Irish brothers Harry and Alfie Hudson-Taylor have released their new single ‘You Me Myself’.The song is a fresh taste of their forthcoming third studio album ‘Searching For The Answers’, due for release in June.Recorded and produced by Luke Potashnick (Gabrielle Aplin, Hannah Grace, Ward Thomas) at the legendary and newly-reopened Wool Hall studios in Somerset, ‘You Me Myself’ joins the recently released streaming-only cut ‘Won’t Be Too Long’.Hudson Taylor‘s previous album, ‘Loving Everywhere I Go’ was released just before the world went into lockdown in February 2020. The album debuted at Number 1 on the Irish National Charts, and the total number of streams from the record are now in excess of 30 million.
Oozing sweet keys, warm guitars and buoyant beats Hudson Taylor present a fun and catchy tune to indulge in with ‘You Me Myself’. In true Hudson Taylor manner, the track is filled with earworm hooks, lush harmonies and energetic guitar work while country undertones and delicate pop embellishments chime throughout. ‘You Me Myself’ continues the duo’s run of irresistible singles and feel good gems that are sure to put a smile and glimmer of light into the listener’s day. Press play and enjoy.
After an exciting 2021, Dublin-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Neil Dexter has released his new single ‘Alpha’.Since releasing his debut single ‘Loving You’ last year, Neil Dexter has been featured on The Point of Everything podcast, 98FM’s Totally Irish hosted by John Barker, The Nova Guestlist presented by Kieran McGuiness and BBC Radio Ulster’s Across The Line, hosted by Gemma Bradley.
‘Alpha’ ripples with lush sonic embellishments, delicate melodies and soft moments of 80’s pop to create an utterly compelling listening experience. Brooding verses pivot around elastic bass pulses while supple psychedelic tones ebb and flow throughout. Dexter’s vocals are a joy to listen to; his voice oozes warmth and tenderness however at times it is haunting, deep and brooding. This vocal dynamic is greatly enhanced by the soft, intricate textures within the track’s soundscape. ‘Alpha’ is a beautifully expressive tune and an exciting glimpse into the artistic mind of Neil Dexter.
Lyrically, as with his previous releases, growing older and gaining new perspectives on friendships, relationships and life anchor the subject matter of his songwriting. Of ‘Alpha’s’ meaning Dexter says: “When I wrote this song, I was processing a specific time where I felt a great sense of isolation within a social setting. I’d been at a party a few years ago where I didn’t understand the various dynamics and felt completely estranged from the people and the situation. I couldn’t figure out where I fit in the group on that occasion. I think part of getting older sometimes involves becoming detached from or struggling to understand the foundations of certain friendships. Structurally, the verses reflect the paranoia I experienced that night before the tone of the song shifts during the chorus with the soaring falsetto delivering the refrain, “What happened to you?” I wanted to create a tension and release dynamic throughout ‘Alpha’ to convey that feeling of isolation. “
Singer-songwriter Miles Graham has released his new song ‘Yeah We’re Gonna Get Out of It’. The track is the sixth and final song bidding to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2022. Miles is originally from Clondalkin in Dublin and is now based in Co. Sligo. Miles was a guest on Weekend Wogan on BBC Radio 2 in 2015 with the legendary broadcaster Terry Wogan. I caught up with Miles to discuss his new song ahead of The Late Late Show this Friday where the song to represent Ireland will be chosen.
“I had the song written in 2020. There was a few things supposed to happen with it. I’ve been working with a producer Justin Broad in London, and we were working on several different projects and different songs and this was one of the songs where I wrote at home. We were all on a 2k lockdown at the time. Then the kids were singing it here in the background, my young kids at home. They don’t sing all of my songs but they were singing this one. So I decided to record them. They sounded amazing and I just thought I have to record that.Then I had the guts of the song sent over to Justin and he wrote the brass trumpet on it and fully produced it. The song is called Yeah, We’re Gonna Get Out of It and… it’s about the struggles and everything that I was going through and I’m sure a lot of people, musicians, songwriters, people that work in the arts, comedians, you know, that perform on stage, feeling those struggles along with everybody else. I suppose the lyrics lend to all of that. I’ve always had an interest in The Eurovision because it’s a song competition. It’s the biggest song competition in the world. I have always had an interest in Ireland’s entries, the songs and the competition itself. So you know, I would have submitted some songs down through the years. I just thought this song [ would ] be perfect given the concept and the feeling at the time. So I submitted the song back late last year and then I got the call just before Christmas that RTE wanted me to sing it and they wanted me to perform it and they loved the song. Yeah, it was part of the six songs selected to potentially go to the Eurovision in Italy. So here I am.”
Miles’ kid’s sweet voices can be heard in the song as they sing the catchy chorus.
