Author: Zoé Piater

Critically acclaimed singer, producer and songwriter Jommʌc from Lisburn Northern Ireland has been making waves in the music industry for over 30 years. His new track ‘Angel of My Heart’ which is performed by Peter Corry and Lauren Doherty (Amberlight playing Glastonbury festival in June 2024) will be released across all major digital service outlets from 30^th May 2024.

The song’s new video was unveiled at Parkview Special Needs School in Lisburn Northern Ireland were two of the stars of the video Kinley Brown and Reece Curran attend. The video received 60k views through Belfast Media outlet Belfast Live website and social media outlets.

Jommʌc explained the video concept and song idea. “I wanted the video to tell the story of the song which is about a couple who find love in their teens and continue their relationship into their 20s and 30s have a baby and then grow old together. ‘I feel the art of song writing has lost that story telling mantra and I just felt the song lyric and video had to be adjoined in harmony with each other just like a marriage. I’m really excited about the release and hope it grabs the public attention and evokes beautiful memories of people’s past and futures to come.”

Watch the emotional video and song preview for Angel of My Heart:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/zfBXw1hQjDPHcLBr/

He has enjoyed extensive radio and TV coverage in the North of Ireland including UTV LIFE (Pamela Ballantine Show) The Nolan Show, Cool FM and Radio Ulster.

Through Sync NI he scored part of the soundtrack for the movie ‘Bad Day for the Cut’ on Netflix. In 2020 Jommʌc was instrumental in bringing Grammy award winning engineer Khaliq Glover to Northern Ireland and to Dublin to visit IMRO for a series of production workshops.

Jommʌc has various credits to his growing repertoire including co-writes with Dublin DJ John Gibbons, Northern Ireland singer song writer Gareth Dunlop and remixes for 80s Icon Boy George and 90s American rap Icon TQ. He is working with publishing company Ocelot venturing into the K-pop and J-pop markets and currently working with Khaliq Glover on various up and coming projects and productions.

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Equally comfortable writing in two languages, Irish singer-songwriter Padraig Jack released his single ‘These Shores’ on May 10^th , the third single to be taken from his upcoming sophomore album. Listen here

Padraig blends Irish Gaelic and English together in this haunting track which asserts a proud feeling of Irishness celebrating the Celtic ‘culture of our own’ that has been ‘strewn afar’ around the world and the distinguished position that Ireland now holds in the world after centuries of rebelling against its colonial rulers. The lyrics of ‘These Shores’ acknowledge that Ireland is not without sin and that we should perhaps at some point ‘forgive those who trespassed against us’ in order to ‘shape a new beginning’ to move forward.

Padraig Jack (O Flaithearta) was born into a musical family from the Aran Islands. His dad is the songwriter Barry Ronan and he is the nephew of the Irish poet and Aosdána member Mary O’Malley. A native of Inis Mór which has produced writers Liam O Flaithearta, Máirtín Ó Direáin and Breandán Ó hEithir, Padraig is proudly bilingual both as a conversationalist and a songwriter

Jack’s songwriting heroes include James Taylor, Van Morrison, Richard Thompson, Enya, and Jimmy McCarthy and he seeks to develop his own songwriting style in the Irish language also. With plaudits from industry legends like Mike Scott, Sharon Shannon and Miles Hunt, and laudatory reviews from the likes of Hot Press, Padraig Jack has already made his mark on the Irish music scene.

‘These Shores’ was written and composed by Padraig Jack and features Aisling Jack Ní Fhlaithearta on backing vocals, Anthony Thistlethwaite on mandolin, Sean McKeown on uilleann pipes and whistle, Fergal Scahill on fiddle, Cathal Jack on bass, and John Reynolds on percussion. The track is produced by John Reynolds and mixed by Alex Borwick.

Padraig Jack will follow up his debut album Making Sand with his second album in October 2024. This summer sees him out on the road in Ireland, and in the UK with Miles Hunt.

Sun. 26 May                 Róisín Dubh, Galway
Fri. 31 May                   The Cobblestone, Dublin
Thurs. 6 June               South St Arts, Reading with Miles Hunt
Fri. 7 June                     Hare & Hounds Birmingham with Miles Hunt
Wed. 19 June                Stiúdeó Cuan, An Spidéal, Galway
Sat 22 June                   Homeplace Cafe, Headford
Fri. 12 July                    Áras Éanna , Inis Oírr, Áras Éanna
Sat 13 July                     Inis Meáin

Dublin DJ-producer and core member of the Irish electronic dance music scene, Ryan Ennis returns with fresh summer smash, ‘Spare A Little’ featuring Sam Harper, via Universal Music Ireland.

