Author: Breffni Banks

After his main stage appearance at the ‘Beyond the Pale’ festival in June, Sussex-born poet and songwriter Christian Wethered has announced the release of a summery music video for his feel-good single ‘Way Back’. It’s his first song and video since the release of his debut album, ‘Mon Petit Jardin’. 

In the film, two women fall in love amid lingering sun, wildflowers and feverish kisses. A gull cuts through the sky, perhaps hinting at Dublin, while a pagan woman dressed in gold spreads her arms (à la Midsommar). Under this, the song’s refrain repeats like a mantra, ‘And there was something in the air, that time we had/ We’ll trade our sorrows for the sky’.

“I was hoping to capture the ecstasy of falling in love. We’ve all been having a tough time of late, and now summer’s here there’s a lovely collective spirit in the air. With all that’s going on in the world we need to remind ourselves of who we are,” Christian says. 

 Choice rhythms from Soda Blonde’s Dyl Lynch recall early Prince, or Serge Gainsbourg in his heyday; while a sultry, lo-fi vocal evokes early Bob Dylan, The La’s, or Sufjan Stevens.

 “With the band it sounds almost jazzy; on the album it’s more pared-down and serious, a lonely indie folk tune. I like both: It’s great having these options playing live as it helps define my sound more clearly,” Christian Wethered says of the track. 

The release is timely for a folky songwriter already starting to turn heads, and rumoured to play further support slots with Selective Memory in the coming months. More songs, gigs, and even a poetry book to come from this emerging artist. 

ChristianWethered.com

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Photo: Graeme Coughlan

Hank Wedel is set to release his summer single and video ‘(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow’.

Featuring Clodagh Mai and produced by Declan Sinnot, the single will be available on all platforms from Wednesday July 20th.

The public launch of the single and video is at this year’s Mallow Arts Festival, with a concert featuring Hank Wedel with Declan Sinnott on Friday, July 22^nd at Mallow’s Hibernian Hotel Ballroom and then a “Rakes” inspired fancy dress costume party at “The Hawks” Murphy’s bar on Mallow Town Plaza on Saturday, July 23^rd at 6 pm

Tickets available at the following link:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/hank-wedel-band-featuring-declan-sinnott-tickets-364364533127

These events will signify the single’s and the video’s availability on internet platforms from Wednesday, July 20th

The single can be pre-saved at the following link; https://streamondistro.lnk.to/WeAreTheRakesofMallow

‘Nobody Has To Know’ is the lead single off Lloyd John’s Debut EP ‘Homesick, and is due for release on July 15th.

‘Nobody Has To Know’ tells a heartstopping story of Lloyd and his boyfriend’s struggles being in a closeted gay relationship for the first 6 months of them being together. The song focuses on the frustration that can bring but also the Hope for future change.

Speaking of the song, Lloyd says;

‘Nobody Has To Know’ tells a story about life inside a closeted gay relationship. My boyfriend and I were in a serious relationship for almost 6 months before we felt the courage to tell anybody. The song shows the struggles that come with it and frustration towards to world for making us feel uncomfortable in our choices and our own skin.

The song possesses positive energy consistently throughout as those first 6 months were still amazing behind closed doors and I knew that discomfort wouldn’t last forever. 

Social Media: 

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4esOyetcBTqDPzntUCPZk0?si=nOx3j1SaTZyx2B4DGdtjcQ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LloydJohn 

Carlow-based music producer-songwriter Hawk Jupiter has released his sixth single, ‘Sliding Door’.

The uptempo 80s-inspired track fuses funk-filled guitar riffs, soaring saxaphones, enigmatic lyrics and rich synths that all converge to create an immersive sound.

Lyrically, the song explores the sense of mystery, enigma and illusion that can accompany the early stages of a potential relationship.

The song debuted in live form earlier this summer at Carlow Arts Festival, where Hawk Jupiter was joined on stage by a number of collaborators including Luke Clerkin, Zeinab and more.

The Irish songwriter-producer is currently producing a forthcoming E.P. for Dublin based RnB singer Zeinab, while also working on a collaborative E.P. with folk singer songwriter Luke Clerkin.

