Author: Breffni Banks

Carrie Haskins is a young singer, songwriter and musician from Kildare who describes her musical style as ‘country crossover’.

Carrie Haskins has ‘listened to and been inspired by country music’ since she was a child. While her style is rooted in an ‘honest blend’ of American Country and Pop, her palette of influences range from Brad Paisley to Tammy Wynette.

Carrie ‘emits a beautiful and emotionally real sound that wins over many listeners’.

In 2011, Carrie received major accolades and recognition appearing on and reaching the battle stages of “The Voice”, Ireland. Her chair-turning “Blind Audition” with the show can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/iUgkyKv4e00

Carrie has studied music for a total of six years. Commencing her musical education at the Ballyfermot College of Further Education, her studies continued at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM) Dublin, where she completed the song writing stream graduating in 2015 with a B.A Honours Degree in Commercial Modern Music.

Celebrating the release of her Debut EP ‘Country Spirit’ in 2014, Carrie’s records can be described as a mix of upbeat and more relaxed ballads. Musical gems like “The Letter Goodbye” (released as a single and video), “Country Spirit”, “Don’t Wanna Dance”, “Mine” and “Revenge” make for a captivating and rapturing listen. Her arrangement of lush instrumentation intertwined with rich vocal lines and harmonies from her opening track ‘Country Spirit’ right through to the closing track ‘Revenge’ transport you (the listener) through  a journey of emotional highs and lows, lyrically, melodically and instrumentally.

‘Country Spirit’ was distributed globally through INgrooves/Universal Music Group (a leader in the independent music distribution and marketing industry) to over 100 countries.
Ms. Haskins is also recognized as a CMT Artist, receiving this branding through star ones entertainment’s licensing deal with Viacom. This has resulted in her attaining her own site on Viacom.TV, featuring the video “The Letter Goodbye”. You can experience her poignant and emotionally-charged video on her Viacom site on the Links below.

In 2012, Carrie donated her song, “Mine’’ to the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation as the backing track for Jonathan Irwin’s story about his son Jack .  This video reached over one million people during the first week after its release. It helped raise €20,000 which Jonathon Irwin said he was ‘both stunned and grateful for all the shares, likes and donations’ generated by this 3 minute video which was made in 2012 and re-released.  Jonathon tells his son Jack’s story using prompt cards against the soundtrack of Carrie’s song ‘Mine’. The song was used again this year for the 2nd time. This great story can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/396618803872929/videos/494162950785180/

Carrie chose ‘Mine’ as she thought the message in the song ‘suited the cause and represented the work and help that the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation give to so many families’. According to Carrie, it’s about how ‘one special person in your life is always there for you no matter what… you can be truly be yourself around this person and they love you endlessly, flaws and all’. She wrote ‘Mine’ while in Germany in the Pop Academy in Hammelburg in 2009 with the Ballyfermot College of Music. The inspiration for the song came from being ‘away from home and missing the people in [her] life that meant most to [her]’. Writing it made Carrie ‘feel happy and content, knowing that there is always someone who will support you’.

Carrie was interviewed on KFM and gave a fantastic live rendition of the song on 17^th May 2016, kindly donating her time, voice and talent free to Jack and Jill to accompany this story video in 2012 when she and her classmates at BIMM Dublin got a call out to submit songs for the Jack and Jill video which was a backdrop to the DIT Fashion Show in Vicar Street.

In November 16’, Carrie and her writing partner travelled to Nashville where they spent a period of two weeks showcasing, co-writing and performing in a number of popular venues throughout the music city. In Nashville, she worked with two – time Grammy nominate songwriter ‘Jan Buckingham’ and recording artist ‘Shelby Lee Lowe’. Following this inspirational trip, Carrie returned home and began working on her album where she recorded a compilation of songs that were written in Nashville with various Artists.

The completed 10 track album titled ‘Last Rites’, is due to be released this week on the 27th of September’17 with a debut music video that was filmed in the historic ‘Wicklow Gaol’. Carrie chose the Gaol as perfect location to shoot the video for ‘Last Rites’, which tells the story of a prisoner who must face his demons as he awaits the death penalty for his crimes and sins he has committed in his life.