Ryan says:

“I’m massively inspired by artists such as Calvin Harris and Avicii, the greats, and wanted to dig into that creativity for this release. When it came to ‘Spare A Little’, I looked to their sounds and energy and put it together with those same elements from my own tracks.” “I wanted an emotional vocal and also a rush of energy that will make people want to get up and dance.”  “The unexpected drop in the track creates that rush, and I think that’s what makes this a summer banger. –  I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!”

‘Spare A Little’ has fresh summer vitality resounding from start to finish and lands right on time to fill club dance floors, pool parties and festival fields. The track comes hot on the heels of the Dubliner’s March offering, ‘Let Them Know’, that landed at #6 in the Irish Breakers Airplay Chart and found support across the board. Preceding hit ‘Remember My Name’, broke Top 20 on the Official Ireland Homegrown Chart, scored No.1 on the iTunes Chart in Hongkong and amassed over 4 million views on TikTok. Both releases received much-deserved merit at radio with support across the board from Ireland to Ecuador, Malta to Switzerland and Romania to Brazil, to name but a few.

2022 saw tracks, ‘Take My Love’ and ‘Close’ ignite the international music scene, receiving phenomenal support across the board.  With Ryan now being recognised as one of the most promising DJs and music producers on the Irish music scene, he continues to serve up music that is uplifting, energetic and exactly what’s needed to fill a dance floor.

When it comes to his own high-octane DJ sets, Ryan’s goal is always a big-energy, happy vibe.

He says, “People who haven’t seen my set yet can expect an atmosphere like they’ve never seen before. The best music ranging from songs you forgot you knew, to belters rocking at the minute and, of course, my own songs. I’ve got so much music that I can’t wait for everyone to hear”.

LIVE DATES

June 2nd – Hyde Rooftop Party, Dublin
June 29th – Longitude Festival, Dublin
July 20th – Temptation Festival. Kildare
July 28th – IBIZA Debut, Boat Party

Spare A Little is now available on all leading music streaming platforms
Get it here!

The ‘Views of the Valley’ songwriting camp, supported by IMRO, took place last week in Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow.

15 Songwriters and Producers came together from all corners of Ireland and beyond. The participants mainly focused on writing for their own Artist projects.

Songwriters were able to express interest from January. After a large volume of expressions of interest, 15 Songwriters, Producers and Artists were chosen to participate.

The event gave the opportunity for Artists to combine their individual talents with that of others, to create individual pieces of musical works. The genres were diverse, and included Pop, Folk, EDM and Soul.

This was the fourth time the camp has been run, with the first taking place in September 2022.
The camp took place at Minmore Mews, a beautiful courtyard of cottages surrounded by the beautiful Wicklow landscape.

The next ‘Views of the Valley’ camp is just around the corner, and takes place from June 24-28th. It will once again bring together 15 Songwriters and Producers from a range of musical backgrounds.

For more information on this camp and future camps, follow @viewsofthevalley on Instagram.

In the late 80’s and early ‘90’s Barry Walsh was lead singer and songwriter with Powerpop  quartet The Fireflys. Along with releasing a number of critically acclaimed singles, The Fireflys were known for their exuberant and barnstorming live sets. This allowed them to burn brightly, albeit briefly, in Pop’s rich firmament before plummeting back to earth, (or to be geographically precise) their beloved native Cavan.

In the intervening years, Barry has had the good fortune to be involved in countless musical delights on the other side of the music business fence. Still, he was never too far away at any stage from a reasonably well-tuned guitar, a well-thumbed thesaurus and a welt of jumbled melodies fighting in his head to get out.  What has ensued is a bunch of finely crafted and lyrically astute songs tumbling with melody, ringing guitars and the odd keyboard doodle. All were recorded and mixed in his son Oisin’s studio in Trim, Co Meath, which also serves as the home studio of Oisin and his brother Cian’s outfit Spearside.

“Rescue Me” is Barry’s first single release with a debut album also in the pipeline.

Sonically, it’s a breezy scorcher of a song, thundering in with Revolveresque buzzsaw riffs, slashing guitars, nimble bass and blocks of cascading harmonies. After that, well it’s more of the same with bubblegum “la la la’s“ setting up a pleading chorus, a middle eight wedged between dueling Stones Sticky Fingered style riffage and a sinewy, seductive psychedelic solo flirting with zippy, trippy keys. From there to the end, Motown falsettos’ breeze by before being overtaken by a Ben Hur like charge to the finish that spares neither horse nor chariot.  The stuttering rapid-fire conclusion is a fitting end. Breathe and relax, you are back in the room.