Sliding Door is Hawk Jupiter’s sixth single and follows the widely acclaimed previous release ‘Cut and Run’.

About Hawk Jupiter 
Hawk Jupiter (artist moniker of Eoin Mulvihill) is a music producer-songwriter from Carlow who takes inspiration from a diverse and eclectic range of producers including Mark Ronson, Chemical Brothers and more.

Hawk Jupiter Social Media Channels 

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Soundcloud
Spotify Artist Page

Photo: Julia Dunin

Earlier this week, Pa Sheehy joined us for the presentation of an IMRO award, in recognition of his chart-topping debut solo EP ‘The Art of Disappearing’.

The IMRO Number 1 Award was introduced to acknowledge IMRO members who reach number 1 in the album charts in Ireland.

Pa Sheehy paved the way for his debut solo EP ‘The Art of Disappearing’ with the radio hit ‘Róisín’, which received widespread acclaim, and on release the EP shot to Independent Number 1 in the Irish album charts. To celebrate the release, he also took to the road for a sold out nationwide Irish Tour.

This summer sees Pa performing at Indiependence Festival, Cork on the 29 July, with a host of European dates over the coming months.

Pa Sheehy’s latest single ‘Surrender’ feat. Sinead White is out now across digital platforms.

EU Tour Dates

10.10 – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands

11.10 – Maschinenhaus, Berlin, Germany

12.10 – Artheater, Cologne, Germany

18.10 – Academy, Dublin, Ireland

19.10 – Dolans, Limerick, Ireland

20.10 – Limelight 2, Belfast, Ireland

22.10 – Omeara, London, UK

The Black Captain are a 3-piece band from Balrothery in North Co Dublin. Featured in 2013 by 2XM as best of Irish for their debut single ‘Calling to you’ the band went on to release their self-titled debut EP in 2015. After a long hiatus. the band reformed in 2019 and began

working on their debut album in Crookedwood studios Slane with producer Dave Arkins.

The band are made up of close friends Paul Rock, Alan Lynch and Dermot Hagan and have been creating music together as long as they can remember. The name comes from navigating life’s challenges through the darkness and back into the light.

The Black Captain’s sound is rooted in folk, indie and Americana taking in elements of Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, and Paul Simon with a touch of 90’s guitar pop sprinkled on top. Drenched in festival sing along choruses and soaring melodies their latest music is sure to grab a hold of your heart and never let go. Let the black captain help you navigate the darkness.

One Last Summer is set to be one of THE sounds of the summer. According to the band it’s “an energetic, soulful, and melodic longing for a time when the light seemed to burn forever, and we were living the best days of our lives”.

 The band is excited to share with you a song that will grab a hold of your heart, and never let go. The song is rooted in influences from Indie, folk and Americana and was written against a backdrop of grief, isolation, and a longing for simpler days that had passed.

Fans of artists like Sam Fender, Radiohead, The Verve , Oasis and The Killers will love this record.  The track was written by Paul Rock (Vocalist and Guitarist), arranged by The Black Captain, recorded, and produced by David Arkins @ Crookedwood studios, Slane Co. Meath, and Mastered by SoundPorter in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Renowned session musician Jake Richardson who has worked with Dermot Kennedy, Lyra, Mark Feehily, Robert Grace, Ryan Mack, Tim Chadwick to name a few, is set to step into the limelight with his own original Project “JNR”.

His Debut single ‘Fallin’ is an infectious upbeat alt pop number of which Jake states;

“…about investing too much of yourself in someone too early when you’re not sure if the feeling is mutual”

JNR’s sound is grounded in pop infused with jazz. His influences are “Honne” & “Bruno Major” but he has carefully crafted and honed his own sound through years of being one of Ireland’s “go to” session musicians.

‘Fallin’, the brand new single from JNR, is out on July 28^th across all digital platforms.

TikTok: @jnrthemusic

Instagram: jnrthemusic

Pa Sheehy has just released the video for his brand new single ‘Surrender’ feat. Sinead White, out now across all digital platforms.

