IMRO member David Bickley has composed the soundtrack to SALT, an immersive audio visual piece being installed at IMMA for the Earth Rising Festival that runs from the 21st to the 23rd of October.
The work was developed and created with Pakistani artist Hina Kahn and explores ideas of borders and marginal places, with particular reference to migration and and liminal spaces between land and sea. David is no stranger to creating atmospheric aquatic moods, having also made some of the music for Ridley Scott’s nautical thriller, The Terror.
The music for SALT can be found on David’s recent LP, Music for Installation.
Isaac O’Sullivan, also known by his recently adopted alter-ego, Letterbox Kid, is a 22 year old singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer hailing from Cork City. Originally from the Waterford side of the border, Isaac began his life in music with a concept album called ‘A Live’. Here, Isaac pessimistically questioned what it meant to live in society and the fabrics that held it together, as well as the mental hardships he reluctantly endured during his schooling years. After the release of this minimalist, part spoken word, part singer-songwriter acoustic expedition, Isaac organized a launch gig and sold tickets on foot in his local area. Soon after, Isaac performed two more sets at local Summer music festivals.
Since then, and with entry to the prestigious Cork School of Music and graduation with First Class Honors, Isaac has improved drastically as a musician and artist studying under renowned musical minds such as David Hayes, Karl Rooney & illustrious producer 1000Beasts. Throughout the pandemic Isaac worked rigorously on his debut EP, titled ‘Elegant For A Rogue & Skinny For A Bastard’, which was released on all major streaming platforms in November of 2021. The EP consists of trap beats, slurred bars and emotional highs as Isaac starts to find his home as the Letterbox Kid in an unusual mix of trap, rap, and soul, inspired by the likes of Jeff Buckley, Kanye West, King Krule, & Travis Scott to name a few. With a belated EP launch taking place in An Spailpin Fanach in Cork City on the 31st of March which filled the venue, and a debut on the grand stage of Cyprus Avenue on May 20th which garnished coverage from Golden-Plec, and a more recent support slot of the famous HousePlants, the Letterbox Kid aims to take advantage of his unique ability to blur a distinct presence of musicality and charisma with interesting melodic hooks and passionate live performances.
The Letterbox Kids’ next release, I Miss You, is ear-marked for October 21st. Here, the Letterbox Kid enters a new world of striking synths and dark cinematic soundscapes, as he creates a planet on which to delve his deepest and darkest emotions and all that comes with them. It will be a statement as his first release of 2022 and a benchmark of quality for all future releases, as we start to see the musical and artistic progression of the Letterbox Kid unfold before our very eyes.
This week Minding Creative Mindsannounced an enhancement of its service to include specialist trauma and abuse counselling care. We are pleased to announce this service enhancement in collaboration with our creative partners at Screen Ireland, The Arts Council and Irish Theatre Institute as part of the Safe to Create programme on this primary advancement for our service offering and very thankful to do so with the continued support of Minister Catherine Martin and her team at The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Minister Martin was present at the announcement at Dublin’s Project Arts Centre on Wednesday October 5th.
In both public and private health tiers, trauma and abuse counselling services can have significant wait lists, depending on the user’s catchment area and services accessed. At the time of writing, we understand a six-months plus wait list exists. With Minding Creative Minds enhanced service, our team of counsellors will also provide supportive care while the service user is waiting for a specific service referral. This approach ensures our (enhanced) service user is supported day to day with their coping and managing techniques until the bridge to engagement around the historical trauma is secured.
Minding Creative Minds founder, Dave Reid says;“This specific enhanced service has been in planning for over twelve months but our conversations around the area and its need reaches much further. We are delighted to have arrived at our launch point in collaboration with our partners at Screen Ireland and Irish Theatre Institute. We are also sincerely thankful, once again to Minister Martin and The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for its continued support and without whom, frankly, today’s launch would not be possible.” Dave continued; “We are very happy with our commencement model for this enhanced trauma and abuse counselling service. Our plan is to continually monitor and review this and in doing so aid our focus in being positioned to offer the best and most efficient service possible for our sector, as we go forward.”
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. says;“I warmly welcome today’s announcement from Minding Creative Minds for the enhancement of its service offering to include specialist trauma and abuse counselling care. This specific enhanced service is complementary to the confidential 24/7 mental health and wellbeing support programme for the Irish Creative community already offered by Minding Creative Minds in collaboration with Spectrum Life. My department has funded Minding Creative Minds since it launched in 2020 and I highly commend them on achieving so much and supporting so many artists in that short space of time.”
