Stephen Kelly returns with his new single, ‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’.The track was written, produced and performed by Stephen himself in his own studio, it is the first of multiple singles intended for release in advance of his debut solo record ‘Bad News Best Forgotten’ coming in early 2022 via Gentleman Recordings. Stephen Kelly is an IMRO award-nominated songwriter known for his work as founder of notorious Irish indie rock favourites RAGLANS – who have toured and released Kelly’s songs to much acclaim at home and abroad appearing on some of the worlds biggest stages.
‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’ is vibrant in sound, buoyant in spirit and beaming with Kelly’s melodious hearty musicianship. With an ear-grabbing intro of swelling drums and jangly guitar, the song radiates feel-good vibes from the get-go. A catchy uplifting and anthemic chorus evokes images of a live audience bellowing back the lyrics while the verses lyrically express earnest and candid reflection, “Wondering if I should tell them I’m hopeless”. The track is an absolute joy to listen to; the balance of deft songwriting and rich musicianship makes ‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’ an impressive and compelling tune to listen to again and again.
Following the success of his debut single, ‘Time Out’ (just under 4 million streams), London-based pop singer-songwriter AJ Wander has released his new single, ‘Take It All’, via Elevation. The track was produced by co-writer Gethin Williams alongside Brad Mair (Dean Lewis, Jamie Cullum, Kygo). Prior to the ongoing pandemic, AJ had been running himself ragged playing covers at piano bars and hotels across the UK. Once lockdown hit, he turned all his energy and focus into creating his own music and pushing forward his solo career. Wander’s drive paid off as his new music led him to sign a management and recording deal with Elevation, a USA-based music company that specializes in artist development, and a publishing deal with BDi Music, administered globally by Bucks Music Group.
‘Take It All’ is a cinematic new tune from Wander. Eloquent and vivid songwriting flourish throughout the track while gripping and expressive musicianship adorns the backdrop in suspense and drama. Filled with lamenting piano strides, swelling soundscapes, pulsing drums and thick electronics the track is a dynamic and heartfelt display from Wander as he croons atop the breath-taking melody “all the words I have are caught behind my teeth and they’re choking me it’s getting hard to breath”. AJ Wander’s sound is emotive, expressive and laced with passion. His earnest songwriting and intricate musicianship is impressive and makes him an artist to keep an eye on.
About the track Wander said: ‘’Take It All’ is me learning to let go, reminding myself not to get distracted by glimpses of light amongst the darkness. I wrote the track with my mate, Geth, in his caravan in rural Wales last November in the midst of a toxic relationship.”
An Online Celebration Of Artists Based On The Dingle Peninsula
Featuring Dréimire, Dairena Ní Chinnéide, Niamh Varian Barry, Gerry O’Beirne, Billy Mag Fhloinn, Maggie Breen, Pa Sheehy and Julie Jay
Cuan Dingle have just announced three live-streamed concerts from the Dingle Hub on the 30 – 31 October. The series is an online celebration of artists based on the Dingle Peninsula and features Dréimire, Dairena Ní Chinnéide, Niamh Varian Barry, Gerry O’Beirne, Billy Mag Fhloinn, Maggie Breen, Pa Sheehy and Julie Jay over the two days.
Tickets priced at €10 are on sale now fromhttps://tvlive.ie/ Each concert will run for 1 hour, featuring one music act (45-minute live performance) and one non-music act (15 minutes pre-recorded segment).
Cuan Dingle kicks off on the 30 October at 9 pm with innovative guitar duo Dréimire who are joined by guest singer Clodagh Kearney, as well as internationally renowned and award-winning poet Dairena Ní Chinnéide who will perform some of her work.
Sunday 31 October sees two concerts take place. At 6 pm critically acclaimed singer and violinist Niamh Varian Barry and renowned guitarist and singer/songwriter Gerry O’Beirne are set to perform, followed by folklorist Billy Mag Fhloinn and poet Maggie Breen. At 9 pm Cuan Dingle present Pa Sheehy whose recently released Debut EP ‘The Art Of Disappearing’ hit the Top 10 Irish Charts, followed by one of the most exciting new voices on the Irish comedy scene, comedian Julie Jay.
