Author: Zoé Piater

“Love this stripped-down sound, a bit of garage rock thrown in with a bit of grunge and very low key-think Cowboy Junkies! Tridence and their sound could definitely become a trend!”
– Rock At Night

“a beautiful melody, and philosophical lyrics all reminiscent of U2’s War-era material. “
– Otherside Reviews

” Tridence’s ‘By Your Own Design’ is a fierce, energetic and electrifying single that leaves an impression on the listener and strongly demonstrates the musical talent comprising this up and coming Irish band.”
– Hot Press

Tridence are an Indie, Alternative-Rock band from Dublin, Ireland. The band consists of cousins Bailey McLoughlin on lead vocals/lead guitar and Ben McLoughlin on rhythm guitar along with their good friend PJ Moore-Coates on bass guitar.

Bailey and Ben conceived the idea to start a band in the year 2019 and very quickly began writing songs and visualising their success. The boys are very spiritual, whether that’s in how they write their music or dictate the next move to further their career. COVID-19 played a major role in what would be the official beginning of the band, as the boys had a lot of time to think, write, and hone their sound.

Tridence have since been played on Irish radio, released a multitude of singles, an acoustic EP, and on June 9th last year released their debut album entitled “Euphoric Youth”.

Their most recent release ‘By Your Own Design’ released earlier this year and saw the band land coverage with the likes of Hot Press, RTE Entertainment, Otherside Reviews, RTE 2XM, The Beat, Pure Mzine, Amazing Radio UK, InMusic, Corks Red FM and many more.

With ample radio play worldwide, mainstream press coverage and a second album on the way, Tridence are an exciting force in the Irish music scene, showcasing true promise and an unrelenting drive to change the rock music scene

Now the band hope to keep building their momentum even further with the release of their brand new upcoming single ‘Pretty Imperfections’ out May 24th.

Pretty Imperfections is the second single to be released off of Tridence’s upcoming sophomore album. The track is very fun, upbeat and Summery. This feel-good sound is new and different for the band, but still feels natural. The guitar throughout is quite Johnny Marr-esque and overall the track feels Beatles inspired, yet very modern.

The lyrics are written from the perspective of frontman Bailey McLoughlin. He sings words of reassurance to his partner, comforting her about her insecurities. Reminding her that despite how she feels as though they’re imperfections, he still finds them charming and beautiful. His attraction and love for her is unwavering.

As far as production goes, the song was recorded remotely by each band member in their bedroom studios and mixed and mastered by Canadian producer and engineer HugoGT, who also added synth parts to the track.

Spotify  Instagram  TikTok  Twitter

Photo credit: Kate Lawlor

“With a vocal range similar to that of Sia, Robyn and Lady Gaga, Micah’s fresh and authentic take on pop has garnered her plenty of radio plays and Spotify streams”
Hot Press

“One To Watch”
Sarina Bellissimo, SPIN 1038

“Track of the Week’’
Katie Sheehan, Spin SW

Get ready to be impressed by Micah, the Tipperary native with a vocal range in the territory of industry icons like Sia and Lady Gaga! With previous high praise from Hot Press and Golden Plec, Micah’s recent sold-out show at Whelan’s is just the start of an exciting journey in 2024. Her upcoming  EP “Villain is set to drop in Autumn 2024.  ‘No Love’ draws inspiration from the dark pop vibes of Fletcher, Loreen, Tove Lo, and Tate McRae and packs a real punch.

With previous release like “Shatterproof,” “Stranger,” and “Replace Me,” Micah has already made a splash, capturing the airwaves on stations like Today FM and Spin FM, and even charting multiple times on the Dutch dance top 40 on Spotify.

Produced by Christoph ‘Hadl’ Hassel, known for his work with Sony, Universal, and Warner, Micah’s emotionally charged tracks tackle themes of depression and personal growth, striking a chord with listeners internationally. With over 260k streams and a growing fanbase, Micah’s star is on the rise, with TV appearances both at home and abroad solidifying her status as a rising star in the music scene. Get ready for unforgettable live performances and a year to remember as Micah takes 2024 by storm!

Micah navigates illusions of love, shattered trust, and the agony of seeing her beloved with another. As the chorus laments the pain of obsession, the narrative unfolds to reveal a fading passion and bitter realization. With haunting lyrics and captivating melodies, “No Love” explores the complexities of human emotion and the delicate dance of love and pain.’

Dublin indie rockers, Raining In December, are a three-piece rock band, with fast-paced riffs
and emotional moments. They take influence from post-hardcore, shoegaze and metal music
with fast tempo changes and emo screams. Raining In December draw inspiration from Ling
Tosite Sigure and Loathe for their unique sound.