“They’re so excited. We are hip hop fans as well. We like a lot of soul and hip hop stuff and we would basically be all singing different songs going around the house. This is one where we just came together in the moment and recorded it and it was really fun to do. I’m so proud of them. So proud of how everything came out on the track.“
‘Yeah We’re Gonna Get Out of It’ is very different to what people would expect to hear from a Eurovision song entry. It’s an uplifting tune filled with sunny vibes and bouncy keys, jazz moments and a speckle of soul. It’s refreshing to the ears with a fun and positive vibe.
“Yeah, I agree with you. It’s fresh, I mean that for me, if you hear something that’s fresh, that’s something different. I think the competition itself The Eurovision has gotten more diverse in recent years. We had a rock band from Italy [Måneskin] win it last year. You know, there is diversity within the competition now and people would say there are certain Eurovision type songs. But you know, they might not be the ones that are winning it. So I think to have something fresh and something different is very important in a competition to be able to stand out.”
The song features a jubilant brass and trumpet solo which was played by members from Amy Winehouse’s original touring brass ensemble. Miles explained to me how that collaboration came about.
“Yeah, so Justin [Broad] and Paul [Herman] who I was working with, the producers. When they heard the demo that I sent over [with] me and the kids singing here in the house, they were like, we love this track so much and we’d love to do this, we’d love to do that. So they made the call to the guys. Ben Edwards plays the trumpet solo. Yeah, they’ve toured with Amy Winehouse. They’ve got that real soul element to what they do and they obviously bounced off the track really well as well. I’m delighted they [ came ] into the studio in London to record it. That’s one element of the song I really really love, the brass, and trumpet solo.”
Miles will perform the song on The Late Late Show on Friday, February 4th, where a winner will be chosen to progress to Turin, representing Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest. A nerve-wracking performance that unfortunately, won’t feature his kids on stage with him.
“You always get a little bit nervous. I played the Late Late Show before in 2018. So that gives me a little bit of confidence, a bit of an edge, I suppose. I’ve got a little bit of a cold at the moment. So I’m trying to just get past that and I can hopefully, be 100%. I’m really looking forward to it, you know, just gonna enjoy it as much as I can and hopefully, the song puts a smile on people’s faces and gives that kind of positivity that I had in the room at home when I was writing and recording it with the kids. “
Props and elaborate stage setups are a big thing in The Eurovision. I wondered if Miles found it difficult deciding on what he wanted to do and how he wanted the song visually displayed on stage.
“I had an idea in my head. There are certain challenges that come in when setting up for production to be able to present something in the way you want to present it. But yeah I’m really excited about what we’ve done. I’ll leave the element of surprise for Friday night, but obviously, yeah, with the kids they can’t be on stage because Eurovision rules, they can’t be under the age of 16. There won’t be any kids on stage so we’re trying to, be able to represent them in a different way. “
Along with his bid to represent Ireland in the Eurovision, Miles told me what we can expect from him in the coming months
“ I’ve put out a song with L’Tric a dance track it went out just before Christmas called ‘She Is Gold’. So that’s out on Spotify. That’s actually written about my sister. Keep it all in the family, you know. Yeah, I’m loving that song at the moment. I have a live date in London in The Grace on the sixth of May and I’m hoping to get a couple of gigs here maybe March, April as well. So yeah, we’ll see how things go with the competition, but win or lose on Friday, I just hope people get behind the song. Because I think it’s a special song and it deserves people to hear it and just get the good vibe out there, that’s what we all need”
Miles Graham has been steadily perfecting his craft. The result is a sound that reflects his versatility as an artist. ‘Yeah We’re Gonna Get Out of It’ is a fine example of this and showcases his natural charm and passionate musicianship.
Miles will be performing ‘Yeah We’re Gonna Get Out of It’ on The Late Late Show this Friday make sure to check it out. Until then you can stream the song below
Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets have released their new single ‘i wasn’t ready’.This is the groups final single off their forthcoming EP, ‘crazy how we live like this’, which comes out on February 10th. As always, this song comes recorded and produced by the band themselves, mixed by Mike Gavin, Like many Limerick artists, the band has gone down a DIY path, choosing to self-record and produce their own music. The five-piece have been quickly gaining recognition in the Irish music scene in 2021 and have amassed 30k+ streams on Spotify. They have supported acts such as The Frank and Walters, NewDad, True Tides, and played a sold-out headline show in Dolan’s, Limerick. 2021 also saw the release of their ‘Crazy, How We Live Like This’ project, featuring singles such as, Days and Everything Will Be Ok.