The performances will take place in the Dingle Hub which overlooks the beautiful Dingle Marina. The Dingle Hub has a strong creative connection to the community on the Dingle Peninsula. The concerts will highlight the incredible views of the Dingle Marina with a multi-camera production, paired with the highest professional sound and lighting. Being part of the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht, Cuan Dingle is honoured and proud to incorporate the Irish language into the series with a number of performers fluent in Irish.
The Cuan Dingle series is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, under the Live Performance Support Scheme 2021.
The Cuan Dingle have put together a diverse and eclectic lineup that is sure to put on a riveting performance. Make sure to check it out
Laura – Mary Carter has released her new single ‘Town Called Nothing’. Laura – Mary Carter is best known as one-half of rockers Blood Red Shoes. Laura will make her solo debut this December with the release of her mini-album, ‘Town Called Nothing’. The record was produced by Ed Harcourt at RAK studios, UK, who also played bass and piano, plus Jorma Vik (The Bronx, Eagles Of Death Metal) on drums.
‘Town Called Nothing’ is an enticing country-rock tune that chugs with a steady tempo within a laid back atmosphere while Laura- Mary Carter’s smooth vocals croon atop a mellow melody. This track is gloriously infectious as Laura builds and layers wonderful guitar embellishments over a spacious, seductive backdrop. ‘Town Called Nothing’ exudes the boundless talent and charm of Laura – Mary Carter’s musicianship and provides a keyhole glimpse into the many facets of this artist’s music.
Town Called Nothing was written in between tours at various sublets and studios in the UK and Los Angeles. About the track Laura said: “I found a beat up acoustic guitar and without thinking about it songs just started to come to me, The idea of writing on an acoustic guitar was new to me, I’d always written songs for my band which has a very heavy disposition. I realised that writing in this intimate way exposed my voice and changed the way I was writing and singing lyrics.”
California-based indie electro-pop act Margot Polo has released his new single, ‘it’s my birthday.’ This sweet tune is a quirky, witty and melodically lush display from Margot Polo. Blending slide guitar with a dreamy melody and buoyant beat, Margot Polo creates a glorious tune for listeners to enjoy. His smooth vocals croon through 50’s-esque doo-wop harmonies while warm acoustic guitar exudes a folk-like hue. There is something compelling and joyful about this tune as jangly percussion and carefree, fun lyrics maintain a sing-along charm throughout “Honey, I try so hard to make believe, I’m only 27, can’t you see?, I ain’t goin’ gray, But baby, my back aches”. It’s the perfect birthday song – true, honest and wonderfully nostalgic. Love it.
About the track, Margot Polo said: “Crazy story about this song: On the morning of my last birthday, October 14th, 2020, I woke up from a dream in which I was around a campfire with all my close friends and family–including my great-grandma, who had passed away just some years ago–and we were all singing the chorus melody of this song. Entirely from this dream, I had almost the whole song: melodies, production, arrangement, entirely laid out for me in my head. “
Stephen Kelly, frontman and songwriter for Dublin rock band Raglans, is set to release his new single ‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’ on Friday, October 22nd along with news of the release of his upcoming solo album ‘Bad News Best Forgotten’. I caught up with the singer-songwriter to talk about his blistering new single, what we can expect from the album and what sparked his decision to release solo material.
‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’ is a big sing-along indie-rock anthem filled with scorching guitars and vibrant rhythms. Kelly’s signature hearty melodies and rich musicianship are on full display within the track while his deft songwriting hints at deeper, more serious subject matters.
