All posts by Indie Buddie

Bullet Girl ‘Concrete Bed’

Photo Credit : Conor Diggin

Dublin four piece Bullet Girl have released their new single ‘Concrete Bed’.Bullet Girl are guitarist Dylan Keenan, singer Aaron Doyle, bassist Tony Keyes and drummer Noel Dempsey. Their recent shows, including a standout set at TiLT in the Button Factory for 98fm’s Totally Irish, have elevated their standing in the Dublin live scene and earned them an invitation from Aiken Promotions to support hotly tipped The Mystrines of Liverpool for their performance at Eastbound Dublin.

‘Concrete Bed’ is a thrilling taste of the raw post punk Bullet Girl do so well. With scraping sharp guitars shrilling over an abrasive bass the band create an intoxicating wall of sound which accelerates from ominous tension to frantic chaos. This fantastic build and progression is why Bullet Girl’s musical prowess is mesmerising. They mix coarse piercing soundscapes with lighter guitar shrills and ferment this concoction until it’s simmering with unadulterated red hot fury. The pounding drums bash the tracks foundation with bloodthirsty mania while the frantic vocals scream and shout over the explosive anarchy. It’s anger, aggression and disdain all set to exhilarating musicianship, to create a mosh worthy onslaught for the listener to indulge in. Lyrically the track paints a vivid image of drug culture, homelessness and modern despair in Dublin City and the band reinforce this with dizzying soundscapes and the honest, bruising yet beautiful sound that is Bullet Girl. 

About the track the band says: “Musically we wanted to create a spiralling soundscape to emphasise this endless cycle. We purposely wanted to write a song that went out of its way to strip away the romanticism of Dublin. As a city, Dublin and Dubliners have a lot to celebrate but while sleeping bags lay parked outside government buildings, it’s hard for us not to feel anger for the current state of our city. We don’t pretend to offer the solution to these issues, we only want to shine a light on it by presenting it in the most unfiltered manner possible.”

Stream ‘Concrete Bed’ below 


Author : Danu

Jim McHugh has released the new video for his single ‘Should Have Lied’

Jim McHugh has released the new video for his single ‘Should Have Lied’. A native of Castleblayney Co Monaghan Ireland, Jim McHugh’s music is rooted in the worlds of Atmospheric Folk and Melodic Indie. The roots of this original music stretch back to Jim’s time performing and writing for many years with his band The Mandalas, previously known as Unaware. 

Oozing the irresistable charm of Jim McHugh and his skillful songwriting, his new single ‘Should Have Lied’ is a hearty catchy tune filled with foot tapping rhythms and buoyant guitar melodies. The video was filmed at Black Mountain Studios and shows Jim and his band performing the track. 

About the video Jim says “The video was shot in Blackmountain Studios Co. Louth after we finished up 2 days of recording for the new album and encapsulates the great camaraderie and laid back feel to the session. The intro includes the beautiful setting of the studio in the Cooley mountains overlooking Dundalk bay. It was filmed by Brendan McElroy and includes the contributors to Should Have Lied single, Jim on lead vocal/guitar, Butch McNeill on Drums, Paul McCabe on bass and Alex Borwich producer.”

Watch the video for ‘Should Have Lied’ below


Author : Danu

Event News : Laters with Griff…

A series of hybrid live and livestream gigs will take place across five nights in September at music venue Drop Dead Twice on Francis Street, Dublin 8. 

Some of Ireland’s most up-and-coming artists will play live at the lightly-attended gigs on September 18th, 19th, 24th, 25th and 26th. The shows will also be professionally live streamed using a multi-camera set-up, bringing the live experience to viewers at home. 

Artists playing the shows (in alphabetical order) are: Bi Curious, Blackbird and Crow, Blue Fish Diamond, Chris Kabs, Contour, Dubh Lee, Dublin City Rounders, Emily 7, Fanacanta, Funkulele, Gaolbyrd, God Creative, Jaxson, JyellowL, Kieran Mulvihill, Lethal Dialect, Marcas Carcass And The Trail Gang, Modern Love, New Valley Wolves, The Last Vinci, TYG, Vernon Jane, Vulpynes, Witch Trials.

Laters with Griff… will be hosted in a table-service only environment by David Griffin (A.K.A. Griff), who is well-known as a champion of breaking Irish music. One of the founders of Knockanstockan, the frontman of Dublin band New Secret Weapon, and a solo musician in his own right, Griff has been putting on shows for most of his life and wants to use this opportunity to draw attention to the importance of restoring the capacity for skilled technicians and artists to do their jobs in safe and controlled environments. 

About the event Griff says : “The motives behind producing this series of shows is to begin a narrative to restore the capacity for skilled technicians and artists to engage in their vocations in a safe and controlled environment within the regulations and parameters set out by our health officials and Government. As well as moving towards providing income for our decimated entertainment industry. We, along with so many people in the music and live events industries, are constantly innovating in this ever-changing climate that seems to move its goal posts every time we take a shot at restoration of the arts community.”

 Laters with Griff… will be co-hosted by actor, poet and spoken word artist Emmet O’Brien. 

Tickets for each act will be sold separately and strictly limited 40 to per sitting. Attendees are kindly requested to arrive at their scheduled time, as admittance to the venue will not be possible until then. There will be a one way system in place for entering and exiting the venue, Covid tracing measures and hygiene kits on each table.

