Author: Breffni Banks

One of Ireland’s most hotly-tipped electro-pop artists, Dashoda, releases his debut EP Never Enough today Wednesday 15th March, 2023.

The focus track for the EP, the shimmering sophistipop single ‘Fooling Around Again’, is also being released today along with an official video by Dashoda’s regular visual collaborator, Ror Conaty.

Dashoda says: “Much of the EP is inspired by self-sabotage in my personal life. The video is a literal yet absurd interpretation of these themes and experiences, which can often make for sombre reflection.

“We wanted to play with colour and setting for aesthetic reasons, and the idea of the fragmented self. We lived in this 70s-styled house for 4 days and made three videos so it felt like a complete escape from reality for a while. There is a playful, juvenile quality to the imagery and I think this is a refection of the absurdity of self-sabotage.

“I also feel the video is a nod to artists like Connan Mockasin and Donny Benét, both of whom were important to me during the making of the EP for their use of humour in exploring the forbidden.”

WATCH ‘FOOLING AROUND AGAIN’ VIDEO

Already, Dashoda, real name Gavin MacDermott, has been catching the ears of radio playlisters across Ireland with first single ‘Looking For You’ racking up over a million impacts since release last November. February saw the release of ‘Sultan (feat. Jackie Beverly)’, which was noted as one of the best releases of the month by tastemakers across Ireland such as Nialler9, Chordblossom, Hot Press, The Last Mixed Tape, Golden Plec and more. In their March issue, Totally Dublin reviewed the EP, writing that “Dashoda’s new EP is a slick, radio-play-guaranteed piece of electropop.”  

Dashoda says: “Never Enough is inspired by the experience of avoidance and self-sabotage. It’s from a place where you believe you are not enough for someone else, or for yourself. It is woven from the various games you play with yourself and others, consciously or unconsciously, to reconcile false beliefs and avoid truth. It’s about testing relationships and flouting opportunities before they can grow out of fear.”

Dashoda takes sonic inspiration from The Blue Nile, Blood Orange, Roxy Music, Japan, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Prefab Sprout.

He recorded Never Enough at home and in several studios across Dublin, Wexford and London with friends both old and new. Much of this happened over lockdown, providing a window of hope for Dashoda: “The process of making it was an escape from confined circumstances, and that’s probably what I loved about making this EP the most.”

The glossy yet intimate EP was co-produced by Dashoda and Ross Fortune (Ellie Goulding, King Krule, Ed Sheeran). ‘Fooling Around Again’ as well as ‘Roy Orbison’ were co-written with Jake Curran, the current music director for Niall Horan. Irish producer Richey McCourt (Aimée, Laoise) co-wrote the dancefloor-ready ‘Looking For You’. Hot off the release of her 2022 EP Temporary State, Jackie Beverly co-wrote ‘Sultan’ with Dashoda, and their distinct styles blend together to create a sound that’s soft and sweet, yet stirring.

Tonight, Dashoda celebrates the launch of his EP at The Workman’s Cellar, Dublin. Having built up quite a reputation as a live performer when he supported buzzy Irish dance pop duo 49th & Main on their Irish tour, Dashoda is looking like one of the hottest live acts to catch this year.

With hints of jangle pop as well as his signature retro, synth-flecked sound, Never Enough is an early harbinger of summer.

Connect with Dashoda

IG | TWITTER | SPOTIFY | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK

New Irish band Fake Friends are delighted to announce that their second single ‘Spit Me Out’ was released on Friday March 10th.

‘Spit Me Out’ is a song about shaking off the effects of love after a break up but instead of writing a sad song they decided to make it happy! The song is described as a mix of indie pop/rock and funk.

Fake Friends are currently in the final of Irish Music Month on KCLR in association with Hot Press Magazine with the winner being announced shortly. It is the second single from the band after the success of their debut ‘Maybe’ which was played on stations all over Ireland including Today FM, FM 104, Spin SW, Radio Kerry, KCLR, Galway Bay FM, iRadio, Beat 102 103 and lots more.

The lads are currently in the studio working on new music for their upcoming EP which will be released this summer. They are also about to announce their first ever Irish shows which will be announced soon.

Spit Me Out is available on all streaming platforms now.