“With a lot of my songs subconsciously but also consciously, I try to mix a catchy melody with more serious subject matter. The lyrics aren’t always about the best things but the melody makes you feel good so there’s a bittersweet dichotomy going on. With this one, it’s just a case of self-reflection of my journey so far in being an artist and having the belief and faith of many people in your life, and how that can sometimes feel like you’re taking advantage of their belief in you when you’re trying to get things going as an artist. It’s a song about self-doubt, the verses are about doubting yourself and the choruses are about believing in yourself.”
During the lockdowns due to Covid-19, we have all had time to look inward and reflect on our lives. Kelly was no exception to this, and he explained to me the impact this had on his career and decision to release solo material.
“Absolutely, with Raglans I wrote all the songs but we worked on them all together and it was a real team effort once we were in the band. So after Coronavirus and losing all of that because of what happened, you just have to draw on your own, and develop skills better than I had by having great musicians and stuff around me. I like writing songs but I often deferred to musicians to help me to arrange them etc and now doing it all completely by myself has been a very eye-opening experience. It’s been incredibly gratifying, developing my skills to the point where now I can really just look to myself to express my own vision.”
Producing and writing one’s own material can give an artist a sense of freedom; however, it can be daunting as you don’t have anyone to bounce ideas off. For Kelly developing the skills to produce his own singles was an invaluable and enjoyable experience.
“That’s the terrifying thing of it. But at the end of the day when you sit back and you play the track to yourself, and you’re happy the first time you hear it. I kind of follow that instinct rather than listen to it a million times and go ‘oh this is what’s wrong’ or ‘I could change this’ or ‘if I spent more money doing this it could be better’. I find doing that is just a pathway to complacency, so I get a song finished, I get it mixed and mastered to the best of my abilities. I play it to myself really layered and if I’m happy with it, I cross it over and move on to the next song. I feel I’ve got my second album, nearly finished aswell. I’m being very productive… it is nice to have developed the skills to do it myself now and be the king of my own creation.”
“ I’ve loved being in Raglans with Rhos [Horan] and Conn [O’Ruanaidh] because we didn’t know each other when we started really. They knew each other but they were strangers to me, and strangers who meet in a room and share music and that music starts at nothing and then takes you to Australia, all over America, everywhere. There’s something beyond the music to that relationship that we built. That’s why we never announced in my opinion, that we’re breaking up or we’re finished because we never had intentions of being a band that breaks up when we started because we didn’t have any intentions at all. I like the idea of it being an open-ended project and if people ever want to see us in a room together playing our music together we’ll be there to do it but at the moment because of the way the world is and because of how hard it is to be an artist financially. It just makes sense for us to do our own things for the moment and I found that something I wasn’t expecting to find as gratifying but I’m loving it, you know.”
The intro to ‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’ is incredibly catchy and sets the song up well, creating a dynamic and full-bodied sound that makes the listener eager to hear more. ‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’ is the perfect appetizer for the upcoming album, and Kelly explained to me how his mother influenced which track was going to be released first.
“Yeah, it was actually the intro that sparked the song. What I often do is I’ll hear a drum beat or find a drum beat and I have hundreds of songs in my head that I’ve written over the years, and I listen to this new drum beat and sometimes I go, well if I play this song over this drumbeat, it will completely change the complexion of that song with this beat, and ‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’, was like that.”
“The reason I released that song first, is more of a personal decision. My mom passed away two years ago and before she passed away, I’d just started writing that song on an acoustic guitar, and one of my memories is her walking by going ‘ah that’s a good one Stevie, that’s a good one’. She always had a good ear for music. So, part of me felt like doing my own thing, not answering to anybody no compromise. I’m going to put out the song my mom would have liked to hear. That’s why I chose it. Even though I feel some of the upcoming singles that I’m working on may appeal to a wider audience or whatever, or be rockier blah blah blah. This one was very important to me because of what it meant to me and my mom’s relationship.”
“She’d be proud of me getting my shit together, getting my songs out, especially the one she likes. So I’m excited to put it out in her memory, her honour because I don’t like to post about those things on social media, put up pictures and say all this and that, it’s just not my way, but this is my way, to make this song for her, put it out and hopefully if she is around, or if she can hear…she’d be proud, you know.”
