Author: Zoé Piater

Belfast based producer, singer and songwriter Still Searching (Sam Stevenson) releases his new emotionally raw single  ‘My Therapist Says’, out 5th April 2024.

Ahead of the success of ‘Notifications Off’, Still Searching’s journey towards independence is further evident in his newest single ‘My Therapist Says’, which brings up themes of self-imposed isolation and mental struggles with long distance. The lyrics are sourced from concepts taken from his own therapy sessions. With great care built into his craft, it’s clear that Still Searching’s M.O. is to keep creating and never stop.

‘It’s quite an open book of a song, I always try to be honest in my writing but this marked a change for me in revealing very authentic life struggles quite blatantly. I co-wrote it with some friends, songwriter Bill Maybury and Cliff Deane from Picture This, who were both going through long distance relationships at the time as well.’

Still Searching’s music has already amassed hundreds of thousands of streams, with heavy placement on indie and editorial Spotify playlists like New Music Friday and New Pop UK, with his latest single ‘Notifications Off’ being featured on BBC Introducing.

With a debut show behind him supporting Lydia Ford (who’s album he produced) at her album launch in Workman’s Cellar last September, ‘My Therapist Says’ is the first of many singles planned out for 2024.

Still Searching Bio

Formerly known as ‘SVEN’, Belfast-based producer, singer, and songwriter Still Searching (Sam Stevenson) has shed his old persona in favour of authenticity. However this isn’t just a name change – it is a declaration of independence, a leap into the unknown and a statement of creative freedom.

Displaying an ever-changing sphere of influence, Still Searching respects the craft and the drive towards self-sufficiency. 

This is always where Stevenson has dwelled as a creative. 

Time and time again he delivers a strong expression of personal independence. 

Alongside his deep dive of the space between the hardships of the human condition in the digital age, and searching for the moments that make life worth living, Still Searching draws from his surroundings, penning topics that are meaningful to him. 

Gathered from both his own earthly experiences and those of his friends and family, he is stamping his distinct take on a polished indie-pop sound.

His music has been featured on Spotify editorial playlists such as New Music Friday UK, Chilled Pop Hits and New Pop UK. His music has also been played across many Irish radio stations such as RTE 2fm, FM104 and Spin 1038.

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Connect with Still Searching

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Star-studded line up features Adrianne Lenker, Martin Hayes, Sarah Crean, Lemoncello, TraviS & Elzzz, Oisín Leech, Uly, EFÉ, Mohammad Syfkhan, Moncrieff and more performing in prestigious heritage sites across Ireland

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Following the huge success of last year’s inaugural series of Anam – Songs for Hearts & Minds, Other Voices and the Office of Public Works (OPW) are thrilled to announce its return this May, with a host of extraordinary Irish and international acts set to grace intimate historical stages around the country.

The brand new four-part series will bring together a dynamic and diverse group of artists, delivering inspiring live sets in some of Ireland’s most prestigious National Monuments and Heritage Properties.

From Dublin’s beautiful Pearse Museum in St Enda’s Park and the 17th century Parke’s Castle on the northern shores of Lough Gill in Leitrim to Carrick-on-Suir’s Elizabethan manor house of Ormond Castle and Jacobean Manor House Portumna Castle in County Galway – these breathtaking Irish landmarks will operate as ethereal backdrops for this year’s Anam performances.

Kicking off at 8pm on Thursday 9 May in Carrick-on-Suir, the series will be presented by MayKay and aims to celebrate established musicians and newly discovered acts. The eclectic lineup boasts a showcase of Irish rising stars, from Waterford’s breakout pop act Moncrieff, Dublin polymath Uly and AWAL-signed viral sensation Sarah Crean to the ferociously creative EFÉ.

There will also be a huge Other Voices debut from history making drill duo TraviS & Elzzz who recently beat out Ariana Grande to land an Irish number one album with their explosive second mixtape ‘DOGHOUSE’.

Traditional, blues and folk genres are never sidelined at Other Voices, with gifted multi-instrumentalist Martin Hayes performing with Kate Ellis, plus Bláth na hÓige’s Piaras Ó Lorcáin joining the lineup. Muireann Bradley, hailing from just outside the town of Ballybofey in Co. Donegal, will offer roots, country and blues soundscapes following the release of her album I Kept These Old Blues last year and an appearance on Jools’ Annual Hootenanny.