And now for the existential “what’s it all about Alfie?” bit. Is our floundering protagonist waiting to be rescued from some desert island, humdrum mediocrity, obscurity, or simply himself? Who is waiting on the shore, with lifebuoy in hand – or not, to save the day? Well, that’s the real story. But you knew that.

“Rescue Me” was mastered by Grammy Award winner Sean Magee in Abbey Road Studios (Beatles, Stones, Ramones) and will be released on May 24th on Rufus Records.

TWITTER – INSTAGRAM – YOUTUBE – BANDCAMP

Forming only one year ago, the Dublin trio are quickly establishing themselves as a top name to watch for Irish alternative rock fans.

The new single ‘Running Out of Time‘ sees the band dive headfirst into themes of introspection, urgency and the search for authenticity in modern society. Reflecting a deep sense of self-awareness, the protagonist flirts with the fleeting nature of time, and the need to connect with their true self.

Recorded between Darklands Studios and the band’s home studio, both in Dublin, the single’s drums were specially engineered by Daniel Doherty, Mixed by Didier Parra and mastered by Pete Maher, who’s work combine to capture the band’s powerful, grunge-tinged sound at its best.

About the single, the band explain: ‘’In some sense, this song it’s the most personal song we’ve written so far. And because of that, we wanted to play a little bit more with the song and take it to a new direction, reflecting the changes of the band itself.’’

Bound with a commanding riff, dynamic control and unflinching lyrics, Nova Dream will have you enticed from the first second, and hungry for more.

Nova Dream began when Josh Bartschi and Gabriel Rizzo, fueled by creative passion and a shared vision, started writing music together before fate soon intervened in the form of drummer Danny Maguire to solidify their lineup.

Since then, Nova Dream has been crafting their unique blend of alternative rock with elements of grunge and post-punk, playing unmissable live shows in Ireland, including headline gigs in The Soundhouse, Fibbers Magees, Fred Zeppelins and Sin é.

Photo credit: Darragh Black

“The new queen of alt” – Nels Hylton, BBC Radio 1
“One of Ireland’s most exciting new rock performers” – The Sunday World

AILSHA is an alt-metal (more specifically, ‘sparklecore’) artist from Co. Wicklow, Ireland. With a background in video game composition, the pink-haired singer knows how to make explosive tracks with attitude, personality and of course, sparkle. A blend of heavy guitar riffs, double kicks and twinkling Y2K- inspired synths create her signature sound as well as her ability to switch between sugary-sweet vocals and harsh, chilling screams.

Runner up in Ireland’s Eurosong National Final in January for Eurovision 2024 with her previous hit single ‘Go Tobann’ (which achieved ‘Future Flavour’ with Nels Hylton at BBC Radio 1, inclusion in Spotify editorial playlists Viral 50 Ireland, Misfits 2.0 and The Pit, reached #1 in the Irish iTunes Rock Charts and topped Eurovision reader polls globally during Eurosong), AILSHA is back with her heaviest track to date.

‘Haunted’ is a journey through the emotions of realizing someone you deeply trusted was actually sucking the life out of you. It’s like waking up in this twisted vampire movie where they’ve been sucking your energy all along, and they took your empathy to bury in their never-ending cemetery of lies. The song is about breaking free and reclaiming your worth. I also listened to fans who wanted me to include the Irish language in some songs going forward so in the heavy breakdowns in this track I scream ‘díbrim thú’, which means ‘I banish you’, symbolising breaking away from the hold this person had over you. ‘Haunted’ is basically my anthem for anyone who’s been through that soul-sucking realization- and for anyone who needs it.’ – AILSHA

After supporting WARGASM (UK) on their Irish tour dates and performing her debut UK show in April at Nels Hylton’s Upgrade in The Old Blue Last in London, AILSHA has more upcoming shows this year in Galway, Glasgow, Brighton, Donegal and Dublin, with more to be announced.

2023 saw AILSHA release five explosive singles ‘Sucker‘, ‘Red Flags’, ‘Sleep’, ‘Enemy’ and ‘Nightmare’ achieving inclusion in Spotify editorial playlists (Viral 50 Ireland, Misfits 2.0, Shockwave, Fresh Finds Rock, The Pit, The Locker), as well as gracing the cover of Alt Scene on Amazon Music. AILSHA has received countless national radio plays on RTÉ2FM, RTÉ2XM, TodayFM, Spin1038, SpinSouthWest and international radio plays on BBC Radio 1 from Jess Izatt, picked as Alyx Holcombe’s Track of the Week with release ‘Nightmare’ and picked as Nels Hylton’s Future Flavour on Future Alternative with previous release ‘Go Tobann’, plays from BBC Across The Line and Total Rock.