 “Not only is the safety of staff and customers of utmost importance to us, but so is the opportunity we have to show that live music can be enjoyed responsibly and without breaking the law or putting anyone’s health at risk,” says Griff.

Griff has pulled in some amazing talent and dynamic live acts for this event. I am lucky to say I have seen most of these acts live and personally I am looking forward to this event. It’s one not to be missed.

To get tickets follow this link https://www.facebook.com/events/604286776923123/?event_time_id=604286776923123


Author : Danu

Kevin Casey ‘Sing My Soul To Sleep’

Dublin-based singer/songwriter Kevin Casey has released his new Indie Rock Anthem entitled ‘Sing My Soul To Sleep’. Long standing regular in the Irish music scene, Kevin Casey has released several singles, two EPs, and a full length album since 2014. He has done two European tours and gigged extensively across the country as well as in Germany, the U.K and the USA, including two consecutive years at Electric Picnic. He is known for his raw vocals, versatile songwriting, and for keeping Irish rock and roll alive and well. The Kevin Casey band is: Paul Casey (Guitar, Piano), Neil Casey (Bass) and Ger Gallagher (Drums). “Sing My Soul To Sleep” was mixed by Gavin McCormick and mastered by Billy Farrell. 

‘Sing My Soul To Sleep’ is a jaunty indie rock track boasting a chugging rhythmic bounce, sharp guitars and the dynamic songwriting of Kevin Casey. The brisk pace of the song exudes adrenaline-inducing energy while the foot tapping drums and percussion ensure the track won’t leave your head easily. This song is a full bodied vibrant track, a jazz infused piano adds retro charm while the sprightly guitars provide a raw edge and indie rock bravado. The song travels along with infectious power on a 50’s rock n’ roll wall of sound while Casey’s charismatic vocals glide effortlessly over the catchy melody and clever lyrics which point out that although the world isn’t as we knew it this time last year, we still have some of the most important elements of life still with us – Music and Fun. ‘Sing My Soul To Sleep’ is an infectious anthem that is sure to get you up and bopping. 

Stream ‘Sing My Soul To Sleep’ below


Author : Danu

Nathan Mac ‘Carolina’

27 year old Dubliner, Nathan Mac has released his second single ‘Carolina’.‘Carolina’ is the latest link in the chain of the ‘Start of Something Blue’ project. As the second major release, the bar has been set by the success of his first single ‘Better Off Without You’. This song hit 70,000 streams on Spotify in the first two months alone and has received acclaim internationally from the likes of  ‘Buzz music LA’, and ‘The Music Nerd’.

With emotive songwriting laced in pristine ethereal synths and moving melodies, ‘Carolina’ showcases the mature, earnest and poignant musicianship of Nathan Mac. With coiling sticky beats twisting between twinkling synths ‘Carolina’ oozes a dark undertone. The song has a push and pull effect as it flows through darker elements and glimmers of bright scintillation which provide innocent moments of hope. Nathan’s smooth emotive vocals coo and tenderly whisper through the bottomless flickering soundscapes adding a contrasting sweet, velvety tone the the tracks more icy elements. The heavier beats slowly venture into EDM pop without fully committing to the genre as Nathan surges his alternative pop with emotion and passion. With reverb vocals and clean production this wistful gem is a relatable earworm ready for repeat listens. An exceptionally rich and lyrically deep second single from this promising artist. 

‘Carolina’ is a song of second chances. Once again this track is an outstretched hand to anyone struggling with self-worth. Through his lyrics, Nathan explores the power of being seen by a stranger (and artist) by the name of Carolina. They met online when Nathan commissioned a portrait of his little sister. “Back then I was so low that any interaction with a stranger would add to my self-worth. The people who liked my songs or just wanted to say ‘hi’ made me feel like I had value.” Using the metaphor of an artist drawing him back into existence, Nathan set about writing this song as a thank you to Carolina, not just for the wonderful portrait, but for giving him a new sense of self.

Stream ‘Carolina’ below 

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Author : Danu

Soda Blonde New Single ‘Love Me World’ And Live Show News

Soda Blonde have announced their newest single ‘Love Me World’ will be released across streaming platforms on September 24th alongside the band’s first live-streamed launch show. In celebration of the single release, the band will perform an exclusive launch show to be streamed from a secret location in Ireland’s capital on September 23rd.Tickets for the show are available now through this link https://sodablonde.veeps.com/stream/events/a517ce36fc67?ffm=FFM_4e10739c3f6fff7dafe6a81f48e253d2.

The single follows the band’s second EP ‘isolation content’ released in May this year. The EP saw support from BBC Radio One’s Huw Stephens, Janice Long of BBC Radio Wales and Ireland’s biggest stations RTÉ Radio 1, Today FM and 2FM.Soda Blonde emerged from the ashes of internationally acclaimed band Little Green Cars; whose debut album saw them sky rocket to number one in the Irish album charts. The band is fronted by singer-songstress Faye O’Rourke with Adam O’Regan on keys and guitar, Donagh Seaver O’Leary on bass and Dylan Lynch on drums.