Just in time for the release of their long-awaited debut album on 3 May via Universal Music imprint Claddagh Records, alt-folk duo Lemoncello are joining the stacked Anam bill. The magical Dublin-based duo have an unquestionable knack for enchanting all who hear their charismatic voices, anchored by Laura Quirke’s trance-like guitar and Claire Kinsella’s warm cello tones.

Fresh from releasing his critically acclaimed debut LP ‘Cold Sea’ earlier this year, Navan native Oisín Leech will also perform on the new series. Initially rising to public attention as one half of The Lost Brothers, leading him to tour extensively at Glastonbury, SXSW, the BBC Electric Proms, Other Voices Dingle and beyond; he’s now going it alone with enthralling creative results.

A truly special guest for the Other Voices: Anam roster this year is Leitrim-based talent Mohammad Syfkhan. The 57-year-old father of five brought his incredible musical skills to Ireland all the way from Syria after originally training as a surgical nurse. Syfkhan will perform a thrilling mix of electrified Kurdish, Arabic and Turkish traditional songs, covers and originals this month.

From across the pond, Big Thief bandleader and solo artist Adrianne Lenker will perform in Ormond Castle to start off the festivities on 9 May. Lauded as one of the most respected and influential songwriters in the indie scene, the Indiana native’s magnetic gift for blistering vulnerability has earned her Brooklyn-based indie-folk outfit Big Thief four Grammy nominations and millions of streams.

Each episode of Anam – Songs for Hearts & Minds will be beamed across the world via the YouTube and Facebook platforms of Other Voices and the OPW.

Anam will build on the massive success of last year’s series launch, which featured performances by Ye Vagabonds, Anna Mieke, Ezra Williams, Paul Noonan, Gemma Hayes, Lisa Hannigan, Nell Mescal, Kingfishr, God Knows, Cormac Begley, Sam Amidon and more.

The continued partnership between Other Voices, the OPW and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage offers national and international audiences a front-row seat at these spectacular performances, delivered in meaningful settings. Anam hopes to garner an unforgettable sonic journey for viewers across the country and beyond Irish waters, fusing the magic of live shows with the breathtaking beauty behind some of the nation’s most significant historic sites.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, said:

“I am delighted that my Department, the OPW and Other Voices have collaborated again on such an exciting project to celebrate and deepen the interlinkages between the arts, culture, history and the heritage sites across the country. I look forward to an amazing musical showcase from a diversity of Ireland’s artists – made all the more meaningful by the surrounds of into these magnificent buildings and rooms”

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan TD said: “This is the second year of the Anam partnership between Other Voices and the Office of Public Works. This livestream series will offer national and international audiences a virtual front-row seat at these unique performances. Anam will showcase uplifting music and song delivered in meaningful and historic heritage settings. I am delighted that we are shining a light on these sites- each of which is an intrinsic part of their local community and economy and are truly special places for visitors to enjoy”

Philip King from Other Voices said: “We have the privilege again this year of taking a diversity of uplifting and inspirational music and song into four of the remarkable heritage sites that are minded and held in trust for us all by the OPW. This year, we will hit out on a musical expedition that will take us around the country to four truly extraordinary sites across four counties; Ormond Castle in Tipperary, Portumna Castle in County Galway, Parke’s Castle in County Leitrim and the Pearse Museum in Rathfarnham, County Dublin. We are so delighted these magnificent buildings will play host to some of the world’s great musicians and singers and that we can stream these performances the world over.”

A limited number of golden tickets to experience these unique performances will be available via the Other Voices Anam public lottery, and additional tickets will also be made available through competitions in the coming weeks. 

The series will be livestreamed globally from 8pm each Thursday from 9 May until Thursday 30 May via the Other Voices YouTube and Facebook channels. Viewers can set a YouTube reminder here.

Anam – Songs for Hearts & Minds is being made possible with the generous support of the Office of Public Works and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Full details and streaming schedule available at Othervoices.ie.