Niamh O’Donnell, Director of the Irish Theatre Institute says; “Abuse of power is a sector-wide issue (indeed, a society-wide issue) that requires sector-wide solutions. Irish Theatre Institute (ITI) is delighted to support the important work of Minding Creative Minds in this regard. Working with Minister Catherine Martin and our Safe to Create partners, ITI is determined to lead a programme of supports and initiatives designed to transform our sector. The specialist, expanded and enhanced service of care announced by Minding Creative Minds for the entire creative sector marks an important start to this work that moves us towards safer working conditions for all artists and arts workers.”
Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland says: “Screen Ireland is proud to support Minding Creative Minds and the essential services and wellbeing supports they are providing to the creative industries. A key focus for Screen Ireland is building a more inclusive, stable and fair screen sector – ensuring a safe and respectful working environment for all creative artists and industry professionals. The new and enhanced services provided by Minding Creative Minds is part of that process, and a huge step forward in terms of giving extra support to anyone in our industry who needs it.”
How will our enhanced service to include specialist trauma and abuse counselling care work?
The first point of contact on initial engagement with the Minding Creative Minds helpline is our case managers who are fully qualified psychotherapists / counsellors.
In the case of a caller contacting the service outlining they have been the victims of trauma / abuse the case manager will offer in the moment support while also arranging a call with one of the Minding Creative Minds Senior Clinicians and Trauma Specialists (who have expertise in trauma, rape, sexual violence and abuse) within 24hrs, at a suitable time for the caller. During this call, specialised support will be provided to the caller and a comprehensive intake assessment of the caller’s needs will take place.
Following the assessment and support call the Minding Creative Minds Senior Clinician will determine the most suitable intervention and to determine if short-term counselling (up to 12 free sessions) is appropriate or if more specialised, long term or open-ended support would represent a more robust and clinically appropriate intervention.
If a referral to short term counselling is deemed the most appropriate intervention; a referral will be made during the call to one of Minding Creative Minds Trauma Specialists Counsellors who would have expertise in trauma, rape, sexual violence and abuse for up to 12 sessions of counselling.
Minding Creative Minds can arrange a suitable referral pathway for longer term or open-ended support for survivors of sexual abuse if this is deemed necessary through signposting to the most suitable services.
Clinical lead at Spectrum Life, Dr. Emelina Ellis says; “We are proud to continue to work with Minding Creative Minds to deliver best-in-class care to those in the creative arts sector and, in particular, to be partnering with the team to provide enhanced support for those who are currently dealing with or have previously experienced trauma or abuse. Our priority with this enhancement to the existing service is to ensure that those in need of more specialist care, for example those currently experiencing abuse or someone who may have experienced sexual violence in the past but who is now ready to seek support can easily access the support they need.”
*The contact details for our enhanced service offering remain as they have been since our launch in June 2020.
24/7 Dedicated Phone Line: Phone 1800 814 244 | Calling from NI / UK: 0800 0903677 | International: 00353 15180277
By texting‘Hi’ to 087 369 0010 for SMS & WhatsApp Support (standard rate applies) with a qualified psychotherapist / counsellor.
Minding Creative Minds (MCM) is Ireland’s first 24/7 (32 county and our Irish overseas) wellbeing support programme for the entire Irish creative sector. Minding Creative Minds’ counselling and advice services, in association with Spectrum Life, includes a *24/7 Dedicated Phone Line; Short-term intervention, telephone Counselling together with secure video counselling amongst other contact options (see the full list later in this document). Alongside our counselling services we offer advice and support on practical day to day issues which have the potential to cause stress and anxiety; for example, legal and financial advice, career guidance and life coaching. Our service offering focuses on the entire individual; whatever your need or question; if you work in any area of the Irish creative sector, contact us and let us help you; our services are free and confidential.
In the two years since its launch in 2020 Minding Creative Minds has facilitated in the region of 1,600 hours of support; 65% of which have been our counselling supports and 35% of advice and other support services (service sessions advice (legal, financial, career etc.) and in the twelve months since its inaugural programme close to 500 mentoring sessions have taken place as part of our Minding Creative Minds Mentoring programme.