 ‘Love Me World’ is an enticing example of the brooding sultry musicianship of Soda Blonde. The bubbly beat coils and simmers beneath wispy synths and sumptuous funky bass grooves while luring electronics unfold into a dark, slow jam that intoxicates and intensifies with each progression. Faye O’Rourke’s luring vocals coo over the velvet-textured soundscape with passionate longing while the rippling electronics exude an eerie, sinister tone. There is a glimmer of innocence expressed by twinkling keys and lush harmonies which creates brief sweet moments within this smouldering gem. This silky chic alternative pop number is another reason to love the musical prowess of Soda Blonde.

About the track Faye O’Rourke said “Love Me World’ is a song about acknowledging the darker moments of wanting to be loved by everyone. The idea of bending to fit the zeitgeist in the pursuit of acceptance and love.'”

You can Pre Save ‘Love Me World’ here https://sodablonde.ffm.to/lovemeworld.opr


Author : Danu

A Chat With : Dagny

I caught up with Norwegian singer songwriter Dagny [Norvoll Sandvik] ahead of the release of part two of her debut album ‘Strangers / Lovers’ which is out on the 2nd October. We discussed how she crafts her tracks, her emotional songwriting and how writing and potting plants has kept her busy over the last few months.

Dagny has officially solidified herself in recent years as one of Norway’s most exciting artists, live performers and songwriters: yielding over 450 million streams, as well as selling out international headline tours along with critical acclaim from Nylon and Billboard to The Guardian and Harper’s Bazaar. Her debut EP ‘Ultraviolet’ received unanimous praise from critics with features such as Billboard’s 10 Pop Stars To Watch In 2017, and VEVO’s Ones To Watch 2017.

When we spoke, Dagny was in Oslo. It was a beautiful day in Oslo while I sat facing a window displaying the gloomy dull Irish weather ( I was definitely experiencing weather envy). However I express my love for the beauty of the coming season, Autumn and we discuss the colours and magic that this time of year beholds as Dagny reveals to me it was London that sparked her own love for Autumn

“You know what, I’m the same actually, I love Autumn. My favorite time of the year and I lived in London for a long time. So, for some reason it just reminds me a lot of London weirdly, I don’t know what that is but this gives me a good feeling in my stomach this time of year.”

Dagny has been honing and perfecting her songwriting for a few years and she has been nominated for Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year at 2019 Spellemannprisen Awards (Norwegian Grammys) – the third year in a row Dagny has been nominated. Among her many achievements, she also co-wrote Katy Perry’s recent single ‘Never Really Over’ – racking an impressive 300 million streams on Spotify alone but only now has she decided to release her debut album ‘Strangers / Lovers’. This is a collection of tracks she has been crafting and perfecting all this time for the album

“Yeah, absolutely. I started on this album and decided that I was going to do an album around springtime in 2019 and then we went into the studio in October and that’s kind of where we’ve been since October last year, so it’s been a long process…the fact that you have to see it as a whole, instead of just concentrating on singles and you have to work on the story and development throughout the album and the track list and how the songs are transitioning between each other, so it’s been a very different process than focusing on the singles. I think for me it was so exciting and challenging and inspiring to work on a bigger project and have a bigger body of work basically, so it is something that we’ve spent a lot of time on, yeah for sure.”

“I think the songwriting was mostly the same because I first started out by deciding what my favorite songs were. I listened through, basically my old catalogue that I’ve been writing the last few years and then I very quickly saw that there was a theme and it became very clear to me what the theme was and this whole thing about splitting the album into two. As I started working and diving into the album more and more ( obviously in periods during the last year I’ve also been writing a little bit ) I think the process was a bit different because I already knew what I had and what I felt was missing and if there was a little part of the story that I felt wasn’t really being communicated well enough then I could dig a bit deeper into that specific theme or you know, whether it’s an upbeat song or a really melancholic song, so I think the writing that I’ve been doing throughout the period has definitely been different, I’ve put my mind into trying to make something very specific.”

“Before I started making the album, it was very much like going to the studio and just see what happens and letting yourself be inspired in all kinds of directions. So in that sense I guess it’s been a little bit different but I think in general, when I write I try not get too caught up in what’s happening in music in general. I never try and go in and be like ‘oh yeah let’s try and write a single’ and stuff, it’s just whatever mood you’re in, you have to let that take the lead I guess on what you end up doing that day”.

Dagny has already released the first half of ‘Strangers / Lovers’ earlier this year and the second half is due in October. I wondered why she chose to separate the album into two halves and if it was to give all the tracks a chance to be heard and appreciated

“ Well, it was actually when I started listening through all the songs that I’ve written and I found my 15 favorites or something. I just felt like there was a very clear story but it sounds like two sides of the story. I played it to some of my band members while we were doing festival season last year and I remember them giving me the same reaction like, ‘this feels great, but it kind of feels like two sides of the story’. So you have one side which is very much like the start and happy time of a relationship and then you have the other half which is showing a breakup or post a breakup. So it just felt like a natural way of telling the story even clearer. Also it felt very natural to put out the first half, which is very upbeat and happy, before the summer and then maybe leaving the more darker side of it to the autumn. Just because for me music can be a little bit season based, but in a positive way because I just want to enhance certain feelings that I have with different seasons.”

“So it was a lot of things that made me draw that conclusion and then working on the visuals and working on the album, I wanted to make it really clear that it’s an album and not an EP, that’s something that we really put a lot of time and effort into…. there’s a lot of stuff going on all the time, a lot of information constantly to take in and I want my album to be something that you sit down with and you listen to. In a way, I guess you’re right, it gives all the songs an opportunity to be heard which I think is a nice thought. “

‘It’s Only A Heartbreak’ is the first taste of what we can expect from the second half. It’s quite the empowering electronic pop track that was in fact inspired by the classic movie Casablanca.