‘i wasn’t ready’ is a compelling piece of musicianship from Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets. The band flesh out the track with punchy drums, anthemic soundscapes and passionate vocals that ooze emotion and tenderness while rich undertones and sparkling guitar adornments between ethereal synths create a fresh atmosphere throughout. The track is a joy to listen to again and again, taking multiple listens to truly experience the wonderful and meticulously placed arrangements within. Keep an eye on this band, they have a bright future ahead.
About the track, Flynn said: “This song is about something deeply personal that happened to someone very close to me a couple of years ago. It was a very distressing time, and the only way I could think of processing it at the time was to write about it.”
Giorgio De Palo is set to release his new single, ‘Monster’ on February 4th. The track has been self-produced over the months of lockdown with the aim to preserve the authenticity of an organic singer-songwriter sound while bringing in electronic elements. Born in Rome, Giorgio released his debut EP ‘First Waves’ in Berlin in 2019. Later, he moved to Lisbon. Living closer to the sun, alongside the nurturing sea, his music took on new tones: soft guitar strums, melancholic melodies and warm vocals. ‘Monster’ is the first single off his upcoming EP ‘A Spirit Will Rise’.
‘Monster’ showcases the passionate and compelling songwriting of Giorgio De Palo through majestic instrumentation and refined, intricate production. Delicate guitar strums create warmth within the track while a rich backdrop of rumbling rhythms build to a haunting chorus as De Palo’s velvety vocals croon the striking lyrics, “I’m on a loop and it won’t stop unless my life does too”. Perhaps one of De Palo’s most compelling and earnest releases to date ‘Monster’ displays this artist’s remarkable depth and poetic musicianship.
About the track, De Palo said: “ ‘Monster’, depicts the labyrinths of the mind, which all of us had to face during this pandemic. Stuck between four walls, our mind feels like our only companion, one day monster, one day friend. The music video develops this concept further, with the medusa, beautiful and scary at the same time, as a metaphor for the mind that wanders uncontrolled through highs and lows.”
Jack West is set to release his new single ‘Montreal’ on February 25th. Doused in washes of synths, bouncy keys and a heartfelt melody ‘Montreal’ is a sublime glimpse into a more electronic facet to West’s sound. Smooth vocals are dipped in moments of auto-tune while sticky beats and jazz speckled keys create a sonically intriguing backdrop. With fuzz laced electronics fleshing out the tracks ethereal soundscape, ‘Montreal’ is an enticing and earnest bop from Jack West. It’s interesting and always a joy to hear this artist experiment and express his diverse musicianship and style. He creates such fresh and exciting tunes with each release and ‘Montreal’ is a fine addition to the singer’s repertoire.
About the track, West said: “I started writing Montreal In September of 2020 in NYC with a few band members. I remember writing the lyrics, walking along the Hudson River looking at Manhattan …. It was a great feeling, writing this new music, in NYC, with people who are great at what they do ( Matt Bent and Abe Nouri). The main picture I guess of the song is running back to someone, and trying to get back what we had …”
The Assist, one of the UK’s most established underground groups formed of Mikey Stanton (Vocals), Jorge Poole (Bass), Luke Jones (Guitar), Ryan Stanton (Guitar) & Ben Faulkner (Drums), have released their new single, ‘Television Kid’.The Assist have sold out venues across Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield as well as shared the stage with The Happy Mondays and Blossoms. They also played in Paris with Black Honey and toured the main rooms of the UK’s O2 Academy’s with local heroes The Twang. Their 2018 EP, LOST, charted in both Spotify’s “Top 50 most-streamed tracks in the UK” and iTunes’ “Top 10 indie chart”.
‘Television Kid’ is a hook-laden delight that boasts the dynamic and bright indie sound of The Assist. Saturated in radiant guitar riffs slickly weaved between buoyant drums and elastic basslines the track has a feel-good vibe that is simply irresistible. It’s a fun vibrant bopper with sharp and relateable storytelling expressed through eloquent lyrics. The track narrates “the mischievous nature of a fictional socialite character who we will have all met at some point in our lives. The absorbent kind that becomes over-enthused by the smallest of occasions, takes on the role of Andy Murray during Wimbledon and Tyson Fury when there’s a boxing pay-per-view.” The band enhance this story through earworm melodies, lush guitar solos, sun-kissed atmospheres and upbeat indie rock that is easy on the ears and a joy to listen to again and again.
Irish rock band THUMPER have released their new single ‘Overbite’. Contemporaries of Fontaines D.C. and The Murder Capital, THUMPER are among the leading lights of the Irish post-punk scene. Over the last two years, the north Dublin six-piece have been developing their sound – and building an increasingly passionate following. They combine intense poetic lyrics with a big punky sonic assault to startling effect.