In its first 24 months Minding Creative Mindshas hosted, organised or participated in numerous panel discussions within the creative sector including at Galway Film Fleadh, Docs Ireland Festival Belfast, Ireland Music Week, First Fortnight, RTE Choice Music Prize. The organisation has also hosted Masterclasses with Irish Theatre Institute, Screen Ireland, Improvised Music Company, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art & Design. Minding Creative Minds holds a monthly online meet and greet session; The aim of this event is, quite simply, to share experiences and advice with each other. To support each other. More recently we have also commenced supporting well-being events and initiatives including singer-songwriter Maria Kelly’s Postcards In-between this spring, Molly Sterling’s Reclaim Project and this summer, Joy in The Park; a festival legacy in honour of Joy, which took place at Fitzgerald Park in Cork.
Minding Creative Minds pilot mentorship programme was established in 2021. Over 90 fully funded mentorships have been issued since 2021 equating to close to 500 mentoring sessions. A number of creative disciplines are represented in our mentorship programme; from music, dance, theatre, artist management, publishing, television production, life coaching, event management, label and project management, digital marketing and so much more. Applications for our fourth programme open this October.
IMRO Creative Rooms is an online content series that invites artists to share an intimate insight into their creative process, by showing the spaces they create in.
Sarah Grimes is a multidisciplinary drummer from Waterford, based in Dublin. Sarah has had multiple releases with her previous bands including September Girl and Cruising which
received much international press support and radio play.
Sarah has toured nationally and internationally and past performances include shows at Dublin’s Olympia theatre, SXSW Austin Texas, NH7 weekender in India and in various venues across Ireland, Europe, the UK, and the US.
Sarah makes up one third of post-punk trio Grave Goods whose debut album was released in September 2022 via TULLE. Sarah also performs live with Oh Boland, Rising Damp and Extravision and has previously performed with Bl_ck R_b_ts, The Debutantes, Girls Names and Gavin and thee Icons. Sarah has also played session drums for Katie Kim, In The Willows and The Casanova Wave.
In addition to creating work within music groups, Sarah is interested in exploring ways the drum kit can be used across other artistic disciplines and in recent years she has worked with visual artists. These works have been shown and performed at art institutions including IMMA, Kerlin Gallery, Hugh Lane Gallery and Temple Bar Gallery and Studios.
How important is it for you to have a dedicated creative space?
Drums are loud and take up a lot of space so it’s really important for me to have a designated space where I can go to play as loud or as quiet as I want, work on new ideas, practice for shows and don’t have to worry about packing up my kit when I’m done for the day. I wouldn’t have this kind of freedom if my creative space was in my house and I’d get distracted too easily so it’s good to have a dedicated space where I can go to focus. I’ve worked with different bands and artists over the years and it’s been really important to have this space which has facilitated many collaborations, I’m really grateful to have that.
What makes this space work for you?
My studio space is a shared space that I ended up falling into with a previous band who were based there before I came along. It was set up in a practical way, everything was always in the right place, you could find things easily and you never had to think about the set up which I think is really important, the last thing you want is to end up having to go look for your equipment when you have an idea you want to get out, you’d end up frustrated otherwise. Most of those people have left the space now but the set up is much the same and a small number of people still share it. I think this is an important factor too as it means there’s usually good availability and although the space is small, it’s not too claustrophobic and packed with gear.
In what way(s) does this space influence your output?
I guess I’m just kind of comfortable there which really helps. When I’m in there by myself I sometimes feel like I’ve stepped away from the world for a little bit, maybe because it’s in a basement with no windows. There aren’t many distractions and I find it calming to be in there away from everything, there’s no pressure to it, I’m not rushing out of there, I’m not worried what it’s sounding like and I think this influences my output and helps get ideas together which I can bring to other projects. There are some posters on the wall and recently some of the words from those made it into one of my band’s songs and sometimes i’ll throw something from the drum rudiment chart I have on the wall into a song. So, even in that regard, the space is influencing the output. I’ve been in that space for about 10 years and I’ve only recently discovered that switching off “the big light” can be a huge influence to the mood and thus the output!
What’s your favourite instrument/piece of kit? And why?
Without stating the obvious, I’m going to say my drum kit! It’s the reason I go to that space, and the thing I use the most. For me it has physical and mental benefits which I get a lot out of and I’ve built so many great relationships through playing it.
What would make this space better for you?
It’s worked well for me for 10 years so why change now. However, if someone offered me a new space, I’d take the elements that work from this one and the learnings from the things that don’t work with me… and i’d take the lava lamps too.
