air” – 1000 Beasts

“Sun Valley Drive” is available on all major streaming platforms now.

Voice of Ireland Runner-Up Kellie’s stunning vocals are in a league of their own on this new ‘lullaby meets anthem’ single ‘Reverie’ which drops on Fri June 30th and is described as a ‘Song for Hope’ as Lewis strikes a unique yet commercially cinematic vibe perfectly.

A nod to Rome, Reverie is a must-have on your feel-good playlists. Kellie says, “If you have a dream, no matter what it is, never ever give up on it. If you are lucky enough to know what your life purpose is, strive to achieve that every day and bring that into existence. Persevere and believe in yourself; find the beauty in your mistakes and learn the lessons that need to be learned.”

“When the going gets tough, get tougher. When it feels like it’s time to give up, to say ‘’goodbye’’ to your dream, remember Rome and the unfathomable length of time it took to create the sheer beauty of it all. The beauty is in the journey, always.”

‘Reverie’ is a beautiful cinematic track with Kellie’s empowering vocals immediately drawing the listener in with her impressive vocal range. The track invites the listener to always focus on your dreams and to never give up.

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

Mick Flannery has released a new single today ‘Goodtime Charlie’, the first song to come since his 2021 duet album ‘In The Game’ with Susan O’Neill, which ended up as the biggest 2021 independent selling record in Ireland that year.

‘Goodtime Charlie’ is quite the departure from the epic ballads featured on ‘In The Game’. It embodies an infectious melody and upbeat tempo in an effort, by the second chorus it’s a hook, line and sinker.

Of the song Mick says:
“For a while I had a barter system going with a Jiu Jitsu black belt. I would tutor him on songwriting for a while and then he’d beat the s*** out of me. It was a good deal. At some point he played me a blues song that he liked and it used a C chord in the key of E major. I hadn’t encountered the change before, or at least it seemed new to me, so I thought to try and use it. This song is the result. Not a very serious song, about a gambler who is liable to do anything at any time, as long as it’s a goodtime.”

Mick reunited with producer Christian Best to record the song, and filmmaker Christopher Luke for the accompanying video, filmed in West Cork, Ireland, between the legendary venue Connolly’s of Leap and The West Cork Distillery and starring Eamonn Flannery, Mick’s younger brother.

Director Christopher Luke said of the process:
“I’m very grateful to Mick and his team for having me back to make this video and for allowing me the space to follow through on my strange notion. To me, it’s a video that speaks to the value of drowning out the bad voices and learning the importance of failing on your own two feet – even if they think you’re out of your mind.”

Watch the video for ‘Goodtime Charlie’ below.

Dublin 12 native Midnight Wayne (Wayne Soper) earned his chops and an underground following
writing memorable songs and fronting the Hot Sprockets. He returns with a new self produced
psychedelic pop single “Get What You Got”. Taken from his new 4 song EP titled “Ouroboros”
due for release later in the year.

The song is led with Waynes signature falsetto and melodic hooks under and backdrop of Curtis
Mayfield meets MGMT influenced psychedelic soul grooves with elements of bongos,congas and
synths. “Lyrically the song was written about the breakup of my old band and how I felt I was
becoming someone I wasn’t, not to lose myself and never give up on what I love, its a positive
affirmation to myself”.

All written, performed and produced at his home studio. With additional production by Alex
Borwick. Live drums performed by drum legend Ken Mooney, congas and bongos by Trev Keogh
of New Secret Weapon.

“I find my answers to life with every song. With these new songs I’ve written about people I’ve
given parts of my past to and how that’s made me the person I am now”.

“Get What You Got” is available on all major streaming platforms now.

Rachael Lavelle is a Dublin born singer and composer who captivates audiences with her arresting voice and humorous observations on existence. Merging classical and contemporary influences, her hypnotic live performances blend electronic soundscapes with spoken word and acrobatic vocals.