Irish singer-songwriter Kaya T returns with her most accomplished offering yet, in the form of her blistering new single ‘Insincere‘. Leaning on US heavyweights such as Ariana Grande & Charlie Puth for inspiration while writing this track, it feels like a gear change as Kaya T continues to win over new fans at every opportunity. Her delivery and musical ear are extremely authentic in this Pop & R’n’B space, with Insincere not feeling out of place alongside any of the aforementioned artists hits.

Speaking on the process of writing this track, Kaya T added “I love writing & story telling. I wanted to write a song from the perspective of someone who can’t get over their ex and compares everyone else to them. They’re being insincere leading someone else on, when the person who they want, doesn’t want them.

With strong support to date from Irish radio & media, Spotify editorial playlisting & being recently shortlisted for Irish Music Month on Spin 103.8, it’s an exciting time for Kaya T in her early career as she approaches her debut headline show in the Workmans Cellar, on Saturday March 25th.

‘Insincere’, the new single from Kaya T is out now.

Kaya T Socials | Workmans Cellar Tickets

Rising indie-pop outfit Post-Party continue to build momentum with their latest single ‘Talkin’ About’, which comes off of the back of their massive European Sync deal with Ryanair & regular song placements on the hit UK show Made In Chelsea. Musically this single hits you instantly and is perfectly poised to be a fan sing-along favourite during festival season. ‘Talkin’ About’ is the band’s statement of intent as they march towards the release of their highly anticipated debut EP in May. With influences ranging from funk to new wave, ‘Talkin’ About’ shows yet another side to the band.

Speaking on the process of writing this track, Matthew added “Talkin’ About comes from agreeing to disagree. It’s about seeing the other persons perspective as nonsense and not being able to see their point of view. Maybe you can’t connect with them, maybe they don’t empathise with you or the two involved simply don’t want to see eye to eye.”

With heavyweight Spotify editorial playlisting, numerous sync deals, confirmed main stage Irish festival slots, an upcoming EP release & a headline show on May 12th in The Workmans Main Room, the unit are really making their mark on the industry in 2023.

‘Talkin’ About’, the new single from Post-Party is out now.

Socials | The Workmans Club – Tickets | Pre-order EP on Vinyl

Exciting new indie-folk band Kingfishr have today released their powerful single ‘Heart In The Water’ out on B-Unique Records. 

Boasting a cinematic soundscape, ‘Heart In The Water’ effortlessly combines elements of traditional folk music with lush textures and compelling, honest lyricism. The track’s infectious melodies create an epic sound that you can already imagine shaking the core of arenas up and down the country.

‘Heart In The Water’ is the first release following the announcement of their support slot on George Ezra’s UK & Ireland summer tour, and festival slot at Sea Sessions.

Speaking on the track the band said: In essence, ‘Heart In The Water’ is about mortality, and the fleeting nature of life. It’s about taking chances regardless of the risk. That extends beyond relationships, towards everything in life, reflective of lots of little things, but a certain emotion. That emotion serves more as an expression of a place of ours growing up, in terms of family and friends.”

Aptly named for the bird which frequents the river Boro in Eddie’s native county of Wexford, Kingfishr are an exciting proposition. The Limerick-based tio pride themselves on their musical independence,  producing, writing and recording and all of their own music at their home studio, which happens to be located on a dairy farm.

Eddie, McGoo & Fitz all met in 2017 when studying engineering at University of Limerick, with debut single ‘flowers-fire’ released the week before their final exams. They followed this up with sophomore release ‘eyes don’t lie’. Citing the likes of U2, Hanz Zimmer and Ben Howard as influences, the grand atmospheric nature of these artists can be found deeply woven into the Kingfishr DNA.

Speaking on their unique sound McGoo said “There’s a storied history to spoken word in Ireland that defines us as a culture. There’s something of that authentic Celtic vibe that I think people are still hungry for. In some way that’s what we’re trying to get at, while keeping it fresh at the same time”.

The boys have an exciting year ahead with support slots on George Ezra’s UK & Ireland tour and a run of festival dates at Sea Sessions, Lytham Festival & The Indie-pendence. With all of this plus plenty of new music on the horizon. Kingfishr are certainly one’s to watch in 2023.

Connect with Kingfishr

Twitter | Instagram | Website | YouTube