“With that song I think we started with music and we were very inspired by the track and the sound of the track. It was funny because you can get inspired by lots of different things and then at the end of the day when you write it, it’s like, you put your own experiences and your own thoughts into it. So actually what first sparked that song, like the idea of that song was this old movie, a classic, it’s called Casablanca, it’s from 1942 or something and it’s a love story. The main character, the male character in the film he has this quote that he says several times throughout the movie where he goes “here’s looking at you kid” and I guess the way that we kind of interpreted that was, it’s something that he says when he realizes he can’t have the love of his life or they can’t be together but he can still look at her and admire her. It doesn’t really change how he feels about her and so I was just inspired by that”

The first half of the album is laced in shimmering sunny pop tracks with sugary synths and rich electronic beats. Dagny explains she gets her inspiration from anywhere and the format of how she writes varies with each song

“Actually, a lot of the time for me, both happen at the same time. I very rarely write a song like on a piano and then put production on it, because I find that I can equally get inspired by what’s happening in the track. The sounds and the feeling that I get from the track can be part of inspiring what the song is about or how I write the melodies and stuff, so it often feels like things happen almost at the same time. Once the song is written and for me, very quickly, I get an idea of whether this feels like something special or not and then you spend a lot of time crafting it after the song is there, but I think working with a team like me and another songwriter and a producer for example then, I love that. Those things kind of happen very much around the same time, I guess. On the record I think the only song that really changed was on the first half, there was a song called ‘Tension’ and that was actually a really upbeat super, kind of pop-y vibe. It just didn’t really feel right so we completely changed it and it became the most, I guess melancholic song of the first half but other than that, I think, a lot of the foundation of the song is already there from when it was written”

One of my favourite songs on the first half of the album is ‘Paris’. I love the swoony, dreamy, delicacy of the track. Each song on the album has a special place in Dagny’s heart and depicts a special emotion for her as well, its difficult for her to pick a favourite.

“Oh, that’s a tricky question. I think for me, honestly, it has changed very much throughout the process. I think I’ve probably had a phase with all of them like there’s been, one month that I’ve been listening to this song and it’s like ‘oh this is my favorite’ and then maybe another month where I don’t listen to that song at all and I listened to one of the other songs, I’m like ‘no, this is my favorite’. I mean obviously they’re all picked because they’re special to me in some way, and there’s some songs that I’m very excited to play live, while other songs that you know, just hit me more emotionally. I often find that about stuff in a live sense and I think, ‘Come Over’ has always been special to me I guess. I don’t know why, and ‘Somebody’ too. So, I don’t know, I love them all in different ways.”

Dagny’s passionate vocals exude an effortless sweetness. It would seem she was always a strong singer and confident vocalist however singing is not where she feels at her best

“Oh no, not at all. Absolutely not, for me songwriting was probably what grabbed me first and singing was just the way of communicating what I was writing, I guess. I’ve never been like a schooled singer and I’ve had so many issues with my voice so sometimes I can be really like ahh!. It’s just so annoying because I get so hoarse but I guess throughout lots and lots of years of songwriting I’ve just found my thing and what kind of works for my voice. But yeah, I think sometimes  I also pick songs because they feel right for my voice, you know” 

Music and writing is an art form and an expression of ideas and emotions etc. They are born from the creative genius and experiences of the artist. I have always wondered if it is difficult for an artist to hear someone else singing their songs as they may not sing or express the song the same way the songwriter would or even understand or correctly interpret the mindset the musician was in at the time of writing the song. Dagny is not as bothered by this as I might have thought, she wants the best for her songs. Almost like children she wants them nurtured and the best brought out in them even if its not her voice to do it

“I definitely know when I can’t do justice to a song. If I write a song and I feel like i’m not nailing this song and feel it would be so much better if someone else has sang it like I’m not precious with that stuff at all. The most important thing I do always is to make sure that the song is the best that it can be, whether it’s me singing it or someone else so sometimes I make songs and I quickly realize one out of three things, one, no, this lyrically does feel right to me, or two, this song I just cannot sing as good as it needs to be sung or three, it just doesn’t really fit in or, it doesn’t really hit me in the right way or it just doesn’t feel like a Dagny song. That’s how we explain it. It’s either a Dagny song or it’s not, but I think most of the time I always go into the studio thinking that I’m writing something for myself and then sometimes it just happens to come out differently. So then obviously I want that song to find another home so it doesn’t just lie in some inbox and never get heard. So, yeah that’s like my main focus to just try and do whatever is best for the song.”

“If I then ended up giving a song away then, in a way, I want that artist to make it their own and to communicate it in the way that they feel is right, so the second I give it away it’s not really up to me to decide anymore. Yeah, so I don’t think I’m precious with that because I feel if a song, felt right and I was able to do it in the right way, then I probably would have just kept it for myself. I mean for me, I obviously mainly focus on my own project but I do love writing for other people. I feel it’s a different type of creativity, where, I can just have a flow of ideas but I’m not the one who has to filter it and I don’t have to think about, ‘oh no I wouldn’t sing that line’ or that’s not how I really felt or you know those kind of things. So, sometimes it’s almost easier to write songs if it’s not for you.”