Carrie describes the Gaol as being “a wonderful atmospheric experience which offers visitors a glimpse of life in prisons of the past’’. She continues to describe the idea behind the video and why this museum helped her capture the images needed to make a real life powerful and effective video. “I wanted the venue that I chose to capture a real life situation, where there were real jail cells, and bars, a venue that I didn’t have to modify in order to give the viewer the realisation and sense that this prisoner is actually going to be given the death plenty.’’

The lyrics in this song are very dark and it emphasises and touches upon the pain and anxiety that the prisoner feels, knowing that each day he wakes could be his last as he awaits his faith that is the ‘death penalty’.

“It’s a dark place in that prison cell, no windows, no way to tell but its coming, its coming, its hell, its hell’’.

The album can be streamed or purchased on all major streaming sites such as iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and Bandcamp and the video can be viewed on the sites below.

Website: http://carriehaskins.com/

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

Bandcamp: https://carriehaskins1.bandcamp.com/releases

Garage-rockers Otherkin keep the pressure on with the release of their single, entitled “Come On, Hello”, as the buzz builds for their much-anticipated debut album, called “OK”, which will be released this Friday 29 September 2017.

2017 has already been a tornado of touring for the band, having completed three UK adventures, one headline, one with The Amazons and a third with punk legends the Dead Kennedys. Furthermore, the band opened for Guns ‘N’ Roses at the legendary Slane Castle, made their Download debut at Castle Donington and kept the Otherkin flame burning in Holland and France. Just recently, they were championed by Metallica’s Lars Ulrich on his Beats1 radio show.

“OK” was recorded in Ireland with David Prendergast, Jason Boland and the band at the controls. The tracks were mixed in London by Jolyon Thomas, best known for his work with Slaves and Royal Blood. Showing real commitment to their art, singer Luke and drummer Rob both had fresh “OK” tattoos committed to flesh for the album artwork.

To support the release of the album, Otherkin will be out on tour as both special guests of INHEAVEN in the UK and headlining their own gigs in fifteen European countries. They are also confirmed for the Leeds / Reading festival at the end of August.

The album “OK” will be released on Friday 29th September on vinyl (with poster insert) and CD, and is available to pre-order now from Apple Music and all digital music platforms. Fans who pre-order will receive four instant tracks – “Ay Ay”, “Feel It”, “Bad Advice” and “REACT”.

Tour dates:

30th September – Think Tank, Newcastle, UK (with InHeaven)
1st October – King Tuts, Glasgow, UK (with InHeaven)
2nd October – Brundell Social, Leeds, UK (with InHeaven)
4th October – The Plug, Sheffield, UK (with InHeaven)
5th October – Sugarmill, Stoke-On-Trent, UK (with InHeaven)
6th October – Buyers Club, Liverpool, UK (with InHeaven)
9th October – Mama Roux’s, Birmingham, UK (with InHeaven)

22nd October – Deaf Institute, Manchester, UK
23rd October – Crofters Rights, Bristol, UK
24th October – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, UK
25th October – Face Bar, Reading, UK
26th October – Camden Assembly, London, UK
28th October – Forum Basement, Tunbridge Wells, UK
29th October – Hope & Ruin, Brighton, UK
31st October – Rotown, Rotterdam, Netherlands
1st November – Witloof Bar, Brussels, Belgium
2nd November – MTC, Cologne, Germany
3rd November – Sugar Factory, Amsterdam, Netherlands
4th November – Vera, Groningen, Netherlands
6th November – Ideal Bar, Copenhagen, Denmark
7th November – Molotow Sky Bar, Hamburg, Germany
8th November – Musik & Frieden, Berlin, Germany
10th November – Cafe V Lese, Prague, Czech Republic
11th November – Chelsea, Vienna, Austria
12th November – Durer Kert, Budapest, Hungary
13th November – Daos Club, Timisoara, Romania
15th November – Feedback, Nils, Serbia
16th November – Hamam, Pristina, Kosovo
18th November – Stroeja, Sofia, Bulgaria
19th November – Elektropionir, Belgrade, Serbia
20th November – Firchie Think Tank Studio, Novi Sad, Serbia
22nd November – Hangar Bar, Izola, Slovenia
23rd November – Kranhalle, Munich, Germany
24th November – Gonzo, Zurich, Switzerland
25th November – Legend Live Club, Milan, Italy
28th November – Siroco, Madrid, Spain
29th November – Razmataz 3, Barcelona, Spain
1st December – Le Cargo, Arles, France
2nd December – Mecanique Ondulatoire, Paris, France
15th December – Button Factory, Dublin, Ireland

http://www.otherkinok.com/

‘Everest High’ is the debut single from Longford musician Sean Rooney.

