Author: Breffni Banks

Hudson Taylor are delighted to be back on the road in Ireland through late summer and the autumn. Their headline Irish headline tour was cruelly cut short earlier this year when Alfie Hudson-Taylor got a nasty bout of Covid-19 and was forced to isolate. This impacted on the live gigging and promotional work for the new Hudson Taylor album ‘Searching For The Answers’.

Happily Alfie has made a full recovery and will be joining his brother Harry and their band on the following Irish tour dates.

Aug 13 – Revival Music Festival, Listowel

Sept 15 – Cyprus Avenue, Cork

Sept 16 – Dolan’s, Limerick

Oct 28 – Limelight, Belfast

Oct 29 – Sandino’s, Derry

Nov 4 – Monroe’s, Galway

Album producer Luke Potashnick has remixed new record highlight ‘Over My Head’ for radio and streaming.

Praise for ‘Searching For The Answers’:

“A clear sense of identity and creative growth” – The Irish Times.

“The brothers explore a more grounded, thoughtful direction and embrace an intimate, back-to-basics approach.” – Hot Press.

Fever is the latest single release by Keelan X. The track comes hot on the heels of the successful release of previous single ‘These Days’, with the Irish solo artist continuing to explore his expansive synth-pop sound.

“I wrote the song to capture that smouldering, feverish feeling of being totally into someone and at the same convey some of the uncertainty and hope that exists in these circumstances. Love and desire evoke a powerful cascade of mixed emotions in us; rapture, risk and uncertainty co-exist in this universal feeling we’ve all had at some point in our lives. – Keelan X.

Heavily inspired by both ‘80s and contemporary sonics, Keelan X pulls on a diverse musical background to create a rich, silky sound. A former member of up-and-coming noughties Irish band The Marigolds, Keelan had begun to lose his appetite for the music industry. However, the worldwide pandemic reinvigorated his desire to create art once again.

A little over 12 months later, and Keelan X has cultivated a transformed sound. Taking elements of contemporary acts such as The Weeknd and combining them with classic artists like Tears For Fears, Prefab Sprout etc. Keelan X has created a vibrant, cinematic sound befitting of any soundtrack past or present. Fever picks up from where ‘These Days’ left off with Keelan X crafting wistful, dreamy soundscapes accented by propellant beats and memorable choruses.

“Sonically, I was after a sensual, lush sound to capture the allure and feeling of desire in Fever. I also wanted the song to have some low-key disco danceability and a bit of oomph in the chorus. In my head I saw it as a kind of song a DJ would play in a nightclub/bar and you’d want to get up and dance to it, either by yourself in your own little world or perhaps with someone.” – Keelan X.

Since his return to music, Keelan X has already picked up a range of press support ranging from The Vinyl District in the US, and Synthpoplover in Holland to the UK’s Fame Magazine and Ireland’s Hot Press and Sunday Times. Fever is the second single to be unveiled in a run that will see Keelan X aim to release one track every 2-3 months throughout the rest of 2022.

Following his debut single ‘We’ll Be Alright’ which was released in April 2022 – receiving national airplay and support from a host of Irish DJs, along with widespread coverage at home and abroad – Dave Nulty signed a publishing contract with Irelands’ Sticky Songs Publishing and has been approached by a number of European electronic labels with interest in the project.

The writer/producer returns with his second track ‘Signals’, a sonic interplay of keys, synths, arpeggiators, guitars and vocal chops, which open out into a euphoric release of emotion.

Speaking of Signals, Dave said ‘I wanted to write an expansive and euphoric melodic house track, something uplifting that you can both chill and dance to’. Signals will be released Friday July 29th.

Instagram // Spotify

Lee Hayes, a musician from Dublin, Ireland, is making leaps with her music. She has been keen on music since she was a child. To her, music is a way to escape the reality of this world, she has felt very drawn to music since a really young age. Her inspirations are Taylor Swift, Fletcher, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and MUNA. She aspires to perform at their level one day.