Through her music success in the alternative scene she has become a radio presenter at RTÉ2XM where she hosts her show ‘AMPLIFY’ which spotlights Irish and international alternative artists pushing boundaries in heavier music genres.

Live dates announced in 2024:
May 24th, Absent, Galway, IE
June 8th, Saint Luke’s Church, Glasgow, UK
June 21st, Dust Venue, Brighton, UK
August 3rd, Letterkenny Pride, Donegal, IE
September 27th, McHugh’s Venue, Drogheda, IE
October 4th, Kavanagh’s Venue, Portlaoise, IE
October, MCD Headline, Dublin TBC, IE
+ More TBA

Connect with AILSHA here:

Spotify // Instagram // YouTube // X // TikTok

Photo credit @mayaofthehope

Dublin Songwriting Circle are to host their 5th songwriting feedback and networking event on May 30th in The Black Sheep on Dublin’s Capel Street. The event, inspired by the successful Camden Songwriting Circle in London, looks to create a safe space for Dublin songwriters to present their works in progress and receive supportive and constructive feedback from the audience. Attendees will then be given the opportunity to network with other songwriters and creatives, where they can share advice and discuss whatever they may be struggling with when it comes to their songwriting. Collaboration conversations are also very encouraged.

Talking about events so far, Dublin Songwriting Circle’s Creative Director and Singer Songwriter, Luke Clerkin said ‘Each time we’ve met has been totally different to the other. Each time the vulnerability on display has inspired more and more people to be vulnerable, and to show their most vulnerable selves through their new songs. It’s nothing short of magical. We’ve also been getting a few international performers coming in and sharing their songs, and that’s been wonderful to see. I hope we can inspire them to build their own communities in their own cities like Camden did for us.’

Adding to that, Dublin Songwriting Circle social media manager and singer/songwriter All Things Eve Said ‘We’ve had performers from all corners of the Dublin music scene and well beyond gathering in our space for the same cause. The networking sessions after the performances have already led to collaborations between attendees, some of them are now co-writing and putting on gigs together and it’s fantastic to see the vision we had for the Dublin Songwriting Circle coming together so nicely.’

Information:

Dublin Songwriting Circle’s 5th songwriting feedback and networking event will take place at 8 pm on  May 30th downstairs in The Black Sheep on Capel Street.
Sign up for the event is at 7.30 pm, with 15 places only, first come, first served.
You can find more information on Instagram here.

BIO:

Dublin Songwriting Circle is a community of songwriters founded by Dublin based songwriter’s Luke Clerkin, All Things Eve and Navya. Their aim is to provide a safe space for songwriters to share their songs and connect with other like minded souls.

Beloved Irish indie artist Maria Kelly returns with ‘Drive’, her first single since releasing her debut album The Sum of the In-Between in 2021. Out toda y via Veta Records , ‘Drive’ is about longing for closure, and grappling with the reality that it may never come. It’s a rose-tinted story of ‘what-ifs’, fuelled by the desire for forgiveness, and the need for permission to finally move on.

To celebrate the release of ‘Drive’, Maria is hosting a ‘Night of New Things’ at Bello Bar in Dublin on Thursday, 6 June . Tickets are  €15 + fees and can be purchased here . Maria will also play the Ruby Sessions on 28th May , a secret Belfast location on 22nd June , and with Ezra Williams at the Róisín Dubh on 17th July .

Maria says of the track: “I wrote ‘Drive’ as a sort of comforting daydream as I looked back on my past relationships. I’ve always struggled with the fact that people who once meant so much to you can suddenly become a stranger again. I know that growing apart is natural, but I’ve never been able to move through that loss with ease – especially when so much is left unsaid at the end of it. ‘Drive’ is a yearning to go find them now, explain, and have them ease the guilt – and an attempt at accepting that it won’t ever happen.”

Produced by her creative-collaborator Matt Harris (Veta, HAVVK), and mixed/mastered by Rocky O’Reilly (Start Together, Oppenheimer), ‘Drive’ has already gained international attention; the single is featured in the trailer for the film Ezra , starring  Bobby Cannavale , Rose Byrne , Whoopi Goldberg , and Robert De Niro .

MARIA KELLY BIO

Nestled somewhere along the Irish coast, Maria Kelly is writing songs for sensitivities.