Conversation and performance at Other Voices Cardigan
3 – 5 November 2022
_________
Conversation and performance over the 3 days of Other Voices festival
Wales’ First Minister joins the conversations
Fresh perspectives from 19 leading thinkers and creatives
_________
Other Voices Cardigan presents a series of compelling and provocative discussions: Clebran: Connected Imagination, a celebration of the enduring cultural and musical ties between Ireland and Wales, taking place at Mwldan in Cardigan from the 3 – 5 of November 2022.
Each afternoon writers, musicians, journalists, artists, poets, politicians and academics will join in conversations about how we perceive our world, language and culture.
On the second day of the event, Friday 4 November at 4.15pm, the Rt. Hon Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales, will make a very special appearance as a guest speaker, joined by the celebrated poet Mererid Hopwood and acclaimed traditional fiddle player/violinist Aoife Ní Bhríain to form a panel hosted by TV and radio broadcaster Huw Stephens, in order to explore the value of culture, creativity and connection, and the identities of people, nations and diasporas.
Clebran will commence at 4pm on Thursday 3 November with the Raving Celts session in which Irish performer, folklorist and musician Billy Mag Fhloinn joins with leading Welsh dance and performance artist Eddie Ladd to explore lost Celtic rituals, including a unique performance created for Clebran that brings together and reimagines ideas of our ancient traditions.
Following that on Thursday at 5.15pm we will hear from three remarkable Irish and Welsh musicians – Mercury prize nominated Gwenno, Iarla Ó Lionáird (The Gloaming, Afro Celt Sound System) and rapper Sage Todz – who join journalist Jude Rogers to talk about their language journeys and creative expression through Celtic languages.
Friday’s discussions begin at 2pm with the internationally bestselling author Emma Dabiri joining historian Professor Diarmaid Ferriter and writer and broadcaster Professor Richard Wyn Jones for a panel hosted by heritage and slavery researcher Marian Gwyn to re-examine the colonial histories of Wales and Ireland and help us to better understand the positions we find ourselves in today.
Our final Clebran session of 2022 on Saturday at 2pm turns our gaze to the future with Turner prize nominated artist Rabab Ghazoul, Róise Goan, Artistic Director of Arts Admin, and presenter Molly Palmer sharing ideas about how we might imagine our future, together with Jane Davidson, vanguard of Wales’ world-leading Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, and session host, historian and writer Dr Christopher Kissane.
Internationally acclaimed traditional singer Iarla Ó Lionáird and fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain will both provide us with a taste of their exceptional music during their sessions.
This exciting series of carefully conceived discussions and performances have been created to bring fresh perspectives to a new collective imagining about some of our most pressing challenges and germane reflections… because things look different from the Edge.
Other Voices weekend wristbands will get you entry to all Clebran events (subject to capacity). Earlybird weekend wristbands priced at £20, rising to £25 on 13 October.
Full details of the programme, speakers, tickets can be found at othervoices.ie as well as line-ups for the Music Trail and Church.
The Clebran discussion sessions are part of Other Voices Cardigan and are staged in partnership with Ireland’s Edge, the ideas strand of Other Voices.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said:
“It’s so good to see the return of Other Voices to West Wales to showcase some of our best musical talent. I’m so glad that we are re-establishing this exciting event in the calendar. It’s a symbol of the importance of our cultural and business connections with our friends in Ireland.”
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said:
“Other Voices Cardigan again promises a wonderful programme of live music which will enable outstanding performances to be enjoyed around the world. It is especially heartening to see audiences and artists coming together again in person. I am very proud that my Department is supporting the programme again this year and strengthening further the cultural ties between Ireland and Wales.”
The Consul General of Ireland in Wales, Denise McQuade said:
“We are delighted that Other Voices is returning to Cardigan this year. Ireland and Wales share rich cultural ties which stretch back many centuries. Other Voices provides an opportunity to build those ties and to highlight and share the best of contemporary Irish and Welsh culture.”
Other Voices Cardigan is produced by South Wind Blows in partnership with Mwldan and Triongl and made possible thanks to the support and investment of Welsh Government and The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Renowned Irish songwriter, John Spillane, is set to release his latest album, In Another Light, recorded live with Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra on October 14, 2022. The live album includes performances by John Spillane and Pauline Scanlon with the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra and conducted by John O’Brien and Orchestrated by Kevin Codd, Paul Frost, Daniel Murphy and Robbie Pender.