Speaking about the single Pa Sheehy said: ‘This song swivels through childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Contrasting imagery that creates a longing for what was and a sadness for what is. It was written in the middle of nowhere with a few friends this time last year. Some songs are hard to write and some songs just fall on your lap. This song was written so easily. I hope people can connect with it the same way I do.‘

Pa Sheehy paved the way for his debut solo EP ‘The Art of Disappearing’ with the radio hit ‘Róisín’, which received widespread acclaim, and on release the EP shot to Independent Number 1 in the Irish album charts. To celebrate the release he also took to the road for a sold out nationwide Irish Tour.

Upcoming live dates include Indiependence Festival, Cork on the 29 July as well as a host of European Tour dates.

EU Tour Dates

10.10 – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands

11.10 – Maschinenhaus, Berlin, Germany

12.10 – Artheater, Cologne, Germany

18.10 – Academy, Dublin, Ireland

19.10 – Dolans, Limerick, Ireland

20.10 – Limelight 2, Belfast, Ireland

22.10 – Omeara, London, UK 

It wasn’t just Covid-19 and lockdown, which made 2020 a year that Pa Sheehy is unlikely to forget. After a decade fronting the Irish chart-conquering Walking On Cars, he decided that it was time to leave the group.

“When lockdown hit, the level of peace that came over me was something I’d never felt before” I slowed down and stopped thinking of the next song and the next gig for the first time in ten years. I knew it wouldn’t last forever so when I was ready to “take on the world again”. I need to keep reminding myself to take a breath every now and again.”

“There was no bust up or other big drama; it had just run its course” he explains. “Following all those years of band democracy, I wanted to be able to totally do my own thing, which has been very liberating. Walking On Cars was an amazing period in all our lives. The people of Dingle were with us from our first gig in a local bar, Two albums later and we had toured all across the world, played to 14,000 people in Dublin’s 3Arena; and performed before Kendrick Lamar at Electric Picnic to 35,000 people singing back every word. So all in all, we did good.”

‘Surrender’ feat. Sinead White the brand new single from Pa Sheehy is out now across all digital platforms.

Mary Gantley is a singer songwriter from Tullyallen, County Louth and a hidden talent whose light has recently emerged with her recent release and her last single, the very popular ‘Hanging In My Room’.

Her new single ‘I Love You to Bits (Morning Star Wedding Song)’ is a love letter to her home beside the Boyne River, King William’s Glen and her local bar ‘The Morning Star’ all located in the village of Tullyallen.

The lyrics and melody of this beautiful ballad are reminiscent of some of the great Irish folk songs of the past, showing how Mary’s observational skills work in tandem with her knowledge of musical structure.

Mary amazingly began her musical journey as a church organist at the tender age of ten and then trained on piano and organ at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin where she went on to train other musicians to high grade levels.

In the gigging world she began singing and playing keyboards in bands at 19 and is now playing her own various solo gigs around the County Louth area and beyond.

And even though she wrote her first song at 8 it is now Mary Gantley the songwriter has arrived…enjoy!

Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/Mary-Gantley-Music-114482584565378

https://twitter.com/MaryGantley3

https://instagram.com/marygantley?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Delicate and delicious, Irish Alt-folk artist The Butterfly Graveyard is located somewhere between The Blue Nile and the deep blue sea. He makes a fragile music, soft as a butterfly’s wing but sometimes rough and uneven like the underbelly of a leaf, translucent when held up under the light.

‘Bethesda Row’ is a little row of houses, on a little street that breaks onto a bigger street in the city where I live. In fact, I walked past Bethesda Row every morning for years on my way to work. I passed the same faces at the same time every single morning and of course, she was there among them. She walked down Bethesda Row, not so much like Monica Bellucci in Malena but more like Audrey Tautou in Amelie. Almost unaware of her beauty, wearing it lightly like a summer dress.

Then of course one morning she was gone, and the next morning and the next. I never saw her again. I often wondered what happened to her and where did she go. A new job, and maybe a new city I presume. There was nothing left to do but write a song about her. Ladies and gentlemen I give you ‘Bethesda Row’.

Lyrically driven, words are important as they spiral among sprinklings of Lanois and suggestions of Eno. Some who listen may hear echoes of other wayfarers who trod this path before such as Nick Cave, Nick Drake, and David Sylvian.