Dagny has released stripped back versions of her tracks; she recently released a beautiful version of ‘Somebody’. This version focuses on the lush quality of her melodies while also showcasing her rich vocals and the depth in her lyrics. Sometimes with a pop song these important elements can fall deaf on listeners ears and get lost in all the musical production. These moving, stripped back versions of her tracks truly display just how talented an artist Dagny is. 

“ For me the more singer songwriter approach has always been how I started out and so that’s something that I really love doing, stripping things back like that. But I think, as you say, I believe if it’s a really strong song, then you can basically do it almost in any form and it will still shine through in a way. But I think, doing the more stripped back stuff you can convey a completely different emotion. I remember when we did an acoustic rendition of ‘Somebody’ people were like ‘oh that’s actually a really beautiful song’ and I think because the production is so up and kicking ( the way that it is on the main record), then as you say maybe people don’t really take in the emotion as much or that kind of emotion or maybe they don’t listen to the lyrics and the melody as much. So in a way, when you strip it back like that it suddenly becomes almost a whole different song or a whole different emotion, which I think is really nice and something that we’ve been doing with a lot of my singles. I think we’re gonna hopefully continue doing that.“

During this crazy covid time and lockdown Dagny got to focus on her album and spend time just taking a breather from all the chaos life can bring 

“ In the beginning I was in quarantine so I had to stay at home. And it was actually for me at the time much needed. I think I needed to just slow down a little bit and, you know, re-pot some plants and sow and do other things that were just non music related and really just breathe a little bit. So, for me, that first period was actually really important. But then after that, you know, obviously the summer, not being able to do festivals and stuff, which I love and I missed a lot. I just kind of dug into the album even more and I started doing a lot more writing this summer so I’ve kind of kept busy for the whole time and been working a lot so it’s been very creative and just musical in a different way than I thought.”

I think I prefer a non-Corona year if I’m going to be honest like most others, but I really feel at the same time that there has been some really nice parts of it as well. It’s just like slowing down sometimes you know when you travel all the time and you work all the time, sometimes it’s nice to just remember that there are other things to life too. People are feeling a lot of pressure as well because everyone’s constantly keeping busy and doing so much and being social and we’re always getting all the best sides through social media and I think a lot of people are feeling a lot of pressure. So I felt those first weeks when everyone was just staying at home we were all just in the same boat and there wasn’t so much pressure on constantly doing stuff and being social and all these things. I think it’s important sometimes to just stop and breathe, but it’s hard when you feel like everyone else is moving so fast and being so productive.”

“In a way I hope we can take with us in some degree and maybe remember that it’s okay to stop a little bit sometimes. I just found that when Corona was happening, people were getting really crafty. They were like doing a lot of handwork whether it was knitting or sewing or potting plants and stuff and I just think there’s something really meditative with all of those kind of hobbies. A lot of people have continued that even after we were able to go out and meet people again.”

So what advice would Dagny have for aspiring songwriters and musicians?

“My advice would be to learn your craft, Just go out and write and write. At the end of the day the song is the most important thing; your music and the song. So constantly develop as a songwriter. Also play your instrument or play shows live and get training, that is really important or at least it has been for me. I also think not giving up is the best advice I can give because I was 25 when I released my first single, which, for a lot of people they would have probably just stopped, even before they reach 25 because they felt like, they needed to get on with plan B or whatever. But for me if I’d done that then I probably would have never been doing music like I do now, so just keep at it and persist and follow your gut and have fun with it.”

“At the end of the day we make music which is like, – I’m not a doctor or a nurse and like saving lives – but music really makes a difference to people’s life and emotionally its important for people. You can write a song to make someone feel uplifted or you can make a song to make people feel it’s allowed to just cry their heart out or whatever and that’s a really nice thing to do. For me at least, I try not lose track of that and not be too caught up in all of the other sides to music, you know, social media and business and all of that, but just remember that all I’m really trying to do is put sounds to an emotion, I guess. So, enjoy it.”

Dagny’s well-honed songwriting teamed with her mature, fun, synth-pop production creates vivid and passionate tunes. Each track is carefully crafted to present a relatable theme and energize the listener with a rush of emotions while giving something delightful to dance to at the same time. The first half of ‘Strangers / Lovers’ is an invigorating surge of deft instrumentation and wonderfully infectious songwriting, I can’t wait to hear what the second half brings. 

Part two of ‘Strangers / Lovers’ is set for release on October 2nd. Until then check out the first half below

Author : Danu

Indie Quick Picks – Featureing Together Animals, MONOWHALES, Andrew Farrell, Æ MAK.,Nightly, Circa Waves and Alfie Templeman

Together Animals

Genre : Alternative rock

Bio : Together Animals are a rock band from Dublin who have recently released their second single ‘Kings and Queens’

Track: Kings and Queens

Why We Like It: It’s a passionate rock track that hits hard and stirs the soul. This band pour everything they have into this 90’s rock-splashed melancholic gem. Warm rasped vocals drift over a lamenting melody while the ethereal breezy soundscape soothes the background. The band have crafted this song superbly to create a track that is catchy, mosh worthy and hair-raising all at once. 

