Author: Breffni Banks

It has been a very busy year for teen sensation Ruby Moss. Following on from her #1 hit ‘If You Are’ in the Spring,  she has just released a live version of her song ‘Stranded’ as a Bandcamp exclusive.

Ruby is singing and playing guitar.  The song was recorded in Beardfire Studios Dublin with Rohan Healy and Al Quiff.

Last weekend on May 1st, she performed to a packed audience at a sold out event in the National Concert Hall, as part of the Creative Lab New Music Festival Dublin. Ruby wrote a new instrumental piece for piano, flute, electric guitar and percussion which she performed on the day on the piano accompanied by professional musicians.  Ruby will release a version of this beautiful piece of music later this year.

Creative Lab is the brainchild of Directors Emma O Halloran and Amanda Feery, designed to increase diversity in the music industry.  Ten participants were selected for the programme:  Aaliyah Lovett, Aleda Brady, Aoibhe Kettle, Chimene Ferreira, Cormac Tsang, Giovana Alice de Melo Brito, Piera Peruzzo, Rohan Harron, Róisín Crowley, & Ruby Moss. They were mentored by Bushra El-Turk, Sophie Copper, Tonia Ko, Emma O’Halloran & Amanda Feery over the course of the programme as well as participating in a professional development programme and receiving one-on-one tuition.  Creative Lab was supported by The Community Foundation for Ireland/ RTÉ Toy Show Appeal and Accenture, in partnership with New Music Dublin.

https://www.newmusicdublin.ie/nch-creative-lab-finale

Last Thursday, Ruby participated in Newry Musical Feis in the organ competition and took the bronze medal.  Well done Ruby!

Ruby has new original music coming soon.  You can follow her on social media and subscribe to her YouTube channel to keep up to date;

https://www.youtube.com/c/RubyMossMusic

https://www.facebook.com/RubyMossMusic

https://www.instagram.com/rubymossmusic/

https://twitter.com/RubyMossMusic

https://rubymossmusic.com/

Pastiche’s last single ‘Disco Junkie’ established her as Ireland’s fastest-rising pop star. With over 5 million impacts, it entered the top 10 in the Breakers Chart upon release and stayed there for six consecutive weeks, peaking at no. 4 – an incredible feat for an independent artist.

This Friday 6th May, fans will get to hear ‘Written & Directed’ – the final Pastiche single before she releases her debut EP Freak Show Symphony on Friday 20th May.

In true Pastiche style, high drama comes to the fore in ‘Written & Directed’ – a song about karma and revenge, inspired by some of cinema’s greatest directors.

“’Written And Directed’ serves as a kind of revenge fantasy for me. I think as people we are all extremely complex and our desire for revenge when we’ve been wronged can be a sharp, double-edged sword,” Pastiche says. “This song is inspired by the revenge, drama and horror films of Tarintino, Hitchcock, Ridley and Coppola and the idea that we can savour each delicious moment of the fantasy of someone getting what they deserve. It doesn’t even ever have to happen – the process of mentally writing and directing their demise can sometimes be enough to have a therapeutic effect.”

Pastiche’s debut EP ‘Freak Show Symphony’ drops on Friday 20th May, followed by a headline show at The Grand Social, Dublin on Wednesday 25th May (presented by MCD. Support from ROOUE and SJ Talbot).

On Friday 4th June, Pastiche plays SoFFT Nights at Dunderry Park, sharing a bill with Elaine Mai and Tolu Mackay. She is also confirmed to play Indiependence and Sea Sessions.

Pastiche launched the video for her last single ‘Disco Junkie’ with a live performance at The George for the LGBTQIA+ bar’s iconic Witchy Wednesdays night. In April, she wowed crowds by opening for Robert Grace at The Academy in Dublin and by showcasing at Output in Belfast, performing hits like ‘Bad Loser’, ‘Paraphernalia’ and ‘Disco Junkie’.

‘Written & Directed’ is out on Friday 6th May on Pastiche’s own label, Haus of Pastiche.

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Donna Dunne, Ireland’s Queen of Rock N Roll is Back and Better Than Ever with Sophisticated Jazz Pop Anthem “No Place Like Home”

Donna, a legend in her own time has already toured the USA, Europe, The UK and Ireland, working on stage and in studio with legendary jazz, rockabilly, blues and psychobilly musicians Jimmy Smith (The Bogey Men), Doc O’Connor (Late Late Show Band), Phillip Doyle (Diablo Records, Demented Are Go, Klingonz), Anto Drennan (Mike & The Mechanics) and even Jedward on their tour after X Factor success, having achieved a UK Rock n Roll Charts #1 album with the 2017 album Voodoo, beating The Stray Cats to the top spot and receiving praise from press and industry alike including Louie Walsh.