The new song follows the melodically rich tunes we experienced from Kelly’s ‘Home Brew Volume 1’ EP last year. We discussed how Kelly created his upcoming album ‘Bad News Best Forgotten’ differently from the EP and what we can expect from the new album.
“Well, the difference with Home Brew was it’s kind of like a brain fart, you know. We were all locked down, we weren’t practicing the same levels of scrutiny etc on our lives that maybe we were before. I look back at Home Brew now and I see it as a necessary evil, it’s not exactly how I want my songs to be produced and sound but I had nothing at the time and no means of getting anything. But luckily, in the last few months, I’ve been able to invest in my own proper equipment in the studio and I’m working with some great musicians when I need. There’s some brass parts on the new songs, and I’ve got great musicians who come over to my studio and put the brass parts down. It’s personal diary entries that are masquerading as absolutely banging anthems. But there’s more shades to it than just rock and roll, indie rock anthems. We’ve got a few different styles in there. I’m using some violins and brass, and I just want the album to showcase a dynamic songwriter who doesn’t just write for one genre – can write across a few types of songs and tell some stories as well, and hopefully people will go ‘okay shit this is going to be good live let me go see this live and we’ll have a party!’.”
I got a sneaky listen to ‘Leandro’, another blistering track on the upcoming album. This fiery indie-rock tune is brisk, catchy and full of energy and boasts clever lyrics that narrate a love triangle.
“That’s a perfect example of what I want to display – a dynamic songwriter, for example, that song is like Raglans Christmas song [Christmas Number One (On My Own)], it’s tongue in cheek, you know. Somebody told me I couldn’t write a Christmas song so I wrote a Christmas song. I wasn’t actually alone at Christmas feeling sad and writing a song. I wrote a song about being alone at Christmas because somebody told me I couldn’t.”
“With Leandro, I was listening to a song by The Cars called ‘My Best Friend’s Girl’ a lot of the time, and I found there was something hilarious about that sub-genre of music about the jealous boyfriend, who loses his girlfriend to a friend. There’s a few songs like that, there’s also the Joe Jackson song [Is She Really Going Out With Him?]. I just wanted to write a song in that genre.”
“So with Leandro, I had a girlfriend at the time who, received a job offer from a lovely, lovely guy called Leandro. The Leandro in the song is not actually based on the real Leandro, because he was a lovely guy, but I envisioned as a joke that he was a suave lecherous guy who was stealing my girl but ultimately they just fell in love and I was the third part, the third wheel without knowing until the end of the song. It’s actually one of my proudest songs even though, it’s a simple indie rocker. My songs, the ones that aren’t personal diary entries sometimes are easier for me to listen to because I haven’t attached as much of my traumatic experience to the lyrics.”
There is a shredding guitar solo in ‘Leandro’ that scorches through the vibrant indie-rock backdrop. It oozes swagger and vigour.
“Well actually, that is an interesting one because that was supposed to be on Raglan’s second album. Before the Coronavirus came I’d shown the guys inRaglans that song…I actually remember singing the solo to Rhos [Horan] when we were playing because like I said, I would often refer to better musicians, so I’d sing the lines sometimes and the guys would play them. But yeah, there’s definitely some Raglans DNA in that song, but I just thought I had to get it out. I really want to hear it on the radio before the summer sometime when I’m driving somewhere, you know.”
‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’ and ‘Leandro’ evoke images of live crowds dancing and bellowing the track’s lyrics back at the top of their lungs. Kelly told me he is buzzing to play his songs live.
“Oh absolutely, it’s all getting planned at the moment. I put together my own solo band called Steve Kelly and The Natives, which is a nice nod to the Raglan song. So yeah, we’re putting that together we’re going to be ready to gig by January 2022. The album is intended to be coming out in March 2022. It’s called ‘Bad News Best Forgotten’ and we’re rehearsing at the moment, getting ready.”