You can follow Together Animals on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/TheTogetherAnimals

Watch the video for ‘Kings and Queens’ below

MONOWHALES

Photo Credit: Francesca Ludikar

Genre :Alternative rock

Bio : MONOWHALES is a three-piece, alt-rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Track: All or Nothing

Why We Like It: It’s a ballsy alt pop power anthem saturated in beefy drums, shredding guitars and a dynamic stadium worthy chorus. These guys present an invigorating wall of sound ready to knock your socks off as kinetic soundscapes and gritty guitar riffs pound behind Sally Shaar’s striking authoritative rock-infused vocals. This robust belter is that attitude soaked, energizing boost we all need sometimes. 

You can follow MONOWHALES on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/MONOWHALES/

Stream ‘All or Nothing’ below

Andrew Farrell

Genre : Singer songwriter

Bio : Blue Skies is the brand new single from Manchester based Singer-Songwriter Andrew Farrell

Track: Blue Skies

Why We Like It: This beautiful track exudes Farrell’s warm and soothing songwriting. With delicate guitar twinkling between light piano and soft strings the song creates a cosy heartwarming fluttery feeling. His velvety, rasped vocals ooze calming tones for the listener to indulge in as the luxurious acoustic soundscapes wisp and flow with rich sonic flourishes around the sweet uplifting melody. A joy to listen to.

You can follow Andrew Farrell on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/andrewfarellmusic/

Stream ‘Blue Skies’ below

Æ MAK

Photo Credit: Tim Shearwood

Genre :Indie pop

Bio : After a breakthrough year in 2019 with live appearances at Eurosonic, Iceland Airwaves, Reading & Leeds and Electric Picnic, Æ MAK was deservedly named one of NPR Music’s International Breakthrough Artists for 2020. ‘Forevermorereplay’ is taken from her forthcoming ‘how to: make a kitsch pop song to show the world’ EP which will be released on 18/09/20 with one track a week being released in advance. The EP was fully written, recorded and produced by Aoife during lockdown.

Track: forevermorereplay

Why We Like It: It’s an intricately layered pop number which oozes rich rhythms and colourful soundscapes over a bubbling backdrop. This expressive number is layered with subtle percussion, tropical and intriguing sounds along with a catchy whistle refrain. The pristine retro vocals surge character into the song while the dreamy melody, lush backing vocals and inventive musicianship makes Æ MAK an artist to get excited about. Her outside the box approach and unique indie pop is utterly charming and a joy to the ears.

You Can Follow Æ MAK on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/AEMAKofficial

Stream ‘forevermorereplay’ below

Nightly

Genre :Alternative pop 

Bio : Nashville-based band, Nightly, have released their single, ‘summer’, with the band’s debut album, ‘Night, Love You’, set for release on October 16th via BMG Recordings. The album, comprised of 14 tracks mostly written during quarantine, will also feature tracks like ‘The Movies’ and ‘Not Like You’ as well as the break-up anthem, ‘You Should Probably Just Hang Up’.Nightly was originally formed by cousins, Jonathan Capeci and Joey Beretta, and drummer Nick Sainato. In 2010, they released their first EP, Honest, and their song “XO” earned over 10 million streams.

Track: summer

Why We Like It: It’s a sweet nostalgic alternative pop tune doused in effervescent electronics, warm guitars and sticky beats. The swirling synths create a chilled ethereal atmosphere while the bubbling and well blended elements of synth pop and indie rock create quite the consuming listening experience. With a bittersweet hazy melody caressed by velvety vocals the track captures a sense of youthful innocence and yearning while Nightly spreads lush instrumentation onto a sunkissed airy backdrop to create a glistening summer bop. ‘summer’ is a catchy gem sure to brighten anyone’s day.

You can follow Nightly on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/thisisNIGHTLY/

Watch the video for ‘summer’ below

Circa Waves 

Genre : Indie rock

Bio : Liverpool indie rock band Circa Waves have released a new single ‘Lemonade’ with Alfie Templeman.The song comes after the band released their latest album Sad Happy in March.

Track: Lemonade

Why We Like It: It’s a light indie delight as the band drizzle zesty guitar lines over a buoyant beat and warm bass groove to create a hazy summers day ditty. Kieran Shuddall and Alfie Templeman’s vocals blend smoothly as the laid back track strolls with an effortless charm and infectious melody. The vocals have a nonchalant tone as the band sing “and we’re all drinking lemonade, we thought we’d be doing something great by now”. The track builds into a charming infectious number with choir backing vocals singing lush harmonies. The sheer mellowness and honeyed tone mixed with the theme of not knowing where you want to be in life makes ‘Lemonade’ a bittersweet delight. 

You can follow Circa Waves and Alfie Templeman on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/CircaWaves/  

https://www.facebook.com/atemplemanmusic

Stream ‘Lemonade’ below

You Can Follow Our Indie Quick Picks Playlist On Spotify Here

Author : Danu

A Chat With : Isaac Butler

I caught up with Dublin singer songwriter Isaac Butler to talk about his new single ‘Change The Past’, how he brought the track which was originally written on piano to the cinematic single we hear today, his experience working with producer Philip Magee and what he has been up to during the last few months as well as his upcoming show in The Sound House. 

Butler is one of the most pleasant artists to chat to; his cheery and positive outlook is infectious. We banter about past interviews I have had with him as well as living in a full house with our families over lockdown. Last time we spoke Butler told me he had many songs ready to go and he was deciding which track he was going to pick for his next release, ‘Change The Past’ came up trumps. 