In December 2022, Vincent Liu (Guitar and Lead Vocals) decided to embark on this new project while also playing guitar for a metal band. Vincent was later joined by bassist Eoin Kinahan and James McCabe on drums.

“We are very excited to show the world what we have to offer. We have been refining our music for almost a year and we can’t wait to share it with our audience.”

Raining In December has played in popular venues such as Workman’s Cellar, Whelan’s Upstairs, SoundHouse, Grand Social and Fibbers, and many more to come. They have upcoming shows with their debut gig on the 31st of May, 6th and 7th of June, and where they will be playing all original music. The band is in the process of creating its debut single ‘restart’ and plans to release it by the 24th of May.

PRESAVE HERE.

Connect with Raining In December on Instagram.

Four man indie-rock band Tung in Cheek return with one final release upon their farewell as a recent prominent name on the Dublin music scene.

Tung in Cheek were active on the Irish and London music scene from 2018-2023. They enjoyed great success playing festivals, showcases, headlines and support slots sharing the stage with many great acts such as Bricknasty, Fizzy Orange and Big Sleep and performing at showcases such as Ireland Music Week. The band has currently gone on an indefinite hiatus as several members have emigrated. Prior to the departure, the band grouped to record their latest original in a back garden shed.

Leave Me Be captures the bands post-punk raw live flare with abrasive yet dynamic garage rock elements. Andy Burke’s signature apathetic but upbeat vocals portray a lonely desire for a tranquil placid life free from turmoil.

Tung in Cheek are Andy Burke (vocals), Eoin O’Shea (guitar), Gavin Dunne (bass) and Chris Brady (drums). Leave Me Be was self recorded by Tung in Cheek members and was mixed and mastered by Eoin Whitefield of The Hive Studios.

“I just wanted to say congratulations on the release of your first single, it is miles better than anything I could’ve done at your age and you should be so proud, so well done” – Dermot Kennedy

“This guy is a great talent, not only that but he’s also a great guy” – Ryan Tubridy

’90s’ is an upbeat pop track with an electronic edge, signifying a shift in direction from the talented teenager’s previous work.” – Hot Press

“With his infectious melodies and upbeat songwriting, Moloney is poised to make an indelible mark on the international music stage” – Pure M

Michael Moloney has been expanding his sound and honing his craft over the last year, resulting in the summer bop ‘The 90’s’, which landed at No.1 in the iTunes Chart on release, No.17 in the Homegrown Charts, and straight on to the 2FM daytime playlist, and was Track Of The Week on Spin South West, followed by the infectious ‘Can’t Dance’ released later later year which also gained great support at Irish radio.

Now the talented singer songwriter is back with a soulful, powerful and emotional ballad “Scapegoat” which he releases on May 17th.
Written by Michael Moloney and produced by Liam Geddes (Afrojack, Tiesto, Sleepwalkrs, Ryan Mack, Welshy)

Hailing from the vibrant music scene of Ireland, teenager Michael Moloney is a talented singer-songwriter who captivates audiences with his heartfelt lyrics and soulful melodies. With a distinctive blend of folk, electronic and pop influences, Moloney’s music resonates deeply, drawing listeners into his world of introspection, love, and personal growth

Moloney made waves in 2020 with a mesmerizing performance on The Late Late Show, where he previously shared the stage with renowned Irish artist Dermot Kennedy

With an impressive track record in both radio and television, including appearances on Ireland AM, The 6 O’Clock Show,  and The Today Show with Maura & Daithi, Moloney has garnered widespread recognition for his talents. His music has received extensive airplay on prominent Irish radio stations, including 2FM, Spin South West, iRadio, RTE Radio 1, Today FM, and more.

His songs have struck a chord with audiences across the nation, earning him a dedicated social media following (over 70K followers on TikTok and Insta) and critical acclaim.

His new single Scapegoat is out May 17th

“Scapegoat” is a hauntingly beautiful tapestry of sound, weaving together the dark threads of pop and the rustic strands of folk music, creating an atmosphere that’s both intimate and expansive. The lyrics are a labyrinth of emotion, exploring the human condition with a raw honesty that resonates with the listener’s own experiences. The melody is a delicate balance of light and shadow, with each note carrying the weight of unspoken stories.” 

 – Michael Moloney

Leila Jane is a talented singer-songwriter in the Alternative Pop genre, based in Dublin. With vocals that have been compared to the likes of Janis Joplin, Sandy Denny, Jess Glynn, Robyn and Sia, Leila Jane has been successfully melding her influences to create her own style of alternative pop. As well as honing her sound, Leila Jane likes to infuse her songs with strong messages of triumph over darkness.