New girl on the block Kyla Belle is set to unleash her highly anticipated new single “Don’t Feel Bad” on Friday April 12^th. “Don’t Feel Bad” is a punchy feisty number which smacks of attitude. The power anthem was co-written with writer/producer Liam Geddes who also manages Kyla Belle and UK based writer Gary Dillon.

Of the song, Kyla Belle said:

“It’s about having your heart broke by someone, then they just assume they deserve another chance, and they take your feelings for granted. For me, the song embodies confidence, resilience and self-worth”. I really hope it resonates with people”.

Even though Kyla Belle only broke onto the scene at the start of 2024, her star is most certainly on the rise. After her highly lauded performance at the “Ones To Watch” Festival in Whelan’s in January followed by her latest single “Heart First” soaring to #3 in the Irish Breakers Charts, Kyla Belle has swiftly cemented her position as one of Ireland’s most exciting new acts.

With “Don’t Feel Bad” being Kyla Bell’s third release after the explosive “Need Me” and “Heart First”, she if fast becoming known for her talent in crafting infectious pop anthems.

You can catch Kyla Belle take to the stage for her debut headline show in The Workman’s Cellar on Saturday September 14^th, with MCD. Tickets are available now via Ticketmaster.

The brand new single, “Don’t Feel Bad” from Kyla Belle is set for release across all digital platforms on Friday April 12^th.

TikTok               Instagram                      YouTube

NEW JACKSON marks his long-awaited follow-up to 2017’s From Night To Night with its successor

OOPS!… POP for long-time collaborators Permanent Vacation. The new LP is due out on vinyl/cd/digital on 19^th April 2024. A concise triumph in techno pop, its 9 tracks elevate his signature electronic sounds into anthemic new heights.

Ahead of the album comes the fourth single, ‘I Wanna Be Adored’. Speaking of the new track, New Jackson, aka David Kitt, says: “There’s a real magic and elegance to the melodic interplay between Ian Brown, John Squire, and Mani on the Stone Roses ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ that I thought would really suit a New Jackson synthesizer treatment. It was a lot of fun to make. I’ve been playing it live since the end of last year’s summer festivals and the reaction has been great, people slowly figuring out what it is and all joining in by the end really adds to how it builds. It’s a perfect dancefloor song in many ways.”

David Kitt is a prolific sonic polymath who’s enjoyed a colourful career making whatever he likes. While releasing music under a vast array of aliases and collaborations for close to two and a half decades, New Jackson has remained his irregular home since 2011 for when ‘at one with the machines’. It offers a kaleidoscopic window into his love of dance music, and on his debut album under the alias From Night To Night (released in 2017 on Dublin’s All City label) he unfurled his singular vision; a dilated suite of nocturnal soul coaxed from his beloved electronic equipment with songwriter’s nous, sonically etched as blunted whispers coalesced from the dusky billows of Dublin Bay. Further EPs and singles followed, alongside a beloved live show he toured globally, plus detours with his critically-lauded Garies duo (with Lumigraph) and a David Kitt solo album.

In the time since his New Jackson debut, he has slowly distilled his studio methodology to help mine the true core of his musical self. Within this experimentation, he has stumbled upon the bounty that is OOPS!… POP, his most direct and euphoric body of work to date. Recorded across the span of five years and three different countries, Kitt has managed to transform his beloved alias into a leaner beast, tightening the screws around arrangements and songwriting to inspire an album sonically effortless in demeanour and spontaneously playful in structure and form. Aided by a stacked cast of collaborators including Rita Lynn, Donnacha Costello, Riche “Jape” Egan, Yenkee, Kean Kavanagh, Margie Jean Lewis, Meg Cronin and Fehdah, it bears the hallmarks of the studio albums of yesteryear in its dynamism and gratification while drawing on his rich bouquet of influences across a century of recorded music.

Opener SI SI SI lulls you in with its smothered vocoder’d croons and patient groove, BURNT DEEP next yields a surprising deep house turn, lit gently with casual hedonism. LIKE rewires the playbook entirely, shuffling along its minimal 80’s boogie groove with a cheeky grin, before lead single OUT OF REACH further mines the golden pastures with its glorious stuttering techno power-pop fit with that anthemic chorus. DAY IN SHOCK digi-dubs around the wonderful vocal turn of Fehdah in purest heads-down manner, then THE OK HOLE and STROBE both descend the psychedelic wormhole of anaesthetised breaks and electro with its entranced dancefloor gaze. I WANNA BE ADORED, the Madchester anthem from The Stone Roses, is then surprisingly reimagined as a lost kraut-pop robo sung classic while WITH THE NIGHT AT OUR FEET is our climactic conclusion, a mechanised symphony of dual proportions, a humane core of angelic harmonies chugging along in electro rhythm before soaring strings take us on our way.