“ I kind of thought it was smart if I say so myself in terms of, I wish we could change the past in terms of all this kind of stuff (covid- 19) and prevent all that kind of thing.I just thought even sonically it’s moving towards where I eventually want to end up. It’s like that big anthemic band sound and I kind of touched on it with ‘Young Forever’ and with ‘Paranoid’. I took a bit of a detour which is fine, I mean, I love that song and I think it’s great and it’s opened a lot of doors…‘Change The Past’ I feel it’s just like the most kind of Isaac Butler song to date.“

Once again Butler is discussing a relatable theme in his new release. He is looking back on a relationship and thinking ‘what if I had done this differently’ and the nostalgic melody and cinematic soundscape reflect this beautifully. This sonically lush track has elements of synths and a full anthemic sound however it began much simpler

“I wrote the song on piano, so obviously there’s a bit of piano in there but the piano only features in the first verse. We’ve talked about this before, I try to write a song around a hook that people can sing. First and foremost, I write a song about something that’s important to me, but I just love the feeling in a room where you can teach something to somebody if they haven’t heard it before, and they can sing it back straight away. I’ve done it in every song pretty much to date like ‘Young Forever’ we had the chant, ‘Paranoid’ you have that funny kind of hook noise, and here again we have this big anthemic chant, and even the chorus it’s a two line chorus “I wish I could change the past. I thought we were gonna last” and in between that we have that big hook. So, I suppose, I wrote the song as a small acoustic song on a piano but the second I came up with a chorus I knew this was going to be a big sounding full band, kind of unifying people, singing along and I think it’s so relatable. I think it ties in nicely to that hook where people can sing along because people have all experienced in some way, shape or form wanting to change something in their past.”

The release comes hot on the heels of recent radio hit ‘Paranoid’ which has racked up 4.86M impressions to date and broke into the Top 50 of the Overall Airplay Chart – at the time the only self released single in not only the Top 50 but the only self release in the Top 100 – as well as climbing to 13 in the Top 20 of the Irish Airplay Charts.’

If that isn’t impressive enough, Paranoid was also chosen as ‘Song of the Week’ on 2FM’s Breakfast with Doireann and Eoghan and as the Select Irish ‘Track of the Month’ for June. Last time I spoke with Butler, he had just released ‘Paranoid’ and he was wondering how well the song would do and how long it would be before it would take off but it was pretty quick to get recognition. I wondered did that give him comfort with the release of ‘Change The Past’ or did he feel just as nervous.

“ For sure, yeah. It’s funny because it should really bring comfort but I mean they are so different and obviously for me it’s all about the stories I tell because they’re all personal stories and the vocal, so it’s always going to be a consistent Isaac Butler sound because of the vocal and because of those themes that I write about. Production wise we went on a completely different direction, so it was like okay, ‘Paranoid’ has open loads of doors, but do we release another song that is similar to that or do we go with a more authentic-y pop rock sound?’

I just had to go with my gut really I mean this is the music that I love and it’s the music that I want to make more of, so yeah that’s really how picked it. It was just my favorite one really of the bunch and I thought I had the ears of people after ‘Paranoid’ so I thought why not show them me”

Butler worked with producer Philip Magee (Kodaline, The Script, The Academic), for this release and he’s become quite the mentor to Butler. Philip Magee is such a diverse producer and seems to bring out the best in the artists he works with and Butler considers Magee’s input important vital to his music’s growth

“ Yeah, 100%. I had a lot of ideas myself, I was involved in the production as well.. for me it’s striking a balance of someone that can give ideas but also take what I want and how I am. Myself and Phil just click in terms of vision for songs because I’ve produced tracks with loads of different producers, and I’ve never clicked with someone in terms of vision so well. He’s just so open minded and he is always respectful, he always listens. It’s a team effort which I love. I mean I’ve experienced things where it hasn’t been a team effort and it just really takes the wind out of your sails and it takes away from it for sure when people put their own stamp on it. Phil puts his own stamp on it but he makes sure the artist comes through and I’m forever grateful for that.”

“Yeah I think the right producer is just super important. You can literally make an acoustic song sound like anything now, it’s just finding out what production is best for me as an artist but also what compliments the song as much as possible. I think we really hit a sweet spot here, there’s a lot of real elements, there’s lots of electric guitars and real drums and all that and obviously it’s very vocal heavy, which I love. I mean, all the music I listened to growing up is all like that, acts like The Killers, Sam Fenders they do a great job at bringing those real sounds back, The Academic as well, all real sounds.. doing an amazing job and just paving the way again for that authentic sound to come through again. I think, with this, we’ve gotten the perfect mix in terms of those nice electronic sounds, but also the real elements, because I’m a live act, I’m an artist that flourishes live. I think that’s just so important and yeah I’m really happy with how it came out” 

Again live shows come up in our conversation or the lack thereof and although Butler was gutted when he heard he couldn’t do any shows for a while he is beginning to enjoy life outside of the live circuit.

“ It was super tough to take at the start. I had worked so hard for a good couple years, and for the first time, I had numerous festivals signed on for them and I had a Kodaline support slot in The Olympia, with my headline coming up in October, so it was a really nice moving summer and then for that to be kind of taken away was obviously really not great, but, it really is about just finding the silver linings. I’ve been traveling a lot across Ireland the last few months with my girlfriend and doing things that I wouldn’t have done had Covid not happened. As terrible as Covid is and as terrible as it has been for lots of people it really has allowed me to focus on other areas that I neglected a little bit and it’s allowed me to grow in a sense as well.”