In Another Light is a career spanning album, the songs ranging from 1983 right up to John’s most recent release in 2020. This album is a result of a live concert with the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra in November 2021 as part of the Right Here Right Now festival. Every person involved with the concert experienced these songs in a different way. For John and Pauline, who have been performing these pieces for years, it meant learning them anew, in collaboration with the orchestra. For the orchestra, playing newly orchestrated pieces brings new challenges and excitement. For the audience members, they could sit back and experience these well known and much loved songs as they have never heard them before.
The resulting recordings are a perfect marriage of true lyrical and melodical brilliance of the songs, lifted by the perfect accompaniment of a professional orchestra. There is a true sense of family and community around this album, how many people does it take to put a show of this scale on a stage? How many people does a musician such as John meet on his journey? We want to welcome everyone into this community, experience these songs with us, hear these tracks that you know and love, In Another Light. Of the album John says, “We have tried to weave this narrative of community and progression into every element of this project, from the artwork with Megan, the mixing with Brian & Sarah at Wavefiled to the video projects with Al. Hearing the mixes brought the whole community of the concert back together for us in the most exciting way.”
Two-time Meteor award winner John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer. Rooted in people, place and story, his music transports the listener and his live performances captivate audiences around the world. John’s extensive back catalogue begins with the 1997 album The Wells of the World.
The focus single ‘Princes Street’ is accompanied by an imaginative video, directed by former member of Gráda, Alan Doherty and is the second instalment in a triology of films telling a unique story. Speaking on the series John says, “As In Another Light is a career spanning album including songs I have written between the years 1983 – 2019, we wanted to create the videos in a similar vein. We wanted to work with one videographer across all three videos to have a consistency in the vision, Al Doherty who created these videos has a really wonderful point of view and a great eye, so it had to be him.”
Waterford ravers King Kong Company have announced their first Dublin show in over 2 years. The gang are back together to play Vicar Street, on October 27, 2022.
The Kong Company story so far… They’re a band from Waterford, five blokes, a girl and a Boxhead. In 2011 they started putting out one video a month, put on the first gig in 2012 and played Indiependence on the back of a truck. Soon after Body & Soul booked them for an early Sunday evening at Electric Picnic where word had spread and the crowd had grown. Since then they have sold out Cork Opera House, the Button Factory, The Academy and most recently the legendary Olympia.
King Kong Company have played to 13,000 people in a tent at Electric Picnic for Sunday Mass, had thousands of hedonists lay siege to the Body & Soul arena for their stuffed to the gills lock in that closed the legendary stage. And in between there’s been tracks, an album produced by The Prodigy’s producer Neil McLellan, a Buckfast beer, Glastonbury, a robot, All Together Now, late nights, parties, early mornings, ferries, Prague, London, Newcastle, the engagement proposal, broken down vans, Spraoi, a Best Band in Ireland award and stuff that should never end up in print or online. Then some sort of pandemic, a weird far flung feeling that was miles away from the pandemonium of a King Kong Company gig. It’s time to bring it back.
King Kong Company play Vicar St, 27th October 2022. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.ie
Micko (Michael Gartlan) – a rapper, singer, producer, songwriter and engineer – began writing music at age thirteen, and ten years later is now poised to prove how he deserves a top spot in music. The 23-year-old began releasing his music online in 2016, and since then has released two EPs and over 70 songs.
His songwriting, storytelling and production abilities have been acclaimed by both fans and critics, delivering an air of determination, confidence and honesty through each track. His sound was described as “really tight” by top producer Gavin Glass, reflecting the time Micko has spent perfecting each element of his work; his progression and growth are constant and can be heard throughout his catalogue, the entirety of which can be found on websites SoundCloud and YouTube, which were the platforms that helped launch his career.
By producing, writing, engineering, mixing and mastering all of his own music, as well as creating each song’s artwork, Micko has developed his sound and style without much outside influence. He sees this as an invaluable piece of his journey as both an artist and person, allowing him to connect with his work, creativity and purpose on a deeper level, ensuring every song is true-to-self and aligns with his message.
Micko began 2022 by releasing a new song every two weeks and continues to release new songs and videos consistently. His tracks have been played and featured on many publications, blogs, playlists and radio stations, including Ireland’s largest, RTÉ.