New Jackson’s oeuvre, indeed David Kitt’s musical world, is vast; OOPS!… POP then might just be his opus across it all, a towering achievement of soaring catharsis in melody and song that soundtracks the most direct transmissions from his heart to yours.

sOOPS!… POP by New Jackson is out on vinyl/digital/CD 19^th April 2024 via Permanent Vacation. Pre-order on Bandcamp: https://newjackson.bandcamp.com/album/oops-pop

Also out in the coming weeks is a reissue of David Kitt’s 2006 release Not Fade Away, featuring 8 tracks from the original record lovingly remastered, a re-recording of Say No More and a brand new song Love Someone Else featuring Niamh Regan.

‘OOPS!…POP’ Tracklist:

1. SI SI SI
2. BURNT DEEP
3. LIKE
4. OUT OF REACH
5. DAY IN SHOCK
6. THE OK HOLE
7. I WANNA BE ADORED
8. STROBE
9. WITH THE NIGHT AT OUR FEET

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‘It’s about understanding the power that music has’

On today’s episode of the IMRO Podcast, we have insights and expertise from Brian D’Souza.

Brian is an award-winning sound artist, DJ, music producer and live performer with a masters in music psychology and sound design

In 2007, he founded the playlist curation and music strategy company Open Ear, going on to work with thousands of brands around the globe including Nike, Google, Dr. Martens, Selfridges, UEFA, Tate Modern, and many more.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Danny Carroll, Brian talked about the psychological benefits of music, his experience of establishing a brand identity via playlisting and some of the dos and don’ts for businesses using music.

1:00 – Brian Introduces himself discusses his background in psychology and music
3:25 – Research into music in business
6:00 – Establishing brand identity via music
9:20 – Discussion of brands Brian has worked with.
13:00 – Playlisting for Dr. Marten’s
15:00 – This isn’t background music, it’s foreground music
17:00 – Involving store staff in the music curation process
19:20 – Curating for key dates around the year, keeping it topical
21:00 – A sense of locality in music choices
22:30 – Doing a course in sound therapy and exploring the relaxing benefits of music
26:30 – Mistakes businesses make around music in their premises – speakers and architecture
31:55 – Musical mistakes – Christmas music
34:00 – Increasingly broad-minded listeners due to accessibility of music in the digital age
36:30 – Brian’s current projects and utilising sound therapy techniques
38:00 – Final recommendations for businesses

Featured music:
Auntie Flo – Life Is High
Auntie Flo – Nobody Said It Would Be Easy

Listen to the Podcast here: https://theimropodcast.buzzsprout.com/1670842/14820757

AIM IRELAND SUPPORTS IMPALA CALLING OUT “VALUE GAP” WITH TIKTOK, URGES DSPs TO ADDRESS “UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES” OF PROPOSED STREAMING REFORMS

April 4^th 2024

“As Chair of AIM Ireland, I want to emphasise the importance of equitable partnerships with platforms like TikTok within the independent music community. TikTok is an important partner to the independent community and a valued participant in AIM Ireland’s ‘Friend Of’ programme. Our future focus is on fostering sustainable growth and value for our industry stakeholders.

We recognise the significance of fair compensation for artists and labels, advocating for a transparent and mutually beneficial relationship. I’m confident that we can forge forward with a business-minded approach, leveraging the opportunities presented by the ‘moment economy’ while recognising the value generated by our members and upholding the  principles of integrity and respect for all involved parties.”  Joe Clark, AIM Ireland Chairman

AIM Ireland, the national trade association representing those who work independently in music in Ireland, stand united with IMPALA in their efforts to highlight the “value gap” issue with TikTok. Over the past few weeks European indie association IMPALA has been consulting members on the question of value with “moment economy” services like TikTok, as well as the impact of recent reforms proposed by Deezer, Spotify and Apple, with the key goal of fixing existing value gaps and ensuring that no new ones are created.