Everything was moving quite fast and it allowed me to stop and say ‘oh well this is what you’ve done and this is how you can make it better’. I’ve finally come to terms with it, and it’s taken obviously a long time but, yeah, it’s just trying to be as positive as I can really and I’m the eldest of five kids and there was seven of us in our house, it was challenging for sure but we had such a nice time you know. We spent so much time together.”

Butler did an impressive music video for ‘Paranoid’. Mustering his creative genius during the Covid-19 lockdown, he sprang into action and filmed the video completely in isolation. I wondered what he had in mind for the video for ‘Change The Past’ 

“So, yeah, well, I want to give this song, video wise,  as much justice as I can. So for the moment, I posted a lyric video the day it came out. I have a really nice acoustic video that I shot a couple of weeks ago, just in my garden. So I’m using those two at the minute but I’m going to give the track time to breathe. It takes time to get picked up by numerous people so I’m hoping that happens and then I’m hoping in a couple of weeks to bring out a video but I’m thinking kind of like my previous music videos but just a bit more cinematic..it’s gonna be cool though.”

Butler has been busy with his social media content – with the lockdown and covid we have discussed before about how social media has been helpful with connecting with artists and with keeping people sane and connected, but before this, social media was sometimes considered a source of anxiety for people and Butler did feel that pressure to keep visible and to keep content out there for a while.

“I certainly did. I definitely did at the start, and I would find myself almost not posting for the sake of that. I think that’s where anxiety stems from…there’s not a huge amount going on, there’s only so much acoustic videos you can post and only so much live streaming you can do and all that. I suppose in recent weeks I’ve kind of taken, not a break, I’ve definitely taken my foot off the pedal in terms of social media. Honestly that’s just to give me a break really, and yeah you’re right I mean when there’s not much going on in terms of getting out and doing things live and stuff like that, I think that’s just where the pressure starts when you think ‘oh God I need to post I need to post’ but you really don’t. At the end of the day, I’m a musician and I like promoting and I like interacting but it’s not the main focus for me at all. You know what I mean?, I do love the interaction and I reply to messages all the time. I’ve never not replied to a message and I love doing it and I love the comments and all that kind of stuff, positive or negative, by the way. I think you’re right, you’d just be kind of clutching at straws in terms of what to post.”

Butler’s show in The Sound House is now rescheduled to the 11th of March next year. Our conversation moved on to whether or not he felt this was going to go ahead.

“It’s crazy to say but yeah..there is obviously always a little niggle in your head to say ‘oh, that it won’t be on’ but I’m preparing for it to be on the 11th of March. It’s all I’m really preparing for at the moment so I have the setlist. I’m just gonna basically make that show the best that it could possibly be. I’ve got, probably a half a new set as well which is great.”

Butler has plenty of songs ready to go and singles he is really proud of. Hopefully we get to hear them later in the year.

“Yeah, so I have a lot of songs that are literally ready to go. I’m in two minds about an EP or singles, but I think again just singles. I have so many songs so I just want them all to see the light of day. I’m thinking if I go the singles root, there’s just no way all of them will be released, you know, but then I’m just battling with should I release an EP and then do some of them get lost? It’s a good problem to have a lot of songs. I just have to decide how I’m going to approach releasing them but the focus now is on ‘Change The Past’ so I’m going to give that the best go and then I’ll decide what the next move is after that.”

Isaac Butler is constantly building and crafting his songwriting skills and tunes to create a sound that reflects his versatility and ambition as an artist. Each track he releases shows a different and intriguing side to his passionate musicianship while also giving us a catchy hook and sweet earworm melody soaked in emotion to indulge in. His songs are already set for arenas and mass sing-alongs and this artist is only getting started. It is fantastic news to hear Isaac Butler has more music ready to go. I’m looking forward to his future releases.

Stream ‘Change The Past’ below and enjoy

https://open.spotify.com/track/2j0BEcl7bIvafz9Pq7hQdX?si=5NIIMMWHQBqPsc9Z1VXx7Q

Author : Danu

Darkroom Data ‘Hydrogen’

Darkroom Data have released their new single ‘Hydrogen’. Darkroom Data is the retro synthpop science project of Irish vocalist Gillian NoVa and Brazilian composer Márcio Paz. The duo have been writing and recording together for two years, developing a synth heavy sound that is lofi, synthpop at the core.

‘Hydrogen’ is a retro synth pop number generously dipped in the rhythmic and atmospheric musicianship of Darkroom Data. With pulsing beats puncturing the sugary rush on synths the duo create a chilled airy atmosphere while the sultry lull on vocals, coo and caress the ear worm melody. The song builds becoming more effervescent and heavy allowing the electronics to fuzz, creating darker undertones to this 80’s – esque tune. Darkroom Data have a tight and cohesive sound that is well crafted and layered to create a fluid, groovy listening experience. The track exudes moments of dynamic synth explosions which will coax you up to dance. ‘Hydrogen’ is a modern love story set to retro beats, ethereal synths and lush pop melodies and is a fine example of the compelling sound of Darkroom Data.

Stream ‘Hydrogen’ below 


Author ; Danu