On the Low
This track features an intriguing lo-fi piano, which when paired with the dusty old school drums creates an irresistibly smooth production, on which Micko paints an authentic story with truly elite tier lyrics and a hugely catchy hook. He visited Las Vegas earlier this year and recorded a music video for this song. It will be Micko’s biggest release so far this year and he hopes it will help push his career forward & expose him to new audiences.
“The track is really a description/summary of how I like to live, I’m a pretty private person and ‘on the low’ is a representation of how I navigate life, mind my own business, stay quiet on a lot of things etc. I made the beat first and I feel like it carries the same energy sonically by being minimalistic/mysterious. The music video ties into the meaning of the song also, as the song I’m saying “keep it on the low” and the video is shot in Vegas, so it’s meant to be a juxtaposition of the two and it says “I might be doing something wild like staying in Vegas for a week where everything is fast paced and flashy etc., but I’m still keeping it on the low”. The beat, lyrics, flow, vocal delivery, video and overall vibe of the song represent me as a person perfectly which is always what I aim to do in my music; I’m happy with how I accomplished that on On The Low, and because of that the track means a lot to me.
Video Blue, the musical project of Dundalk native Jim O’Donoghue Martin, has today announced his new album ‘The Pull’ will be released on November 18th. A limited edition vinyl release will follow in early 2023 via London label Straight Lines Are Fine.
‘The Pull’ includes the single ‘First Snow’ featuring whenyoung’s Aoife Power, which has recently enjoyed support from Hot Press, Nialler9 and RadioX’s John Kennedy, and for which Video Blue has recently shared the Chris Dunne directed video. A Giant Party remix of the track was released on the 7th October. Listen below:
Commenting on the themes of ‘The Pull’, O’Donoghue Martin remarks: “The title of the album is an umbrella term for the various themes within…the pull of ambition, vices and nostalgia. The pull of being drawn into old habits and patterns of thought. The pull of love, happiness and home”.
Written and recorded throughout the various lockdowns, ‘The Pull’ reflects the uneasy, confusing, and intensely emotional thought processes of a confined population. O’Donoghue Martin can be heard re-evaluating his life ambitions during yet another mundane lockdown shopping trip to satisfy a newfound interest in cooking on Weatherspeak. ‘Piece Of Work’ puts 24/7 living arrangements under the microscope, whilst the deeply confessional lyrics of ‘First Snow’…“You don’t keep your head, no, we were born to do this…falling off the edge of the earth”, are an ode to keeping your head and coming together with a loved one.
Across it’s 10 tracks, ‘The Pull’ combines wistful guitars and melancholic synths that recall New Order’s reflective pop with the part sung / oft spoken-word observational lyrics of Baxter Dury. Contemplative ambient electronics add texture throughout adding a sense of both nostalgia and the possibility of exciting futures.
London’s Servants Jazz Quarters 25.10.22 – TICKETS
Video Blue has self-released two previous albums: 2017’s ‘Love Scenes’ and 2020’s ‘Night Painting’, plus released a single on US indie, Wiener Records. His music has been supported by BBC 6Music & BBC Introducing, RTÉ 2FM, The Irish Times and countless blogs & zines. Live, he has supported Razorlight, whenyoung & Pillow Queens, and performed at Electric Picnic & Standon Calling. He has remixed and reworked music for whenyoung, Attawalpa, Sounds of System Breakdown & Giant Party.
An Associate Member of the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland, O’Donoghue Martin has created long-form ambient tracks for meditation, short film scores and made musical compositions for the Tate, Christies & Whitechapel Gallery. He is also a graduate of Fine Art Painting and creates all the visuals associated with Video Blue. O’Donoghue Martin also hosts the weekly show ‘Dusk Moves’ on Boogaloo Radio where he has interviewed Thurston Moore, Bernard Butler, Suggs, producers John Leckie, Mike Chapman & many more.
Praise for Video Blue: “Captivating, occasionally giddy and always impressive leftfield pop gems” The Irish Times
“My favourite new track this week by a country mile” (What Have You Got) Tom Robinson, BBC 6Music
“Whether it’s ramshackle riffing or cinema-style atmospherics, O’Donoghue Martin is blessed with the catchy gene”Harry Guerin, RTÉ
“We are Ispíní na hÉireann, the Hardest Working Band in all of the Land. For those who don’t know yet, that means The Sausages of Ireland, and we’re called so because we are the slippiest, greasiest dogs going.”