After her success with her first single, ‘Have A Dance On Me’, Lee worked with the two producers based in London, Jack Buster Weston, and Archie Norris who worked on “Have A Dance On Me” back in November 2021.  Since the release, Lee has been playing around Dublin, performing her original music and even getting requests for her songs.

Lee releases her new single “Limelight” on Friday 29th July. She hopes to continue the indie-pop genre as she believes that there are no limited boundaries within this genre and one just can’t go wrong with it. Hence why her new single has a catchy melody that listeners could enjoy and chill to. 

Lee says she would be lost without music and that was the reason why she was drawn to it from such a tender age. 

Social Media:

Instagram: leehayesmusic

Tiktok: leehayesmusic

Facebook: Lee Hayes Music

YouTube: Lee Hayes Music

Following a wave of highly-praised singles over the last few months, including ‘Don’t Wanna’, ‘Us’, ‘Follow You’, ‘Islands’ and ‘Familiar’, which have been supported by the likes of Wonderland, Hot Press, Official Charts, Under The Radar, Ones To Watch, A&R Worldwide’s Passport Approved, Rolling Stone India and many more, Irish indie-pop-rockers modernlove. have now delivered their eagerly-awaited new EP ‘Oh My Mind’ through Akira Records (Phoria, Henry Green, Mt. Wolf, Rosie Carney, Shura), showcased by the soaring title-track.

As the opener to ‘Oh My Mind’, the shimmering title-track perfectly reflects the rich and dynamic direction the band have been exploring throughout this new EP. It aims to highlight the mental health struggles in a post-pandemic world, their newest gem is a warm and inviting pop-rock delight that builds upon their glittering aesthetic to date and is accompanied by a very lighthearted video.

Speaking about the new single, they said, “Oh my mind explores the modern day neuroses of young people and the mental health challenges brought upon them by pop culture, the internet and most recently, the coronavirus lockdowns. I think we all went a little mad over lockdown and most of this EP was written in that state of social isolation. Without distraction or release from cycles of negative thought you can begin to spiral to the point of derealisation and being in a constant state of panic. But then we kinda juxtaposed that by a brighter and more playful sonic composition. I think as young people, we tend to joke about our mental health as a way of relating to one another and not feeling so alone in all of it. So it felt natural to write a poppy, upbeat song about such dark themes rather than treating them with a forced solemnity and formality.”

modernlove. will also be embarking on their first UK and Ireland tour in November later this year. Demand for these shows has been so overwhelming, the band have added a new date at London’s Camden Assembly on the 8th November, with their Manchester performance which was upgraded to YES! (Basement) has now sold out. Tickets are available to buy now and see the full list of dates below.

modernlove. November 2022 UK & Ireland Tour Dates:

 UK

2 – Birmingham – Hare & Hounds

3 – Manchester – YES! (Basement) ***UPGRADED VENUE / SOLD OUT ***

4 – Glasgow – The Garage (Attic Bar)

8 – London – Camden Assembly ***NEW DATE***

9 – Bristol – The Louisiana – SOLD OUT

10 – London – Camden Assembly – SOLD OUT

11 – Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club

IRELAND

12 – Belfast, The Deer’s Head

13 – Derry, Sandino’s

17 – Listowel, Mike The Pies

18 – Limerick, Kasbah Social Club

19 – Cork, Winthrop Avenue

24 – Galway, Roisin Dubh

25 – Dublin, Button Factory

‘Oh My Mind’ follows on from their debut EP ‘monochrome blue’, which was released in September 2021, and saw modernlove. combine their earliest work into a statement debut offering. Featuring the singles ‘Liquorice’, ‘2 Missed Calls’ and ‘lmk (if you wanna see me)’, they received strong playlist support, landing on New Music Friday UK, Fresh Finds, Alt-Pop and The Pop List amongst others on Spotify, as well as New Music Daily, New in Alternative and Breaking Alternative on Apple Music. They have also received strong radio support with 2FM, BBC R1, BBC R6, BBC Ulster, XS Manchester, Across the Line, and Radio X, as well as featured in The Line of Best Fit, Earmilk, Wonderland, Hot Press, MTV, Under The Radar, Nialler9, Golden Plec, Atwood Magazine, Ones To Watch, Vacancy, and named as the Official Charts’ Ones to Watch’, alongside The Irish Times’ 15 fine Irish Music Acts to Listen to in 2022. Live sessions with BBC Introducing and Seconds Away with Gemma Bradley have also helped to cement modernlove.’s position as one of the most exciting up-and-coming acts in the UK.