This poignant track speaks openly about mental health problems.  ‘Everest High’ is written about the struggle that comes from suffering with depression from the point of view of both the sufferer and also from the point of view of someone who doesn’t understand what it’s like to have it.

The video features both Sean and Irish actress Lorna Quinn from Irish film ‘Dare to be Wild’, Love/Hate and Fair City. It was filmed between Longford and Leitrim and produced by Outtake Community Media.

Sean has been playing on the Irish music scene for a year and gaining a great following. He’s played slots on stages at Electric Picnic, Bloom in the Park, YouBloom, Free Fringe Festival, The Workman’s Club and Whelan’s.

He is recording his debut EP at Real World studios in Longford and it is due for release later this year.

The single ‘Everest High’ is now available to buy on iTunes.

Follow Sean Rooney on Facebook and Instagram.

Having had an overwhelming reaction to this particular track on Morrissey and Marshall’s latest album, the duo has decided that ‘I Need You’ will be their next single release.

‘I Need You’ is an emotional piano ballad which Darren Morrissey describes as “the heaviest song on the album”.

“It’s written from the perspective of a girl who’s lost her loved one, and is writing to tell him of her loneliness despite being surrounded by everyone. How she needs him more than the attention or affection from others and in fact more than she needs to be here at all.”

“I struggle to hold it together every time I sing it… in fact, you can hear my voice breaking in the second verse on the record. It’s been one of my favourite songs to play on our latest European tour. It’s one of those ‘pin drop’ moments in the set.”

“I have had quite a lot of people write to me to say how the song has touched them and that makes me happy… that’s why we do it.”

“I Need You” – from the album “We Rise” is released on October 27.

http://www.morrisseyandmarshall.com/

When Conor Adams and Lar Kaye formed All Tvvins, their shared goal was to headline Dublin’s 1600-capacity Olympia Theatre – and that was achieved when they sold-out the venue last autumn, just weeks after their debut album ‘IIVV’ crashed into the Irish album charts at #2.

Now the duo have announced they will release their second track since ‘IIVV’ was released. Following on from “Alone Together” feat. James Vincent McMorrow, comes “Anything”, a clear step beyond anything that featured on ‘IIVV’and a development on “Alone Together”

When ‘IIVV’ was nominated for Album of the Year at the Choice Music Awards, it heralded the end of the album’s campaign. After a minimal break, the duo soon “turbo-boosted” their writing process where they amassed a group of new singles they plan on releasing over the coming months. Whereas they previously painstakingly crafted each song together, they instead found themselves creating almost completed ideas individually before allowing the other partner to put their stamp on it.

Most of the new tracks emerged on piano and synths before being fleshed out into a band dynamic. Inspired by a whole world of influences, Lar describes them as being “varied and extreme” and “emotionally charged”, while Conor notes that his interest in keys means that he has been writing a lot more on piano.

All Tvvins have previously shared stages with bands including Arcade Fire, Pixies and Foals, and have played events as diverse as the VICE House Party and the huge 2FM Xmas Ball in Dublin. They’re planning to road-test some new material across the summer festivals and announce a headline tour across Europe for early 2018.

http://alltvvins.com/

1000 Beasts is an alt-electro/alt-pop project that collaborates with different acts and artists (“The Beasts”) on every release. 1000 Beasts latest release features Irish actor & singer/songwriter Ryan O’Shaughnessy. Ryan featured on Britain’s Got Talent but “Got This Feeling” shows a brand-new side of Ryan.

“Got This Feeling” was originally a track written for Ryan’s 2016 album “Back to Square One” but 1000 Beasts & Ryan revisited the track, reworking it with an electro-chill feel, sending the song in a very different trajectory!

The concept behind 1000 Beasts is simple; one artist takes the incredible talent that surrounds him and nurtures collaborations to produce fresh music greater than the sum of its parts.

The creative behind 1000 Beasts, that’s “Cian”, is a well-established freelance musician, pianist and producer in his own right who has toured internationally. He likes to produce and write ideas while on the road taking inspiration he finds back to his hotel rooms late at night with nothing other than a laptop, small keyboard and headphones to confide in…oh and lots of cups of tea! Cian has recently worked with Jenny Greene & The RTE Concert Orchestra and…Phil Coulter!