Her music takes inspiration from her early blues influences. Imelda May, a well-known artist, recognized the unique sense of heart in Leila’s music and awarded her the ‘Imelda May Scholarship’ at BIMM Institute Dublin.

Leila has been singing and leading her own bands for more than a decade. She has performed at renowned music festivals such as Electric Picnic, Glastonbury, and Body & Soul. Videos of her busking on Grafton Street are often featured on Dublin City Today’s YouTube channel.

There are numerous noteworthy releases from Leila, including the EP ‘Revolve Evolve’. Nialler 9 has acknowledged the EP as demonstrating the artist’s affinity for 60s alt-folk and classic harmonic sounds. Another notable release is the single ‘Wild’, which was shortlisted to represent Ireland in last year’s Eurovision. Leila’s most recent single is ‘Love Will Come Rushing’, which Hot Press Magazine has described as challenging pop conventions with an alternative bent and sugary hooks, channelling the spirit of influences such as Angel Olsen and Miley Cyrus.

Her latest single ‘Tightrope’ was released on May 10th 2024.

Tightrope is a captivating example of her exploration into the electro-pop realm. The song stands out for its darker tone, which adds an emotional depth to the track. MP3 Hugger has described it as an “electronic dream sequence” that is so immersive it can suffocate those who get too close to the music.

In this track, Leila Jane boldly validates the feelings of anyone who has found themselves caught up in a narcissistic relationship and been made to feel like they are crazy. It eloquently highlights the conflicting emotions around an empath’s addiction to the narcissist. “I’m intoxicated by your empty stare, knowing full well that no good love comes from there”, and ultimately leads the listener towards a message of hope in realising the strength of a more nurturing love “I’m not going to settle down so I might as well be brave’’.

To create this emotive electro-piece, Leila Jane worked with electronic producer Michael Heffernan. Additionally, the song received preliminary production from Molly Mansukhani, which helped to craft the track’s sound.

Overall, “Tightrope” is an excellent example of how Leila Jane continues to evolve as an artist, pushing the boundaries of the electro-pop genre.

Twitter     Instagram    Facebook   Spotify

“Cat is an artist I’ve really enjoyed since she’s come on my radar, I think she’s absolutely brilliant, really great music” 
Tara Kumar 2FM / BBC

“She’s been turning heads for the better part of 12 months now with her insane vocal range and penchant for experimenting with sounds under the pop umbrella.” – District Magazine (The Future of Irish Music)

“Cat has kept a solid and acclaimed presence without any rushed moves, honing her sound at her own pace…  placing Chubby Cat in the bracket of Irish contemporary pop excellence”
The Thin Air

“That one really does go at 100 miles an hour. I said Indie Dance but there’s almost operatic levels of vocals in that. I honestly can’t wait to hear more from her” – Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1

‘QUIET’ has arrived, and is already making lots of noise, landing on Spotify New Music Friday, Misfits 2.0, A Breath of Fresh Eire, Record of The Day and has been chosen as Track of The Week on Irish radio stations RTE 2FM and Spin South West.
Chubby Cat plays her first Berlin gig on Tuesday as part of ZART’s Small Sessions, 3 showcases at The Great Escape next week in Brighton, then Primavera Pro and Forbidden Fruit. Needless to say, it’s going to be a busy few weeks for this exciting Irish rising star of alt electropop.

Stamped with an individuality and high style of her own, Chubby Cat has had a busy couple of months since the release of her last single Kissin In The Valley-O. Recently named as one of the 2FM Rising Acts for 2024, and having ‘Big Dog Barking’ nominated for a RTE Choice Prize Song Of The Year, Chubby Cat has hit the ground running in 2024. She recently represented Ireland at ESNS Eurosonic in the Netherlands, won the coveted ‘Best Artist’ at Ireland Music Week and was named by District Magazine as one of the ‘Future of Irish Music’ acts for 2024.

The Cork via Dublin via London and now based in Belfast pop artist is doing it on her own terms to astonishing effect. Her vocals are second to none and musically she experiments with new styles accruing a hardcore fan base everywhere she goes.

She’s already been making waves in Ireland with her earlier singles, Big Dog Barking, 21st Century Panic Attack, 100 miles an hour, & Kissin In The Valley-O picking up support at Irish Radio, blogs and assorted DSP’s including Spotify’s New Music Friday, Fresh Finds, GLOW, UK & IE: Fresh Finds & New Pop UK.

Her Single ‘Big Dog Barking’ was nominated for a RTE Choice Prize as one of their ‘Irish Songs Of The Year’.