Now Donna brings her sound to a new level. Mature and sophisticated yet still oozing her trademark fun, energy and excitement, No Place Like Home is an at once an ode to her love of rock n roll and new Orleans infused jazz and blues while also sounding fresh, catchy and not out of place in the pop charts! Infectiously danceable rhythms pulse beneath smoky saxophone and sexy vintage guitar, cascading together to underpin Donna’s soaring vocals that just seem to become stronger with each release.

No Place Like Home was recorded, mixed and mastered at Beardfire Studio, Dublin by veteran producer David Virgin and his sons Rohan and Al. In their collective 6 decades in music, they’ve worked in studio or on stage with the likes of Nick Cave, INXS, Cat Power, Billy Bragg, Allie Sherlock, Leslie Dowdall and John Cooper Clark. Recent productions include All the Queens Horses (International Song writing Competition Winners), Patricia Lalor (now with Atlantic Records) and alt pop icon RUNAH.

No Place Like Home is out May 6^th  2022 on all major platforms via Beardfire Music.

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Summer has come early as Rachel Mae Hannon returns with her new single ‘Work It Out’. Hannon’s sultry vocals manoeuvre through a backdrop of vibrant bass and hi-hats, adding further to her reputation for stunning soulful pop. The result is a raw, sleek production dripping with attitude.

‘Work It Out’ continues Hannon’s stellar list of releases. In just over two years since her debut single ‘Be In Love’, the Irish artist has rocketed past 500,000 streams on Spotify and national airplay in Ireland and the UK – including BBC Sounds, 2FM, Today FM and RTÉ Radio 1.

This soulful vocalist, song-writer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer can be found at the intersection of where pop meets soul, and 2022 is set to be a very exciting year for her. Rachel will perform numerous festival slots including at

Sea Sessions and Independence Festival, as well as headline at the Grand Social on 27 August (presented by MCD).

Speaking about her new single, this bright new talent said -“’Work It Out’ is about being in a relationship and knowing you have underlying issues to sort out, but delaying them to enjoy the present moment instead. With all of my tracks, I try to add my personal viewpoint on universal situations. The lyrics for ‘Work It Out’ came naturally as procrastination seems to feed into my day to day life, as well as myrelationships.”

‘Work It Out’ is released on 6 May.

‘Songs for Rosabel’ sees Ireland’s finest musicians come together in aid of the child loss charity ‘Rosabel’s Rooms’. The 12-track album is released on 6th May and will feature tracks from Hothouse Flowers, Nathan Carter, Paddy Casey, Lucia Evans, The Waterboys, The Stunning and more. The project is led by Sharon Shannon, an ambassador for the charity since 2020.

On the importance of this project, Sharon said: “We hope that the album will bring some comfort to numerous grieving families. The songs, (some newly recorded) were carefully selected by Gary and Suzanne because these songs in particular helped them enormously with their own personal grieving process after the sudden loss of their baby girl Rosabel. I am honoured to be able to help out.”

Rosabel’s Rooms is a child loss project established in collaboration with Irish Hospice Foundation in memory of Rosabel Monroe, who died suddenly and unexpectedly, aged 16 months, in April 2017. Sharon is good friends with Suzanne and Gary Monroe, who founded ‘Rosabel’s Rooms’ in honour of their daughter who died tragically. The album will be presented as a gift to the charity and all future proceeds will also be donated.

Rosabel’s Mother Suzanne McClean said: “This album represents hope. Hope that bereaved parents everywhere will truly understand that they are not alone as they strive to navigate child loss. Hope that they will recognise themselves – and find some resonance of healing – in the songs that have warmed our hearts over and over again, since losing our little girl.”

Since its launch on January 5th 2018, on what would have been Rosabel’s 2nd birthday, ‘Rosabel’s Rooms’ has provided direct financial and therapeutic support to numerous families around Ireland who are grieving the death of a child, up to the age of twenty-one years, no matter what their cause of death. Funding from ‘Rosabel’s Rooms’ allows bereaved parents to take time off work and assists with funeral costs and other requirements. ‘Rosabel’s Rooms’ also facilitates therapy for bereaved families around Ireland, and is working towards the development of family-focused bereaved suites in Irish hospitals.

Sharon is an iconic Irish musician known for her arrangements of traditional tunes and Irish-influenced compositions. She has earned her name as a pioneer in the industry through her innovative and fearless  collaborations , not just in traditional music, across multiple genres; Hip Hop, Cajun, Country, Classical and Rap . Last year she presented Heartlands, a four part tv series documenting a musical journey by boat down the Shannon for TG4 and Failte Ireland A prolific composer, Sharon is writing and co -writing for many projects, all which will be released in the coming months.