1000 Beasts previous single “Wonderland” feat. Briony was called “less a classical project and more of an intriguing electro-pop one” by Nialler9

www.Facebook.com/1000Beasts
www.Soundcloud.com/1000Beasts
www.Twitter.com/1000Beasts
www.Instagram.com/1000Beasts
www.Vimeo.com/1000Beasts
www.1000Beasts.bandcamp.com

Grainne Duffy is a blues and roots artist from Castlebayney, Co Monaghan. Grainne is a pioneer of her own style while also paying homage to her roots, soul, blues, country and rock traditions. She is a seasoned artist and has been spending the last number of years touring in Europe, Scandinavia, Asia and Canada.

Earlier in 2017 Grainne embarked on her first ever tour in Australia which included four remarkable performances on the blues stage at Woodford Folk Festival. This year she was also delighted to be invited to play at the prestigious Mahindra Blues Festival, India and join onstage Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and Shemekia Copeland for the festival encore.

This month sees the release of Grainne’s eagerly awaited third album, ‘Where I Belong’. It features a stellar line-up of musicians including blues guitarist Doyle Bramhall II.

www.grainneduffy.com

As part of Dublin Fringe Festival 2017, Jerry Fish presents Misery Hill: The Songs & Tall Tales of Jerry Fish – Part One at Project Arts Centre on 20, 21, 22, 23 September 2017. Tickets from €18 including booking fee are on sale now.

Jerry Fish is one of Ireland’s most enigmatic and entertaining performers. A constantly evolving artist who has always favoured innovation over orthodoxy. As ringmaster of exceptional renown with his wild and wondrous Electric Sideshow, Fish has evolved into a showman extraordinaire.

Now Jerry Fish is stepping into theatre to bring his “stranger than fiction” life story to the playhouse.

“Don’t forget to read between the lines, chew what I say and try not to swallow.”

Meet Jerry Fish, the descendant of pirates that once swung from the gallows on Misery Hill. Born-hard to a mermaiden mother, swaddled in a baggywrinkle by the Liffey and raised on the banks of the Thames. Chockablock full of vaudevillian fun and games, voyage to the artist’s ancestral self with never-before-told stories, half-truths, half-fictions and brand new songs.

Famous for his live entertainment and love of a good night out on the town. The Songs & Tall Tales of Jerry Fish is chock o block full of vaudevillian fun and games.

Accompanied on Piano by Cian Boylan featuring never before told stories, half-truths, half-fictions and an introduction to Jerry’s brand new songs and phantastical adventures.

Booking Information:

The Story Of An Artist (Daniel Johnston) by Jerry Fish
“The Songs and Tall Tales of Jerry Fish” Part One: Misery Hill.
Project Arts Centre, Dublin. Sept. 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd September.

Part of The Dublin Fringe Festival 2017.

‘The Howling Infinite’ feat Margie Lewis, from the upcoming sixth studio album, ‘Wellpark Avenue’, is a game changer for Dublin Producer, Somadrone. Gone are the drum machines and heavy synthesizer use from The First Wave (2013) and Oracle (2015) and a return to traditional song and instruments akin to Depth of Field (2010). Dystopia, Psychedelia, LSD, Timothy Leary, TV Music of the 1970’s all contribute to the sound of The Howling Infinite, a sound that references the likes of seminal British band Broadcast.

The album incorporates spatial and sonic effects to create dramatic effect within a sound that is forever challenging and evolving in what is now Somadrone’s 20th year of music making.

http://www.iamsomadrone.com/

When Joe Chester released his ‘Easter Vigil’ album earlier this year, he played a special one off gig at Dublin’s Unitarian Church, where he played the album in its entirety. This coming Friday, Joe releases the recording.

Joe talks about the evening…

“It was the first time we attempted to play The Easter Vigil in front of an audience from start to finish so I just wanted it documented I guess. However, a combination of the beautiful acoustic in the Unitarian Church, the musicians (Brian Brannigan, Vyvienne Long and Steve Wickham) being on transcendent form and an audience that gave as much to the performance as we did makes me so glad that for whatever reason, I arranged for this show to be recorded. However, from Vyvienne’s solo on Dark Mornings to Steve, Coltrane-like on The Eater Vigil and the whole ensemble raising the roof on Vic Chesnutt’s masterpiece, “Flirted With You All My Life”, this clearly was just one of those very special evenings.”

http://www.joechester.com/