After the release of her track ‘Perpetual Party’, she was selected to perform at SXSW Online, opened for Villagers and toured with City Slang’s Anna B Savage. She has collaborated with a wide range of ensembles and artists such as Crash Ensemble, Glasshouse, Peter Broderick, SlapBang, Saint Sister and has appeared as a vocalist on Villagers Fever Dreams album.

Rachael Lavelle has today released a new single, “Let Me Unlock Your Full Potential”. The track was co-produced by Rachael Lavelle and Ryan Hargadon, mixed by Alex Borwick.

She explains, “The title is taken from an ad that found me as I searched for the answers to getting “unstuck”. At the time I wished for nothing more than someone to come along and show me the way, but this song reminds me of the need to trust oneself. It is a song about getting out of your own way, taking responsibility, setting the wheels in motion and unlocking your own potential”.

“Let Me Unlock Your Full Potential” is available on all major streaming platforms now.

Musicians Rónán Ó Snodaigh (Kíla) and Myles O’Reilly are proud to announce the release of their second album ‘The Beautiful Road‘, a soulful blend of folk, traditional, and ambient crossover, to be released via Claddagh Records on July 28th.

Today, they share the first song ‘Níl Aon Easpa Orm’, along with an enchanting video created by Myles, assisted by artificial intelligence.

To create the film, Rónán, Myles, and dancer Mufutau Yusuf, ventured to the sacred hills of Loughcrew, Co. Meath, a location adorned with ancient Neolithic and megalithic burial tombs and monuments. For centuries, this site served as the final resting place for esteemed figures of the Stone Age and Bronze Age, including kings, queens, druids, and other significant individuals. At Loughcrew, seasonal ceremonies and celebrations took place, symbolically connecting the living with the mystical realm known as the Otherworld.

Myles explains: “In our video, Rónán and Mufutau embody this tradition, visiting the Otherworld to dance together and pay homage to our ancestors, just as it had been practiced for thousands of years in this sacred place. From the hill’s summit, we witnessed a panoramic 360-degree view of the entire island, evoking a sensation of flight akin to the take-off of an airplane.

As an observer, I noticed Rónán and Mufutau gracefully assuming bird-like shapes and movements, reminiscent of the heavens above, and thought it was a good opportunity to use AI as a tool in post-production. It is fascinating to witness the development and discussions surrounding Artificial Intelligence these days. I believe I have found, and stand by, a positive representation of what it has to offer.”

Following the success of Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O’Reilly’s debut album Tá Go Maith, which was warmly received by audiences after its release in May 2020, Rónán and Myles have been playing numerous shows at home and abroad, showcasing their unique sound to an ever-growing fanbase.

Having written and developed new songs while touring, the duo decamped to a log cabin in Roscommon and a farmhouse in remote West Cork to work on ‘The Beautiful Road’. Recording one song every day, surrounded by countryside and inspired by nature the pair set out to create a soothing listening experience by focusing on higher frequencies, inspired by the calming effects of bird song, wind, rain, and sea. They also sought to counter the increased levels of intrusive ambient “white noise” caused by traffic, machinery, and other unpredictable sounds arising from the worlds post pandemic return to frenzied norms. Noises that so often overwhelm our ears and inner filters. The result is a collection of songs that experiment with a variety of comforting sonic elements, including bells, breaths, brush-stroked rhythms, halftime beats, and ambient melodies, to create a sonic massage that relaxes the ears and settles the soul.

To accompany different moods and settings, Rónán and Myles carefully selected times and frequencies for each song, considering not only the tune but also the listener’s potential physical posture. From head-nodding paces and cheek-to-cheek melodies for seated listeners, to enough swing to keep dancers on the floor and enough room to drift off for those who prefer to unwind by walking or lying down, this album offers a range of sonic experiences for everyone. A musical refuge from the stresses of everyday life.

The Beautiful Road is released on July 28th via Claddagh Records.

Watch ‘Níl Aon Easpa Orm’ below.