Swarming in on thick asphyxiating fuzzy guitars, ‘Overbite’ is a tantalizing new tune from THUMPER. The band’s ability to balance sharp bruising instrumentation with lush earworm melodies is mesmerising and leaves the listener craving to hear more. Acid-laced riffs bounce off heavy brisk drums and a relentless bass assault to create a frenetic, chaotic sound that is utterly thrilling to the ears. In true THUMPER manner, the song takes wild unpredictable twists throughout its blustery journey as the track shifts from ballsy outbursts to a stripped back break before the massive finale. ‘Overbite’ is a refreshing and utterly magnificent tune from THUMPER that showcases the band’s constantly evolving sound and incomparable talent. Turn the volume up, press play and enjoy.
About the track lead singer, Oisín Leahy Furlong said: “With lyrics full of nightmarish images alluding to the failure of a relationship ‘Overbite’ is the first part of a sprawling 20-minute long psych opus that ends our debut album. Releasing one-third of a song as a single is probably a strange career move, but then nothing about the THUMPER process ever seems to go by the book. With ‘Overbite’, we applied a different method to our songwriting, changing from our usual approach where I bring a musical concept for the band to run with. It’s one of the first purely collaborative efforts, in that Alan wrote the music and I wrote the lyrics.”
Bio: East Manchester indie band Palava have released their new single ‘Yesterday Is Calling’.The track is taken off the band’s upcoming EP.
Track: Yesterday Is Calling
Why We Like It: The track blisters with the dynamic indie rock of Palava. The band lace a driving rhythmic backdrop in acute raw guitar riffs to create an invigorating wall of sound while the anthemic chorus and soaring melodies evoke images of live crowd sing-alongs. Boasting a shredding crescendo and thrilling guitar work ‘Yesterday Is Calling’ is a fantastic new single from Palava.
Bio: Jack Joyce has released his new single, ‘Mountain and the Door’.The song follows on from Jack’s 6th single release and hit single ‘’Black Cat by the Bins’’ which was released back on 3rd September 2021. Early in 2020, Jack featured on Mute The TV band’s hit debut single ‘With You’ which got airplay around Ireland.
Track: Mountain and the Door
Why We Like It: ‘Mountain and the Door’ is exhilarating indie rock. With moments of dazed psychedelia weaved through swirling soundscapes, the track simmers with dark undertones while sharp guitar melodies triumphantly stride through a punchy drum foundation. Densely crafted and oozing suspense throughout, ‘Mountain and the Door’ is an impressive tune and a fine example of this artist’s growing talent.
Bio: Having just formed in April 2021, Dublin based alt-electronic artist wornoc (aka Conor Walsh) has carved out a niche in forward-pushing alternative-electronic sounds from these shores.
Track: The Blackhole Paradox
Why We Like It: It’s an exciting piece of music that boasts rippling electronics and moments of heavy alternative rock alongside dreamy undertones. The track is an enthralling listening experience; twinkling guitar and soft keys give way to instrumental builds while intricate rhythms and driving beats add a contrasting element to the track’s ambient soundscapes. ‘The Blackhole Paradox’ is an immersive and compelling tune that marks warnoc an artist to keep an eye on.
Bio: With over 800 million streams to date, 5 million monthly listeners at Spotify, and international acclaim, the singer and songwriter LÉON will release her third studio album ‘Circles’ on March 4th. Released via LL Entertainment and BMG, the album is available to pre-save. The album is launched alongside the brand new single ‘Wishful Thinking’.
Track: Wishful Thinking
Why We Like It: It’s a nostalgic ballad that highlights the beautiful vocals of LÉON. Filled with warm soft instrumentation, the track blends soothing folk tones with tender pop sensibilities to create an elegant tune filled with passion and poignant lyrical content. Exuding a soothing earworm melody, ethereal soundscapes and buoyant guitar strums, ‘Wishful Thinking’ is a luxuriant new tune to indulge in.
Young rocker Minerva is pondering the meaning of life with her new single ‘My Kind’. Asking if there’s more to life than getting drunk at parties and falling in love, Minerva hones in on that all too familiar feeling of not quite fitting in with your peers, and asks if there’s more she can be looking for. Recorded at JBJ Studios on Portobello Road in London, ‘My Kind’ was mixed by Jamie Brown and features drums from Marko Obradovic and bass from Josh Dougherty with Dan Clark stepping in as recording engineer.
‘My Kind’ is an energetic, gritty rock tune that surges with dark tones and Minerva’s relatable lyricism. Jagged guitar riffs lacerate through a punchy drum and bass foundation while Minerva’s smooth attitude-laced vocals glide atop the catchy melody. The swarming alternative rock backdrop contrasts the sweet backing vocals and slight nonchalance within the main vocal to create an engaging listening experience. Filled with an infectious chorus and blazing guitar work, ‘My Kind’ is an impressive new single from Minerva.
Stream ‘My Kind’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