‘Bad News Best Forgotten’ is a great title for an album. I wondered how Kelly came up with it.
“Picking titles is hard that’s why Raglans first album is called Raglans. But this one, it was a lyric in one of my songs. Often I subconsciously write my lyrics and have a built-in meter of what I think is good and bad, and I look back on the lyrics I’d written for one song that might not even get on the album and I just saw that one of the lyrics was “bad news best forgotten swore an oath in blood”. I just liked the idea of Bad News Best Forgotten and we’ve been through a lot of shit, every human being in the world for last few years. We’ve received a lot of bad news on a daily basis. But dwelling on it is not the case and that’s what this album is for me.I don’t want to dwell on Raglans broken up by COVID. I want to just put good music out.”
‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’ is a bright, anthemic and perfectly executed song that will put a spring in your step while the meaningful lyrics showcase the artist’s eloquent songwriting. This is exciting times for Stephen Kelly and fans alike. ‘All The Trouble I’ve Caused’ is out this Friday. Check it out, it’s an absolute gem.
Sin É reopened its doors this October for “In Through The Out Door”, a month-long series of standalone shows with some of the best acts in Ireland. This series was made possible with support from The Live Venue Collective and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media and features artists such as Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra, Hazey Haze, Toshín, Chrome, Vulpynes, Dani Larkin and much more. With such an extensive line up it’s been an exciting month for Sin É but lasts nights show with Columbia Mills supported by Dunx had everyone excited. The buzzing energy from the eager audience was felt even before the doors were open. People hovered around the front door of Sin É in the rain waiting impatiently for the venue to open so that the night’s revelries could begin. There was something in the air last night that had everyone ready to celebrate the glorious live music Sin É had in store.
Dunx and his desert-rock toned guitar kicked the night’s music into motion. His deep croons brooded over blues-hued tunes backed by hefty drums and slick bass manoeuvres; the effect was a wholly immersive sound for listeners to indulge in. It was a chill set that sparked cheers and sways from the crowd who loved every minute of it. Dunx is a must-see. His songs are well crafted and display the effortless charm, confidence and musical prowess of this talented artist.
Filling the venue with rumbling rhythms, dance-infused indie, soaring guitar and the full majesty of their sound Columbia Mills took to the stage. The bittersweet melodies of ‘Strange Game’ and ‘Who Am I Supposed To Talk To Now? came to life within the live setting. The shadowy dark undertones within the band’s songs were perfectly translated through Fiachra Treacy’s intense delivery; eyes closed he was consumed in each song’s immersive hypnotic sound and so was the crowd who danced, swayed and stomped throughout the set.
The band’s sound is absolutely bewitching. They blend electronic fused melodic pop-rock with dance, and like masterful puppeteers had the audience in the palm of their hands dancing uncontrollably when beckoned.
“We are going to pretend this is our last song”, Treacy announced before the ethereal ‘Never Gonna Look At You The Same’. The serotonin levels soared from this point as both the band and audience gleefully cheered for the encore as fits of dancing and sing along’s en masse reverbed throughout the venue. Columbia Mills know how to put on a show, the encore sent Sin É into glorious chaos. Amidst the crowd one fan was seen with the stool he was sitting on raised above his head, punching the air and proudly marching in time to the rhythm of the music.
Columbia Mills put on a fantastic live show on Saturday night. They are a band that never disappoints. Their music is well-crafted, passionate and intoxicating and in some cases simply time-stopping ( ‘You’re Not The Answer’ is a fine example of this ). In a live setting, this band is unstoppable. Treacy is an effortless frontman and his irresistible persona is infectious and awe-inspiring to behold. Columbia Mills are a band not to miss live.