Several of Chubby Cats previous releases have been made ‘Track of the Week’ on Spin South West, 2FM, and received significant play on 2FM, Today FM and a host of other regional stations. As a 2FM Rising Artist for 2024 Chubby Cat’s releases are getting 2FM daytime playlisting and previous support includes Nialler9, Golden Plec, Atwood, Lock Magazine, Hot Press and more.

“QUIET” talks about the way in which life is overwhelmingly busy, how at times I struggle with a mind that is chaotic and repetitive. In the midst of it all I have discovered the ability to tone everything down and block out the noise by spending time with a person who keeps it all at bay when I’m with them. For that I consider myself very lucky to have discovered some respite through a relationship with someone who is so important to me; it’s a privilege and I wanted express that in this song. – Chubby Cat

Chubby Cat is building a significant live audience, leaving a lasting impression on crowds, as seen at Ireland Music Week this year where she won the coveted Best Artist Award at Ireland’s biggest international showcase event

Chubby Cat represented Ireland at ESNS, will do at The Great Escape and Primavera Pro as well as a busy summer of festivals.

UPCOMING LIVE

Small Sessions, Berlin : Lark 20:00pm, May 14th (DE)
The Great Escape, Brighton : DORK Showcase, The Arch 18:45pm May 16th (UK)
The Great Escape, Brighton : NI Music Showcase, Queens Hotel 16:00pm May 17th (UK)
The Great Escape, Brighton : Komedia, 14:15pm May 18th (UK)
Primavera Pro, Barcelona, May 30th (ES)
Forbidden Fruit Festival, Dublin, June 1st (IE)
Stendhal Festival, Limavady, July 4-6th (UK)

The second single ‘Departed feat. Tony Bontana‘ from the upcoming ‘Irish Hash Mafia‘ mixtape sees Rory Sweney link with legendary Birmingham MC and producer, Tony Bontana on an emotionally charged track, fit with lush harp samples and chopped and screwed vocals. 

Tony is equal parts infectious and adventurous in his collaboration with this project, and blurs the lines between psychedelia, punk, rap and experimental music while carving out his own territory in the underground along the way. 

Bontana’s charged production with its intensely manipulated samples and hypnotic beats has made for more than 30 brilliant albums of his own and countless production credits for everyone from the cryptic hip-hop of Cities Aviv and billy woods to the bombastic cloud rap of Lil B, smooth sounds with Grime veteran Novelist and Goya Gumbani’s meditative jazz rap – no matter who he’s working alongside, Bontana’s fluid sound slots him comfortably anywhere he goes.

Irish Hash Mafia (to be released 17th May 2024) will make Hip Hop history this year as the first mixtape showcasing the versatility of Irish rap today. Produced over 2 years, the album is a love letter to Memphis rap projects, and the collectives that were formed from 90’s-00’s like Three 6 Mafia and 10 Wanted Men.

Ireland has not yet seen a similar underground movement in rap culture, with artists such as Curtisy, Ahmed, With Love., EMBY and Rory Sweeney paving ways for next generations of MC’s and producers through wide ranging and experimental sounds, humour and collaboration. As noted by Curtisy’s interview with John Barker (Tilt) ‘there’s room for everyone’.

On Sunday 26th May, to celebrate the release of the project, the IHM will be hosting a listening party in the Button Factory with DJ MOONCUP on support, and solo sets from Curtisy (his first Dublin show since touring his #1 album ‘What Was The Question’) and legendary MC Tony Bontana. There will be a live performance of the full ‘Irish Hash Mafia’ album with all the collaborators involved: Curtisy, Ahmed, With Love, Yeire13, EMBY, Tony Bontana, Rory Sweeney, Keanu The Pilot, Smokey, Owin, Lonely Chap and E THE ARTIST. This is a once off show, so if you miss it, you miss it forever.

General Sale via Eventbrite.

Presave Irish Hash Mafia now for an early listen before it drops next Friday May 17th.

Fresh off the back of “Don’t Forget”, Jake Carter dropped his latest single ‘What Is Love?” yesterday, May 13th, taken from his EP ‘Point Of You’ out now.

Pure pop perfection, What is Love is a pop ballad co-written by Jake with fellow musicians, Chloe Agnew, Megan O’Neill and Mark Caplice.

Speaking about the single Jake Carter said “this is one of my favourite tracks of the EP, and I really enjoyed the process of writing and producing something a little bit more serious.”