Like their name suggests, modernlove. explore the complexities of the modern lives of twenty-somethings. Even though their lives are still complicated, Barry, Cian, Danny and Graham of Drogheda have already nailed their sound; they deliver polished, indie-pop with a glossy ’90s sheen and intricate details.

DISCOVER MODERNLOVE.

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK | SPOTIFY

Following on from the success of ‘Milkshake Pilltaste’ earlier this month, Local Boy keeps the summer vibes coming with ‘Crazy Stupid Love’, a singalong anthem celebrating kindness, friendship, and solidarity in the face of economic uncertainty. The sophomore single from Local Boy’s upcoming album – ‘Crazy Stupid Love’ is a thrilling amalgamation of the Dublin artists diverse sphere of influence drawing on west coast hip-hop melody, booming drum loops and psychedelic guitar riffs.

The track’s singalong hook and rapped verses are an ode to the necessity of unity and solidarity amongst ordinary people in the face of an economic system that sacrifices the comfort and opportunity of the many to serve the interests and greed of the few.

“It felt necessary to address this topic on the album,” says Local Boy. “It’s incredibly difficult for the majority of young people to get on the property ladder or even secure a comfortable standard of living at the moment. I wanted the lyrics on this track to serve as a reminder not to buy in to the divisive narratives right-wing media often pushes in the face of economic uncertainty.”

“The only course of action is to double down on solidarity amongst everyday people in the face of an economic system built to serve the interests of a small group of billionaires.”

“I was also a bit wary of beating the listener over the head with the message,” Local Boy continues. “I think however I succeeded in making a track that works as a standalone pop single while also carrying a little bit of weight beneath the singalong hooks and catchy instrumentation.”

Local Boy has also announced album release tour dates coming up in a few weeks. ‘An Evening with LOCAL BOY + some special guests’ will be coming to Áras na nGael, Galway, August 25^th; The Record Room, Limerick, August 26^th; and Workman’s Cellar, Dublin, September 22^nd. Tickets go on sale soon, follow Local Boy on socials for details.

Local Boy is a Dublin based musician who creates highly idiosyncratic pop music which he oversees entirely from inception to mastering – having spent years honing his abilities as a producer and an engineer despite his young age. He invites listeners into his sonic and lyrical world packed with hip-hop beats, colorful guitar chords and creative wordplay.

In the short time he has been releasing music under the Local Boy moniker, he has racked up millions of Spotify streams, supported international acts such as Easy Life, Hobo Johnson, and Open Mike Eagle, sold out his several headline gigs in both Dublin and London. In 2022 he signed a lucrative publishing deal with industry giant Peermusic for his original compositions and his burgeoning crafts of production and songwriting.

Following up on the successful release of the ‘Local Boy Helps Himself’ EP in summer 2021 which saw several tracks added to high-profile Spotify editorial playlists such as ‘New Music Friday’, ‘Our Generation’, and ‘Peach’ – Local Boy then returned with his well-received 2022 single Reality, an honest rumination of the artist’s mental health struggles.

Local Boy is now gearing up for the release of an album which will complete the trilogy he began with his 2019 EP release. The album expands on the themes explored in Local Boy’s previous releases, with several songs critiquing the difficulty of making a living in modern Ireland – Local Boy however never loses his optimistic outlook throughout the record with several tracks including lead single ‘Milkshake Pilltaste’ celebrating life’s simple pleasures.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LocalBoy3000/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/localboy3000 / @localboy3000

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/local_boy3000/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/34Ze0nb54KG3gietZGFZIj?si=8-o0SwDiRka99CQCMDVBqw

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ie/artist/local-boy/18474169