Following on from their recent single ‘Talk to Joe’, Ispíní na hÉireann share ‘Please Don’t Start the Fun’, the next taster of what’s to come on their debut album, due for release October 28th 2022.
Written by Tomás Mulligan, Adam J. Holohan and Stephen McCann in early 2021, ‘Please Don’t Start the Fun’ was recently brought in studio with the powerful Kilian O’Flanagan, to record it at BIMM on Francis Street. They describe it as “A song about thehesitation to return to the craic of Pre-Pandemic life, however contrast to its lyrics,the music to the song would convey that the fun is only just beginning…”
‘Please Don’t Start the Fun’ Official Video:
Who Are Ispíní na hÉireann?
During a trip to Slovakia in 2017, banjo player Adam J. Holohan and guitar player Tomás Mulligan discovered how much they enjoyed playing with each other, shortly after they decided to form a band. One day, while sitting at the bar of the famous Cobblestone Pub in Smithfield Square Dublin, drinking the strongest accidentally created ale the Four Provinces Brewery had to offer, they decided upon a name; ‘Ispíní na hÉireann’, and thus the ‘Sausages of Ireland’ were born.
“We are Ispíní na hÉireann, the Hardest Working Band in all of the Land. For those who don’t know yet, that means The Sausages of Ireland, and we’re called so because we are the slippiest, greasiest dogs going.”
One of their theories of music they decided to expand and experiment on, was that people respond to repetition. The self-proclaimed “World’s Hardest Working Band” hypothesised that people unfamiliar with Irish music couldn’t actually tell the difference between any of the tunes that musicians were playing, and likely wouldn’t be aware if the same tune was repeated several times in a session. Rather, they believed that the repetition would lead to subconscious conditioning, leading the people to enjoy the session more as it went on, as, unbeknownst to them, they had become familiar with the tune. After agreeing upon a reel called The Silver Spear, the experiment was underway. The research peaked on St Patrick’s Day 2019 in Molly Malone’s Bar in Temple Bar, when the Silver Spear was played in excess of 20 times in a 3 hour session to a rousing response. Legend has it that the Silver Spear passed 30 plays that day, but as of yet, no concrete evidence has been put forward to support this claim.
Since then, the repertoire of Ispíní na hÉireann has evolved substantially. Nonetheless, in paying homage to their roots, this album, due for release October 28th 2022, both opens and closes with versions of this great reel.
In July 2019, while on tour in Lithuania, Ispíní na hÉireann would expand its ranks when they became acquainted with talented cellist Aongus Mac Amhlaigh, who they quickly adopted into the band due to his amazing ability to make their music somewhat credible. It was on this trip that the Ispíní came across Sergeant James McCafferty, thus securing them their first man on the inside of An Garda Síochána. Sergeant James would lend his talents to this album, throwing down saxophone, cornet, organ and clarinet on several tracks.
With some semblance of a sound coming together the eager pair would seek the guidance of a top performing producer to capture their sound. Band manager Kül de Soup made a phone call to one Chris ‘The Rich’ Barry to see if he was up for the immense and arduous task ahead, would he record the Sausages of Ireland?! “I suppose so” he said half-heartedly, while taking a drag out of several cigarettes simultaneously.
The journey to the album nobody wanted but everybody was getting, commenced.
Then all of a sudden go-tobann, just as the sound was starting to come together, the world was overcome with a terrible sickness, and due to circumstances beyond the band’s control, the continuation of this album came to a screeching halt. This, however, may have been a blessing in disguise for this particular album as it gave the Hard Working Men time to reflect and analyse what they had already put together, and also an opportunity to write new material about their view of the state of the world.
As the world seemed to be coming to grips with the pandemic, Ispíní na hÉireann returned to the studio with more tricks up their sleeves and even more musicians to help them realise their vision. Their first single, released last month, was ‘Talk to Joe’. A song about Tomás’ time working on the phones for RTÉ’s Liveline radio show hosted by Joe Duffy. “Lyrics stem from real situations but are altered to protect the guilty.” Listen here: https://ispini.bandcamp.com/releases
‘The Hard Working Men’ will be released October 28th 2022.
Upcoming gigs & sessions:
Every Monday in The Cobblestone at 9pm
Every Thursday in Hyne’s of Stoneybatter at 8pm
Every Sunday in Dudley’s on Thomas Street at 7pm
Ispíní na hÉireann and Friends on Thursday October 20th in Humphrey’s