Already flagged three years ago and again in its revised streaming plan in May 2023, IMPALA underlines the need for services like TikTok to collaborate with the independent music community to achieve fair licensing terms. EU rules on AI are also now in the frame, as well as the independents’ vision of the role these platforms play today.

Helen Smith, IMPALA’s Executive Chair commented: “TikTok and other ‘moment economy’ services are key partners. They play an important role in our music ecosystem and the licensing framework is clear, services need permission for the use of music, including soundalikes and AI adaptations. The new AI framework in Europe also helps set human-centred guide rails in this regard.”

Chair of IMPALA’s streaming group and CEO of Everlasting Records and Popstock Distribuciones Mark Kitcatt continued: “As set out in our streaming plan, there is an urgent need to secure fair revenues from these vital services. In line with this, IMPALA supports UMG’s stance on TikTok in relation to valuing music properly. The independent community has adopted a similar approach at various points over the years with other services, from MTV to Apple to YouTube. We also reject arguments equating the use of music on TikTok to promotion. There is a huge value gap that must be addressed but, beyond that, an exciting opportunity to explore new ways of generating and sharing revenues.”

Dan Waite, chair of IMPALA’s digital committee and CEO of Better Noise Music added: “TikTok is at a pivotal moment in terms of renewing their licensing deals where they can show that they value music fairly on their platform. It’s a use of music that needs to be remunerated like any other. The question of promotion isn’t relevant. We wish to see independent labels, rightsholders and artists receive fair pay for usage, and to have terms just as favourable as the largest majors renew their licences on. Working together to better remunerate labels and artists across the whole industry is key. We urge TikTok and other services to respect this principle across the board.”

Another priority of IMPALA’s reform proposals is addressing manipulation and revenue dilution, and IMPALA reconfirms its objective to address these issues and support services that innovate in this area. Streaming manipulation is an issue the industry has united around for some time now, with an industry-wide code condemning the practice signed in 2019, and IMPALA releasing a streaming manipulation guidance subsequently as a follow up. Some services have already partnered with independent distributor-led initiative the Music Fights Fraud Alliance, and IMPALA’s members appreciate how Spotify and Deezer’s messaging around their changes helped give these vital issues more attention.

At the same time, IMPALA members from across 32 countries have repeated their call to work together to solve the unintended negative consequences on independent music of recent revenue allocation reforms proposed by Deezer, Spotify and Apple, noting that adjustments can be made to avoid harm. IMPALA reiterates the sector’s will to work with services to avoid damaging opportunities for young, developing and niche artists, as well as for deep catalogue and specialist genres, smaller territories and for less dominant languages.

IMPALA calls for any changes in how revenue is allocated to be properly assessed by services in terms of the impact they create over the whole market, in line with IMPALA’s own proposals. We also call on streaming services to consult and discuss this with their independent licensing partners before the decision is made.

Dario Drastata, Chair of IMPALA and Head of Balkans association RUNDA commented: “IMPALA supports collaborative reform that is sustainable and drives diversity. We seek urgent solutions to address manipulation and revenue dilution. We also need to make sure the proposals are fair to all, and we hope Merlin’s recent agreement with Deezer will contribute to this objective. It’s the only way to create a sustainable ecosystem. We believe for example that there are simple solutions for problems with thresholds that can be plugged in and will continue our constructive discussions with services to explore options. Finding the answers will ensure services are able to further develop opportunities in key markets and genres as well as across multiple languages.”

The business around the use of short clips on social media services continues to grow exponentially, generating huge increases in revenue for services like TikTok. The way in which TikTok handles its responsibilities more generally also raises concerns worldwide. TikTok has been banned outright in India, since 2020. The European Commission opened formal proceedings against TikTok under the Digital Services Act last month in several areas including illegal and harmful content. In the USA there is a motion to force ByteDance to sell TikTok and similar calls are expected in Europe.

IMPALA’s members are in the business of development of artists and music careers and recognise the role of social media in the music ecosystem. Music is key content for these services and a significant part of their value. As such, the value of music must be respected and it is to everyone’s benefit that we all work together to uphold and enhance that value. IMPALA indicates its support for UMG’s position in this regard and notes that this is an issue that affects the whole industry.

