Author: Breffni Banks

BRÍDÍN, West Co. Sligo native, carries on the tradition of Irish music into the fourth generation of her family. BRÍDÍN sings, plays the harp, flute, piano and dances sean nós. BRÍDÍN’s musical talent emerged at a very early age. Over the years she has achieved many accolades for her musical ability. Her love of music led her to pursue a musical career, having studied music at University College Cork achieving a degree and Masters in music and performance. BRÍDÍN’s recent performances include ‘The Late Late Show’, ‘The Tommy Tiernan Show’, ‘Ireland AM’, ‘Today with Maura and Daithí’, ‘Claire Byrne Live’ and national radio.

Over the past number of years, BRÍDÍN has developed her own style influenced by her natural surroundings and rooted in her background in traditional Irish music.  BRÍDÍN uses her loop and effect pedals to create her musical pieces. Her layered melodies on harp and voice blend beautifully with contrapuntal fiddle, keyboard, electric guitar and bass, woven together with pulsating drums.

BRÍDÍN’s single ‘Empty Room’ is a song about how she loves ‘the sound of an empty room’. It stems from her being a sociable introvert who could spend hours on end happily in the studio completely alone writing and playing music, but is not lonely or sad in doing so. ‘Some people feel sorry for you if you’re on your own, I’m just expressing that I’m really happy in my own company’. The song sounds dark from the beginning, but as she experiments with her different styles of voice, it opens up an angelic layered depth as she layers her soprano countermelodies. She also expresses how she can hear music in her head; ‘I’ve always been able to hear music in my head, I could arrange a whole song in my head with multiple instruments and vocals and have often done so in bed at night or on long journeys. I never thought it was unusual until I started to study (lightly) neuroscience and how people think so differently.”

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Featuring strings by Crash Ensemble

& backing vocals by Gemma Doherty (Saint Sister)

Stream/Buy the song: https://linktr.ee/scullionband

From the new album “Time Has Made a Change in Me”, out September 22nd

For 2 years we have been isolating from each other.

Many have been anxious and alone.

Throughout these lonesome days, music and songs have been a salve and an inspiration. During that time Scullion have recorded an uplifting and inspirational collection of songs for the head and heart and will take to the highway, collapse distance and bring us back together in the halls, front rooms, back rooms and bar rooms of Ireland. This compelling album, ‘Time Has Made a Change in Me’, will be shared September 2022, coinciding with an album launch tour across the country.

Today, Scullion share the first taster from the album, a cover version ‘I Need My Girl’ https://linktr.ee/scullionband, written by Matt Berninger, Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Bryan Devendorf and Scott Devendorf of the American alternative rock band The National. A timely release as the American rock band soon arrive in Ireland to play Limerick Live at the Docklands (June 5^th), Live at The Marquee in Cork (June 6^th), and the Botanic Gardens in Belfast (June 7^th).

Scullion’s version produced by Leon O’Neill, is performed by Scullion band members Sonny Condell, Philip King, and Robbie Overson, along with strings by Crash Ensemble, backing vocals by Gemma Doherty (Saint Sister), David Anthony Curley on bass synths and programming, and Leon on programming.

Speaking of the song, singer Philip King says “We fell in love with The National when they came to Other Voices on a snowy winter’s night in 2012. The National continue to have a deep relationship with Ireland, and we celebrate that. We fell in love with this song, we began to play it at live shows and have now recorded it as part of our new album.”

James Joyce, Bob Dylan and Sufjan Stevens are also woven into the DNA of this record, with the inspirational music of Sonny Condell beating at the heart of the thing.

Formed in the mid-1970’s, Scullion are revered and feted as one of Ireland’s most innovative, original and brilliant live bands. Their upcoming new record emphasises the band’s musical curiosity and like all of the band records, it breaks new ground.

Scullion’s new album “Time Has Made A Change in Me” is due out September 22nd.

For 2022 live show dates and tickets visit: https://www.scullion.com/tour

Photo credit Rich Gilligan

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Amy Ellen is an indie pop/rock Dublin based artist.

During her time at music college BIMM she connected with various artists which eventually led Amy to focus on writing and performing her own music. By 2019 she had formed her own live band, opening for acts such as Leila Jane and Emma Langford, steadily building up her fanbase since.

In 2019, Amy Ellen sold out a headline show for the release of her debut single, ‘My Heart’.  Her eagerly-awaited debut EP ‘Only You Will Know’ was released on 29th of September 2021. With enthusiastic reviews and international fanfare, she was featured in RTÉ – Behind the music, Track of the Day by Hot Press as well as Golden Plec’s artist interview series ‘Hi, have you met…’. Her music has also received airplay from various stations such as KEXP in Seattle, Radio Nova, BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and SW London’s Riverside Radio.

Amy Ellen recently took part in the Y&E Hot Press Series on the 12th of April, supported by the Department of Culture and Tourism. Ellen has taken part in various musical projects including those of Lisa Hannigan’s ‘We, The Drowned’ as part of the Theodora Byrne Ensemble in late 2021 and Tommy Cullen for his track ‘In the Winter’ (3rd of Nov).

She is now set to unleash her highly anticipated new single ‘Day Dreamin’ on May 27^th 2022.

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Dublin-based poet/songwriter Christian Wethered is set to release a new single, “Way Back (In the Summer)”, in anticipation of his slot at Beyond the Pale festival, Glendalough, in June (10-12).

The single features Dylan Lynch (drums), and Cil Byrne (electric guitar and bass) and was recorded by Darragh Nolan at Asta Kalapa.

An emphatic ode to summer love, the song is irresistible, drum-driven, and with folky, singer-songwriter sounds. 

He says, “This song’s about the summer and falling in love. I think we’re all excited for this summer as things start to open up again after the last couple of years. 