Galvanised by the likes of Daughter, Laura Marling and Lucy Rose, Maria has crafted her own world of delicately woven indie-folk with a sincerity that cuts to the bone.

This sincerity is what captivated a dedicated audience for her 2021 debut album The Sum of the In-Between . Detailing the intricacies of her own mental health journey, the record quickly found its home, amassing millions of Spotify streams, leading to performances alongside Kodaline , Orla Gartland , and James Vincent McMorrow , and soundtracking RTÉ’s trailer for Conversations With Friends .

In 2023, Maria focused her efforts on growing a grassroots community while she finished her next offering. Craving more authentic artist-listener connection, Maria embarked on a DIY ‘Living Room Tour’ ; rooms of 40-50 strangers, huddled around the fire, sharing stories, songs, and vulnerabilities. So far, these dates have spanned Ireland, the UK, and the Netherlands, cultivating a close-knit audience that have not only found a connection to Maria’s music, but also to each other.

Prepare for more music from Maria that packs a punch and soothes like a balm, promising to be her most affecting work to date.

Connect with Maria Kelly:
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify

Photo credit: Fionn Fitzpatrick

Irish language collective Imlé have released their new single ‘Sláinte’ in collaboration with James Shannon and Róisín Seoighe.

Imlé’s new song Sláinte is an upbeat soulful banger and is their first collaboration with rapper James Shannon and a new addition to their catalogue featuring singer Róisín Seoighe. The lyrics to the song were originally written for a remix of the groups song ‘Fáilte Isteach’, however Cian Mac Cárthaigh, one of the groups guitarists and founder, saw potential in the track, and alongside James Shannon began building what would become Sláinte. With the addition of the middle 8 and catchy chorus sung by lead singer Róisín Seoighe, and production from the groups long time collaborator and producer Karl Odlum, the track came together and is the perfect soundtrack for the upcoming summer months. Lyrically, the track commentates on going through life in the modern age and seeking something more. This can be heard during the verse when James Shannon says “Agus feicim, gach duine ag dul, ar an mbus seo lofa go dtí obair is scoil, is tá fhios man, go gcaithfimid éalú, cause there’s more to your life than the people that pay you”. This theme of questioning also re-occurs during the songs outro, where James Shannon and Róisín Seoighe vocally compliment each other singing, “Feitheamh, an bhfuil níos mó?”, translating to “Waiting, is there more?”.

The track features upbeat danceable drums throughout, layered with a compelling bass line and funk infused guitar licks played by guitarists Neil Ó’Broin and Cian Mac Cárthaigh, reminiscent of 70’s disco and funk music. The instrumental efficacy of the track paired with seamless vocal performances shared by James Shannon and Róisín Seoighe, provides for a fun and compelling listening experience, for both Irish and Non-Irish speakers and is a fantastic addition to the blazing trail of Irish language creativity surfacing from the country in recent times. The song’s music video, directed by Ciarán McGrath, further pushes this narrative of the contrast between the dull and bright.

Visually, depicting an aesthetic reminiscent of the late 90’s – early noughties. Onscreen, the visual takes inspiration from such films as ‘The Truman Show’ and ‘Punch Drunk Love’. It is both colourful and charismatic, providing the perfect blend of performance and visual art to compliment the tracks upbeat and catchy aura. Imlé are an Irish language musical collective, founded by Cian Mac Cárthaigh in 2015.

Since the group’s original formation, they have released a diverse catalog of singles and two albums. Their self-titled album won ‘Album Of The Year’ at the Gradaim Nós Awards in 2017, they also won the ‘Band Of The Year’ award the same year. They also performed at the 2024 Gradaim Nós awards recently. Their second album ‘Fáilte Isteach’ features their first collaborations with Connemara based Singer-Songwriter, Róisín Seoighe. Notably, this album featured their singles ‘Éad’ and ‘Do Chuid Jeans’, both featuring Róisín Seoighe. Their song ‘Cathain a d’fhill tú ó Shasana?’, originally featuring Fergal Edward, is also a notable take from this project. The group appeared on Ireland AM on St. Patrick’s Day this year, performing a reworked version of the track featuring Róisín Seoighe and Dublin based rapper James Shannon. This was one of their first public appearances featuring the group’s current lineup. Their song ‘Peacach’ featured in the hit Netflix series ‘Bodkin’ as the main titles theme music. Featuring a brand new sound, blending Hip-Hop, Funk, Indie music and a brand new lineup all through the Irish language, Imlé are set to be your new favorite Irish band and are a not to be missed act for their upcoming gigs and releases.