IMPALA’s work on streaming and other digital business issues is a top priority for the organisation. Helen Smith concluded: “IMPALA’s work is vital for Europe’s music economy. Independents account for over 80% of the sectors’ new releases and jobs, providing stable and exciting opportunities for artists, fans and music employees across Europe. This was also reconfirmed at IMPALA’s AGM last year, including the elimination of value gaps, and developing the digital market in all territories with great talent, huge audiences and untapped digital potential, such as in Central and Eastern Europe. ”

About AIM Ireland:

AIM Ireland is the national trade association representing independent music in Ireland. As a collective voice for independent labels, self-releasing artists, and music businesses, AIM Ireland is dedicated to advocating for their rights, providing resources and support, and fostering a vibrant and sustainable independent music ecosystem. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and growth, AIM Ireland plays a vital role in shaping the future of the independent music industry in Ireland and beyond.

www.aimireland.ie

About IMPALA

IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents over 6000 independent music companies. 99% of Europe’s music companies are small, micro and medium businesses and self-releasing artists. Known as the independents, they are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists – they produce more than 80% of all new releases and account for 80% of the sector’s jobs. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change, and increase access to finance. IMPALA works on a range of key issues for its members, runs various award schemes and has a programme aimed at businesses who want to develop a strategic relationship with the independent sector – Friends of IMPALA

After a 14-year hiatus, Dublin-based indie/alternative outfit, Loko Parentis have today (04/04/2024) released a brand new compilation album of tracks from their first two albums (2009 and 2010), along with the third of six videos being released to tie-in with the album release. Today’s video is the catchy lead track on the album, ‘How Are You, Human?’

This video, plus the previous two, are available to stream on: https://lokoparentis.bandcamp.com/video while the other three videos will be released in subsequent weeks.

The album cover, designed by Peter Queally, also features professional footballer and occasional Hot Press magazine blogger, Emma Starr, in what is believed to be the first album cover featuring a professional female footballer. Starr, from Philadelphia, USA, was a Women’s National League and Cup double-winner with Dublin’s Shelbourne FC in season 2022. She now plays in Australia and scored the winning goal in the Grand Final there in October 2023 and was selected in the Team of the Year in November 2023.

Entitled ‘Dream Longer Than You Sleep’, the album is a scintillating blast of guitars-with-attitude, and laden with hooks and choruses. The various band members cite influences like Television, Magazine, Sonic Youth, Mott The Hoople, Sex Pistols, and The Clash.

Loko Parentis began as a studio project in Cork in 1981 and featured members of Nun Attax and Cork’s first punk band, Berserk. The track, ‘How Are You Human?’, is a rerecording of a tune from their original two-track demo tape. Loko Parentis was founded by Paul O’Mahony, ex-Berserk, who has remained its driving force ever since the original ‘80s demo, which garnered considerable national and local airplay at the time. An amended line-up played the Oxygen Festival in 2007 (Pet Sounds stage, opening for acts like Sinead O’Connor and Brian Wilson). The Loko Parentis line-up on the new compilation album and videos features Paul O’Mahony with ex-members of The Gurriers, Las Vegas Basement, The Cherries, Estel and The Evil Kneivals.

See and hear: https://lokoparentis.bandcamp.com/album/dream-longer-than-you-sleep-2024-compilation

Irish pop powerhouse Pastiche is back, with her irresistible new single ‘Forfeit Control’ out today .

2023 was a banner year for Pastiche, who was featured as a Keychange artist and played the massive stages at The 3Olympia , Collins Barracks and Iceland Airwaves . Amidst these achievements, though, Pastiche battled bouts of excruciating pain, fatigue, mood swings, acne, hair loss and irregular periods. After being told by medical practitioners that it was all in her head, Pastiche was finally diagnosed with Stage 4 Endometriosis and received life-changing surgery that inspired ‘Forfeit Control’.