The album has hints of Villagers, Laura Marling, Fionn Regan, Alexi Murdoch and Iron and Wine. Nick Cave is also a big influence. He goes on to say, ‘this one’s great fun to play live. To be honest, it was originally supposed to be quite a quiet song. But the drums changed all that. Now it’s a banger!’

Christian has played The Ruby Sessions, First Fortnight and Electric Picnic. His video for first single ‘Mr Medicine Man’ is currently being showcased by Hot Press’ YouTube channel. He currently sings in the Discovery Gospel Choir and also performs poetry across the country. His debut poetry full collection won the Melita Hume Prize and is due in 2022.

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Irish up and coming Neo-Trad band Strings & Things are set to release their second instalment off their highly anticipated Re: Works EP, ‘Day in the Life’.

‘Day in the Life’ tells a simple story that we are all familiar with, the life of working Monday to Friday and the emotions we feel as the week progresses, living for the weekend. Written in 2017, this is a track that featured alongside Anorak Jack on the “Anorak Jack EP”. Strings & Things felt the song deserved another go in the studio with the sound they have now and incorporated it into their ever growing & evolving, unique sound.

This song has a bright feel that carries throughout the song, with a feel-good rhythm and punch delivered by bass and cajon, a raspy guitar that shines a hopeful light on the entire song and a steady melody conveyed by the banjo. This concludes to an uplifting undertone which develops throughout and opens up into a grand, cheerful chorus. Combined with a catchy chorus and steady tempo, the lyrics touch on the stretch that some weeks may come as and that through hard work and patience there is the best reward anyone could ask for the weekend!

Band Percussionist and backing vocalist Eoin Shelly says “it’s always fun to be able to write lyrics for songs that can relate to people and how they feel throughout a working week and have it come to life with music”.

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Tommy Fleming joined us yesterday for the presentation of two IMRO Awards in recognition of his albums All These Years and Voice of Hope II.

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

Tommy Fleming sings from his soul – breathing raw emotion into each and every song; be it his own arrangement, a classic cover or a dynamic duet. Fluent and flawless, his unique voice has touched the hearts of many, right across the globe and when you see Tommy in full flight with his full band and orchestra you truly have been part of a journey that has reached sublime heights yet one that has never lost sight of its roots.

For over 30 years, Tommy has shared his gift and enjoyed sharing the stage with other Icons of the industry such as Elaine Paige, Kenny Rogers, Christy Hennessy, Phil Coulter, De Dannan, Mark Vincent and Vince Gill and many more. Generous to a fault he has also invited many emerging talents into his spotlight.

‘Unique’, ‘honest’, ’emotive’ and ‘powerful’ are some of the terms which have been used to describe his voice – a voice that has reached out through myriad genres – sometimes difficult to classify but there is no doubt whatsoever that whether it is his infamous arrangement of ‘Danny Boy’ or his latest releases of ‘Fiddlers Green’ and ‘Sweet Sixteen’ – Tommy Fleming delivers each song with a polished yet discreet finesse that casts it’s magic over spellbound audiences.

Tommy Fleming’s albums All These Years and Voice of Hope II are out now.

www.tommyfleming.com

Powerhouse vocalist and thrilling songwriter, Shobsy released his debut single “Vanity” on February 25^th.  The track received wonderful support from a wide range of platforms, including; Nialler 9, Hot Press, Today FM, FM104, KCLR96FM, Shannonside Northern Sound, Beat 102103, 98FM, Raidió na Life and others too here at home together with Earmilk, Record of the Day, Pop Matters and a number of UK based blogs and other online platforms.

Having just returned from a three-week visit to the USA Shobsy cannot wait for his new single to be released later this week. The Dubliner continues building momentum with the brand-new release, ‘Driven’; a genre-blending pop phenomenon. Hotly tipped for his soaring falsetto and knack for fusing contemporary and classic soundscapes to produce modern takes on 80s pop, Irish act Shobsy refuses to tread lightly in each of his releases; with ‘Driven’ being the latest shot of adrenaline to add to his already eclectic discography.

“Driven is a song inspired by the feeling of being toyed with by someone you have fallen in love with,” says Shobsy. “It captures the mood of the crossover where sexual tension meets true commitment. In the song the character is being tortured by their love interests lack of clarity, with what they truly want.”  Theatrically stunning with an intensified edge, ‘Driven’ follows a friendship that is gradually developing into something greater.  Bursting at the seams with sexual tension and desire, the single also sees Shobsy preparing to ignite the spark in sight.

Last month, Shobsy was invited to perform on The Late Late Show and blew everyone away with his cover of Bronski Beat’s ‘Smalltown Boy’ (acoustic); his performance resonated and hit that special chord with those watching live and the follow-on social media audience.. The performance cleared 100,000 + collective views in the hours after it had been broadcast live. If you missed it, you can see it for yourself here: https://youtu.be/Glnau5HnK-s

Shobsy’s second headline show at the Cellar, Workman’s Club, Dublin on June 4th sold out earlier this month, almost one month out from the date itself.  His first solo headline show with MCD at Whelan’s (upstairs) in February also sold out weeks in advance.

Fans of The Weeknd, Kanye West & Kavinsky are in for a treat as Shobsy embodies each of them through the track’s genre-hopping rhythm, crossing the boundaries of synth pop into R&B.

This Dubliner’s natural vocal ability, showmanship yet grounded charismatic personable character has already gained him a legion of fans amongst his industry peers and many industry media platforms also in his roles as former lead vocalist in acclaimed rock group State Lights and now as a solo artist. We are so excited not just for you to hear this new single, but also for us all to watch where this superb artist, Shobsy takes us next.  Driven is on release from all platforms this Friday, May 20^th.

Photo by Adam O’Regan

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