Jake Carter released his five – track EP “Point of You” this Spring, featuring the heart-warming and uplifting singles, Loved Me Like You Do, Milk and Honey and Don’t Forget  produced by long-time collaborator Richey McCourt.  Point of You is pure pop, it’s Jake being his authentic wonderful self, layering his musical attributes into this EP. He is inviting you in to enjoy the ride!

Speaking about the EP Jake Carter says; “I am so excited to eventually get this body of music out into the world. I have been working on these tracks for the last number of years with Dublin producer, Richey McCourt, and I really feel that we have ‘found my sound’ with these tracks. The EP is a collection of my favourite songs that I have wrote over the last few years with a mixture of Irish Singer Songwriters, and if I was to describe the sound of this album, it would be a mixture of acts like McFly and Take That, acts that I loved listening to growing up, mixed with the current pop sounds of the like of Tom Grennan and Harry Styles”.

Liverpool born but Dublin based, Jake Carter, still only 25, has already made a name for himself in the world of creative arts through his victory on Dancing With The Stars as well as acting roles in a number of stage shows. While he enjoys the idea of continuing to bring that triple threat of acting, dancing and singing, music is Jake’s first love. The 25-year old is now seeking to firmly establish himself as a pop star in the mould of Harry Styles and Tom Grennan and to create music that reflects who he really is and not who people think he should be.

Jake Carter has plenty more songs in the pipeline and looks set to build upon the success he’s had so far and make a name for himself in the music industry. With over 600k total streams on Spotify as well as 500k+ views on his YouTube channel, combined with appearances on The Ray D’Arcy Show and The Late Late Show, Virgin Media shows at Vicar Street and Cork Opera House as well as radio slots on Today FM, 2FM, Spin1038 and more, the future’s looking bright.

Topographies brings together leading exponents of improvised and experimental music from Ireland and Germany for a weekend of adventurous New Music at PAS Berlin, one of the city’s best-known venues for contemporary music. Balancing improvised and composed works, the programme features three festival commissions by Berlin-based Irish artists Francis Heery, Ellen King and Elliot Murphy, each drawing on geographical and psychological landscapes. Complementing the live performance sessions is a free panel discussion, recorded for the New Music podcast amplify, featuring festival artists in conversation with CMC’s Jonathan Grimes.

DATES: Friday 24th and Saturday 25th May 2024

TICKETS: Friday, Saturday or two-day tickets available now at Eventbrite

FESTIVAL ARTISTS

Dan Bodwell: Double bass | John Godfrey: Electric guitar | Francis Heery: Electronics/composer | Brad Henkel: Trumpet | Jung-Jae Kim: Saxophone | Izumi Kimura: Piano | Ellen King: Electronics/composer | Malwina Kołodziejczyk: Saxophone | Vincent Laju: Cello | Shane Latimer: Electric guitar | Elo Masing: Violin | Elliot Murphy: Cello/composer | Ernst Surberg: Synth

FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

—- Friday 24th May—-

18:00 Topographies Festival Opening
All welcome to celebrate the beginning of the festival before the first performance at 8pm. Reception kindly supported by the Embassy of Ireland in Germany.

20:00 MoonPhases (2017/2022, Francis Heery)
MoonPhases is a long-form spectral work written as a homage to W.B. Yeats’ occult work A Vision. This book was derived from notes he took during daily seance-like sessions with his wife Georgie, who would channel messages from the beyond, either through speech or automatic writing. MoonPhases features a ‘hermetically charged’ drone and sets of performance instructions on 28 cards.

—- Saturday 25th May —-

13:00 Inferno (2021, Elliot Murphy)
Inferno is a work for solo cello and interactive pre-recorded strings written in celebration of the septuacentennial of Dante’s Divine Comedy. It follows Dante’s journey as he descends into the underworld marking each new location with a sonic landscape. Its modular composition allows the pre-recorded aleatoric parts to be flexibly recomposed during performance while the live cello part is improvised simultaneously. Supported by The Arts Council of Ireland.

15:00 ‘ … and if these were islands …’
A long form improvisation featuring various constellations and clusters of improvising musicians from Ireland and Berlin.

19:00 Uncharted
Panel discussion with artists and composers featured in Topographies, in conversation with the Contemporary Music Centre’s Jonathan Grimes. The conversation will be recorded for CMC Ireland’s dedicated New Music podcast, amplify.

20:00 Topographies Triptych
Three premieres written especially for the Topographies festival, for piano, electric guitar, cello and electronics by Francis Heery, Ellen King and Elliot Murphy.

www.topographies.org

Presented by the Contemporary Music Centre Ireland, in partnership with Artistic Director Francis Heery and PAS Berlin as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24, an initiative of Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in Germany,.