Pastiche says of the single: “After my surgery, I felt like I could breathe again. I could hear music again. I could sing again. I wrote 30 songs in two months, including ‘Forfeit Control’. In a way, this song is about my youth that I feel has been taken away from me. I’m in my 20s and meant to be making mistakes, going out, creating memories, being carefree, forfeiting control of life and not worrying about the future. However, I now find myself on fertility treatments with a chronic illness, not knowing the impact this could have on my career. ‘Forfeit Control’ is escapist for me. Singing it, I feel like the old me. It makes me dance in a way I have not danced in a year. It brought ‘Pastiche’ back to life. That is why it had to be my first release after this entire experience. We need to let go sometimes and just let life happen to us, because you really cannot fight what is going to be. This song is a reminder to ‘Forfeit Control’.”

Dublin-born Pastiche burst onto the Irish scene at the end of 2020, bringing her fresh pop sensibilities. Brazen, fiery and memorable, she is an artist to sit up and take notice of. With BBC’s Gemma Bradley noting that Pastiche has “a promising future ahead,” she has been hailed as “Ireland’s fastest rising pop star”(Hot Press ).

Showcasing online at the remote Ireland Music Week 2021 , each single release from her debut EP Freak Show Symphony has garnered millions of radio impacts, hundreds of thousands of streams, tens of thousands of radio plays, as well as landing New Music Friday , New Pop UK and other massive Spotify editorial playlists. She has an impressive 450,000+ Spotify streams under her belt as a fully independent artist.

Ireland’s answer to Dua Lipa meets Lady Gaga , Pastiche’s sound combines classic electronic dark pop with her majorly theatrical influences. Pastiche demands your attention with her lyrically and sonically singular tracks, full of sass and female empowerment.

Pastiche sold out her 2021 debut headline show at Whelans in 72 hours, causing media to rave about her and the Irish Examiner to name her an “Irish act to watch out for”. She made her debut at Primavera Pro in 2022 and dazzled audiences at leading Irish music festivals Sea Sessions , Indiependence , SoFFt Nights and Dublin’s Pride Festival .

Pastiche may be ready to ‘Forfeit Control’, but she’s also set to command stages as she finds a new lease on life.

Feis Ceoil 2024 – Winners announced: 128 years of giving young classical musicians the opportunity to perform live as Ireland’s newest music talents in the country made their mark as the newest artists in Irish classical music:

The annual Feis Ceoil (‘Festival of Music’) is Ireland’s leading national classical music festival, that platforms many of Ireland’s emerging gifted musicians. This intense competitive live performance setting for judges and audiences alike, aims to find the newest talents from around the country. The 2024 festival ran at the RDS, Wesley House, St Bartholomew’s Church, Clyde Road and at RTE Donnybrook, showcasing the best in classical music in fully live competitions. There were over 190 individual First Prize music awardees won in various categories at this year’s event, where thousands of young classical musicians from the 32 counties of Ireland met to compete in Dublin, at the iconic annual music festival.

The Feis Ceoil is an essential element in the musical infrastructure of the country, and throughout the decades almost every classical Irish musician has competed at the Feis.

Well over half a million musicians have competed at the competition since it began in 1896, with past competitors including James Joyce and Count John McCormack and more recently, pianists John O’Conor and Finghin Collins, singers like Tara Erraught & Celine Byrne and comedian Risteard Cooper.

Laura Gilsenan, CEO of the annual Feis Ceoil Competition and Festival says; ‘Feis 2024 lived up to expectations with an incredible standard of talent on display once again. We were particularly pleased with the new Choral Conducting and Senior Percussion competitions and can envisage them going from strength to strength.  We are very lucky to have such a wealth of teaching and coaching talent in this country dedicated to the development of top-level musicians. At Feis Ceoil we are privileged to be able to give them a public platform.’ 