Arriving on the heels of recent fan-favourite singles, ‘15 Minutes’ and ‘One More Trip’, Mexican singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Julian Lamadrid has released his new single ‘Teenager’.The new songs are a taste of what will be on Julian’s upcoming second full-length album, ‘Rebels of the Neon God’. Lamadrid will also be on tour with BANNERS starting at the end of this month. Born to Mexican expats, Lamadrid was raised in Dubai before moving to New York (where he is currently based) at the age of 18. The 23-year-old artist brings a refreshingly global perspective to his craft, culminating in an infectious blend of new wave, bedroom-pop and British rock. Since beginning his musical journey with the release of his 2019 album Mala Noche, Julian has amassed praise from notable tastemakers like V, Wonderland, CLASH, Flaunt, L’Officiel, Billboard and more.
‘Teenager’ is a cinematic and masterfully crafted indie-pop tune that merges dark soundscapes with Lamadrid’s evocative songwriting to create an immersive and compelling listening experience. The song broods through thick intoxicating electronics while dramatic beats and shimmering synths create an intense backdrop for listeners to indulge in. The lyrics reflect on the transitional period between childhood and adulthood and this theme is aptly expressed through Lamadrid’s smooth vocals and the tracks nostalgic undertones.
Layered elements in the backdrop create depth and texture through the medium of subtle melodies and key arrangements that flicker between the rich expansive soundscape. The contrasting and complementary arrangements within are a joy to listen to again and again and feel fresh on ears with each subsequent listen.
Blending dark electronic pop with edgy indie and soft R&B elements, ‘Teenager’ is a sublime example of the extraordinary musical prowess of Julian Lamadrid.
The accompanying music video was directed by Julian and stars his sister, Ximena Lamadrid. To create the video, the siblings returned to their hometown of Valle de Bravo in Mexico and turned to nature for inspiration. “It’s a delicate black & white film. It’s an ode to life’s beauty and how returning to something so pure in a time of heartbreak can bring the most rewarding of reflections,” Julian explains.
Bangor Indie singer-songwriter Sam Wickens has released his new single, ‘Civil’.
Going from strength to strength, Wickens unleashes the tender and emotive ‘Civil’, a genre-fluid tune that builds slowly through atmospheric soundscapes before unfolding beautifully into a cinematic crescendo. Wickens is an enchanting artist and a master of his craft. He meticulously arranges his music in such a way that each note and musical element adds character to his compositions. This is spectacularly shown within ‘Civil’; deep in the crevices of the track, Wickens utilises rippling electronics and pulsing rhythms to create depth and a shadowy undercurrent in the track while a hypnotic lament on guitar innocently weaves a golden thread of hope throughout.
Blessed with a fabulously versatile voice – one that can glide into gentle ballads, soul, country and blues with equal competence; Wickens’ emotive vocals are expressive and ooze passion as he croons poetic lyrics over the smooth melody and wave of instrumentation with ease.
‘Civil’ is an absolute gem and a fine example of Sam Wickens’ boundless talent.
Speaking about the release, Sam said: “Civil tells a coming of age story of a boy that is growing up through a troubled home, trying to find his own way in life and grow an understanding.”
Kev Olden has released the third single, ‘Ache’ from his EP ‘Time We Have Left’.Kev Olden is an indie artist from Cork. He moved from Dublin to Toronto in March of 2020, just before the world shut down. He says, ‘”Time We Have Left’ is the culmination of a year in a new environment, in and out of isolation and in and out of the studio”
‘Ache’ is a wonderful tune that pivots around warm guitar and steady rhythms as Kev Olden pours his tender songwriting into this melodic delight. The song drifts delicately into the ears as Olden’s smooth vocals croon “tell me if forever is real I’m lost in my thoughts” over a dreamy melody while a balmy guitar glimmers throughout. The delicate instrumentation caresses the tender lyrics enhancing the tracks emotive tendencies and easy listening atmospherics, as the song moves between folk and indie tones to create a soothing sense of comfort and melancholia until a burst of emotion erupts for the guitar-heavy finale. ‘Ache’ is an evocative and beautifully crafted tune from Kev Olden and one certainly to treasure.
Stream ‘Ache’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