Please text Rosabel to 50300 to make €4 donation

(Texts cost €4. Irish Hospice Foundation will receive a minimum of €3.60. Service Provider: Like Charity. Helpline 01 481 9311).

https://hospicefoundation.ie/our-supports-services/bereavement-loss-hub/rosabels-rooms/

‘Songs for Rosabel’ is available on all platforms from May 6th 2022.

Buy the album on Apple Music
Buy the album on iTunes

Described as a singer whose voice has the remarkable ability of taking you into his world, Tommy Fleming returns to Cork in February 2023 for two shows, celebrating three decades as one of Ireland’s most gifted singers.

After emerging from a two year Covid sabbatical, Tommy sold out venues nationwide in 2022 with his 30th anniversary tour and his album All These Years remained at top chart positions for months throughout the year.

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 a spellbound audience.

A unique talent and a night of Irish and contemporary classics is promised as Tommy Fleming delivers a musical experience with a universal appeal to a broad age range and with his diverse repertoire there truly is something in each show for all tastes.

Tickets: www.corkoperahouse.ie

The Collision. are a five-piece alt-pop/rock band from Co. Offaly featuring Ciaran Brennan, Diarmuid Brady, Seán Brady, Connor Rice and Callum Bergin.

After earning a reputation with appearances at local venues, The Collision. continue to rise in 2022. The group has received radio play on Tipp FM’s Premier Irish, Shannonside FM and KCLR96FM’s Ceol Anocht. The band’s recent single ‘Weightless’ received great praise from the likes of HotPress, XS Noize, RTE Entertainment and more!

The Collision. write music that is bursting with personality and energy. Lead singers Ciaran and Diarmuid combine their distinct songwriting styles to create a unique, synergistic sound. The 5-piece blends their sublime musicianship together in a kaleidoscope of music that is infectious, vivid and vibrant.

Their explosive and exciting live performances back up their innovative studio recordings. Natural talent and a knack for showmanship come together under the lights during their shows which are captivating audiences across Ireland.

The Offaly group are set to release their debut EP, Latent Pulse, later this year. It features five brand new brilliantly crafted songs produced by the group themselves including two singles ‘Weightless’ and ‘Baby in Winter’.

They dropped their first single ‘Little 22’ in August 2020 shortly after their inception followed by ‘Swing’ later that year. Their latest single ‘Lemon Bake It’ arrived in February 2021 with ‘Weightless’ having dropped recently in April 2022.

The Collision. are one of Ireland’s most exciting up and coming bands. This young group are part of the tide pushing Irish music forward as they carve their path through the scene.

Baby in Winter was Co-written by Diarmuid and Ciaran, ‘Baby in Winter’ explores the commercialism we are bombarded with daily. It’s told through a lens of nostalgia and the music conveys how easy it is to be consumed by consumerism. The truths of the verses are glossed over by the catchy hook. Built on a groovy and infectious chorus, the song plots the battle between the joys and trappings of materialism. This hopeful banger is laced with longing for the simplicity of days gone-by which is overtaken by the infinite pleasures of today.

Talking about the track, Diarmuid said: “‘Baby in Winter’ really lifts you up inside and it persuades you to be yourself.”

Ciaran said: “It’s my favourite track from the EP. I love writing with Diarmuid and I think ‘Baby in Winter’ shows how well our contrasting styles work together.”

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Straight off the back of his recent hit ‘Irish Girl’ with Young Iz, Smilez is back and ready to go again.

His newest track is a deeper side to Smilez that we do not get to see often. Titled ‘Change’, the track gives us an insight into his mind, where he is now and where he wants to be.

When asked the inspiration behind the track, Smilez said “in the beginning It is a story of a young guy with a lot of dreams. All of the struggles I have been through like people turning on me while I’m down, being broke, living in an abandoned narcotic house and making dirty money. I then switch it to me rising above all of that, standing tall and never looking back.” With fans of all age ranges this is an inspiring and important message to not give up when pursuing your dreams.

The video sets the mood perfectly for the track and does a great job at portraying the emotion behind it. The video is directed by Habek who has worked with a lot of the Irish music scene and never disappoints when it comes to visuals. Keeping to the theme we have a scene with Smilez alone in a lit up yellow hallway and another scene with him alone in a room with lighting to match the vibe of the track.

The song was engineered by Slick Bullet. Slick has worked with over 80% of the Irish music scene and for good reason – he is the best at what he does and it shows in tracks such as this. There is a lot in the pipeline for Smilez this year get ready for more single drops from his highly anticipated EP which will be dropping sometime this year… keep your eyes peeled.

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