A number of outstanding winners from Feis Ceoil 2024 have been selected to perform at this Feis Gala Showcase which will round off the 2024 Festival. The concert will feature the winner of the Feis Ceoil Choir of the Year (St Mary’s College Derry), along with orchestras, ensembles and soloists representing a wide variety of styles. Suitable for the whole family. This year’s Feis Ceoil had an incredibly high standard of performances from all  their competitors throughout the 12 day festival of music this year – here are a selection of the highlight winners from this year!:

>>> 

2024 Highlight winners:

Folens Choir of the Year: St. Mary’s College Derry

Dramatic Cup Winner: Caroline Behan (Soprano)

Morris Grant Piano Bursary Winner: Rowel Friers (piano)

Aileen Gore & RTÉ Lyric FM Award winner: Jayden Lamcellari (Cello)

McCullough Cup and RTÉ Lyric FM Award winner: Ben Gannon (Oboe)

Senior Brass Recital Winner: Adam Buttimer (Tuba)

Post-Primary School Orchestra winner: The High School, Rathgar, Dublin

Gervase Elwes Vocal Recital winner: Eiméar Harper (Soprano)

A selection of the most outstanding competitors from this year’s Feis Ceoil will be showcased at a special Gala Concert in the National Concert Hall (Main stage) on Wednesday 17 April, at 7.30pm.  The Gala Concert will be hosted by Laura Gilsenan, CEO of the Feis Ceoil Association and promises to be a triumphant finale to conclude this year’s event. Tickets, from €15.00 on sale from nch.ie !!

https://www.nch.ie/all-events-listing/feis-ceoil-gala-performance/

FURTHER INFO at: https://www.feisceoil.ie

*Sunday Times*
“Soulful, cool and vibrant, Lyra’s debut feels both international and Irish. A album to return to over and over, with anthems to sing along to at the top of your voice.”

*Hotpress Magazine*
“LYRA sounds damn near unstoppable on her debut. Watch her soar…”

April 4^nd  2024 – Lyra is set to release her highly anticipated studio album ‘LYRA’ via Rubyworks Ireland, next Friday April 12th . To celebrate the release, Irish dark – pop sensation and fashionista concludes a hectic month, following her return to live performances across Ireland. Lyra was received with rapturous applause across the width and breadth of the country.

The debut album is a comprehensive reflection of the Irish pop- dance sensation today. Consisting of 14 tracks, the album conveys the broad range of her musicality,  journeying from the dark and sultry ‘Chess’  to the pulsating dance anthem ‘Lovers’ to the empowering latest single ‘Queen’.

It is hard to believe that this is Lyra’s debut album, it has been long-awaited and has positioned the Irish popstar at the pinnacle of Irish Music. With her commanding voice that effortlessly plays ‘wavers between lightness and depth, and fragility and strength’, which immediately enriches the emotions in her words.

The album opens with ‘America’, (produced by BURNS,  Lady Ga Ga, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding) a carefree pop anthem about a holiday romance, which draws the listener into Lyra’s sultry sound. Moving to the second single, written about a night of debauchery ‘Drink Me Up’ (co-written with Nicki Adamsson who previously wrote with Charlie XCX, Zara Larsson).

Singles including You,  Falling and chart topper Edge of Seventeen displaying Lyra’s raw and powerful vocals, are put to exacting use; lyrically the album offers snapshots of past relationships – specifically one turbulent end and its liberating aftermath.

A ballad ‘Someone New’ is also featured on the album. While new song ‘Naked’ displays Lyra’s alter ego coming out.

Lyra explains “ The first ballad I ever wrote was ‘Someone New’, and it took me a lot of heartbreak and learning to get there,” “But the album also documents when I embraced my single life and went a bit carefree and wild”.

Tracks such as ‘All Over Now’,  display the heartbreak but from an upbeat, pop- dance perspective, while ‘I’ll Always Be The One’ showcases the synth-led tempo, but darker emotions are layered within the lyrics.

Finally the two remaining songs ‘Love Me’ (co-written with Grammy-nominated American songwriter and producer Drew Pearson Kesha, Kygo, The Goo Goo Dolls ) which was written in LA and displays Lyra’s big ballad vocals and an example of what she does best, pour her heart out into her lyrics. ‘Loved By You’,  which enchants the listener and exhibits a softer side to Lyra. “The album was complete when I wrote this song”, explains Lyra, “I couldn’t stop listening to it, so I made space for it.”

LYRA is available on

Limited Edition Signed Gold Vinyl

(the first 300 LP  units include an exclusive signed print of a never-before-seen picture of LYRA!).

CD Digipack contains booklets with exclusive imagery.

LYRA – will be on release  next Friday April 12^th, from all platforms,  it is available to pre-order now!

PRE-ORDER LYRA HERE