Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Julian Lamadrid has released his new single ‘Saturday’. This infectious bop flows upon bright electronics and sunkissed tones as Lamadrid coos, “Ooh, babe, ooh, babe Ooh, babe, If we make it ’til Saturday, Then I’ll tell you my last name“. Lamadrid’s smooth vocals caress the dreamy melody through a haze of reverb, while his melodic prowess and effortless swagger make ‘Saturday’ a euphoric delight on listeners ears. He crafts a laid back summer tune filled with tropical tones, shimmering synths, and bubbling beats to create a luscious alternative pop gem that is sure to brighten any day. Lamadrid is displaying his versatility as an artist by producing tunes with an array of vibrant and tantalizing sounds from the funky flex of his previous release ‘15 Minutes’ to last years steel drum, synth peppered ‘Patience’ and 2019’s edgy alternative pop ‘Die Young’. Each release from Lamadrid is an exciting keyhole glimpse into the glorious musical world of this talented artist.
N.O.A.H return with their new summer anthem, ‘Hands Up’. The highly anticipated track was produced by the Grammy-Winning Ruadhri Cushnan in Camden Studios and mastered by John Davis (The Killers,U2, Dua Lipa). To mark the release of ‘Hands Up,’ the band will perform one of Ireland’s first indoor shows on July 24th at The Solstice Theatre in Navan, which will also be streamed live. The band are currently working on their debut EP, ‘Echoes of the Night’, which is set to be released on vinyl on 1 October 2021, and will play their first headline show of 2021 in LostLane on 2 October, followed by another show in The Fiddler London on 8 October. The now Dublin-based band hail from County Meath, and comprise of lifelong friends Ryan Hill, Adam Rooney, and Ronan Hynes.
‘Hands Up’ is a refreshing burst of indie pop as N.O.A.H showcase their hook-filled musicianship in one irresistible gem. With bubbling synths, glistening guitars and shimmering beats, this bright, upbeat tune oozes luscious soundscapes and feel-good vibes. Smooth vocals drift over a dreamy melody while the jangly backdrop creates a humid intoxicating atmosphere for listeners to indulge in. N.O.A.H’s diverse and captivating sound is blossoming superbly with each release, and ‘Hands Up’ is a sublime example of their glorious upbeat pop. Press play and enjoy.
Sion Hill (Nate Johnston) and Norwegian DJ/Producer MYXE (Rune Eie) have recently released their new house-pop single, ‘No Way Back From Your Love’. The track is laced in vibrant tones, crisp production and luscious pop melodies to create the perfect summer bop.
I caught up with Nate and Rune to chat about the new single, how an inspired hungover moment brought about the songs lyrics, gigging again as well as how the duo’s collaboration came about. At the time of our chat Rune was about to embark on a boat party to perform, the prospect of which seemed like finding El Dorado to me, here in Ireland and Nate in The U.K due to the pandemic restrictions.
Rune: “It’s on Saturday so I’m really looking forward to that. Well, they are getting a bit stricter here with the stuff, so hopefully, it will go through. I think it’s 120 [people]. I think it will go on because it’s sailing so it’s a sport, they call it, then.”
Nate: “Are you sailing anywhere close to London?. I don’t know what I would give for a boating party on Saturday, probably my left baby toe I would sacrifice.”
‘No Way Back From Your Love’ was originally written in London in 2020 by Nate and songwriter Louis Ryan for piano and voice and was actually intended for someone else to sing, but when Rune heard Nate’s vocal, he loved it so much that he decided to keep it in.
Rune: “We kind of got connected through a guy called Louis, that I met online. He told me about Nate, and said that he might have some vocals laying around that I could try and work with so that’s kind of how we got in touch, and, yeah, Nate sent over the vocals for ‘No Way Back From Your Love’ and I did an instrumental behind it”
Nate: “ I think this one is really a product of the lockdown. I see it as that. It’s a lovely thing because I wrote it together with Louis Ryan. He’s an Irish guy from Dublin, a great songwriter, and really great keyboard player. We just wrote some songs together a few times and then there was this moment, I think they opened up the studios for like a week or so, do you remember after the first lockdown there was this little mini lockdown for like a month, and that was how it was in the UK. I think we got into the studio, like, a day before that happened, so we actually got to use a recording studio, which is quite cool and then everything closed down. So we wrote that song and then yeah, he [Louis Ryan] connected with you [ Rune Eie], but we did everything virtually and I think that’s cool.”
Rune: “ I think the first time we spoke on the phone that was after the release actually. “
Nate: “Yeah. I’m just praying that next time you’re playing the tune at a boat party I got the invite.”
Rune: “Yeah for sure”
I wondered if the pair found the remote collaboration more awkward or difficult to communicate and express ideas through.
Rune: “It’s obviously not the same as meeting in person. But we had a good start on email and we both knew what we wanted. I really loved what Nate did with the vocals and yeah I think he found the instrumental, okay as well.”
Nate: “I don’t think that was too difficult doing it online. I didn’t really know what was going on because this song when we wrote it was a bit of fun. I wasn’t really intending on anything happening with the tune. I kind of forgot about it, and then all of a sudden I get this message from Louis being like, Oh yeah, MYXE this DJ has been working on the track with me and I’m like Okay, send me something. Then I got this 30-second clip. It was just the first verse and he was like just ignore the drop it’s not ready yet. You [refering to MYXE] said something you’re like oh no I’m not happy with that drop leave that off. Yeah. The next version I got was almost finished and it was quite cool. I like that collaborative process and you can do everything online now and there’s been so many songs, recordings and albums over the last year and a half, that have been done actually on Zoom and whatever.”
Rune: “Yeah, I think in the past it was a bit more awkward to do writing sessions or whatever through Zoom or Skype, because not everyone was doing it, but nowadays, it’s more the norm now, at least in my world. “
Nate: “Yeah, for sure. I think when we were using this technology during the last lockdown, we came across this thing where there is no latency, there was no lag between recording. Normally, the reason it was so difficult is, you’d try to write a song together and I play a chord and then you try to sing and obviously the timing doesn’t match. It’s always gonna be difficult and you can’t rehearse live together as a band over Zoom because there is this latency problem, but we found this one piece of software that fixes that. I think like Jay Z and some of the big boys and big girls in that world have been using that. I don’t know how we got our hands on it but even having things where we can actually sing a song together, over the Internet, and there’s no lag, that’s insane. So yeah, I think technology has made it easier but it’s not really that different, we’ve all been WhatsApp and phone calling each other for quite a while now”
When Rune heard Nate’s demo of the song he loved its rawness and decided to work with it. The demo was minimalist but highlighted the melody and the potential of the song.
Nate: “I think it was just keys and vocals actually that we did and this was one of those songs where I didn’t record. I think generally with House tracks and pop music, you sort of record it line by line, you know the vocals anyway, sometimes even, you might record just one word, just to get it perfect. So, yeah, I think that vocal take was actually meant to be just a demo take and you [Rune] used it, I liked that, that you took the original recording”
Rune: “Yeah the take, I really liked it because it was good, but still had that raw element to it and I just really liked it and normally I don’t do that, but I felt that it suited the vocal sounds.“
Rune: “If I like it, if I get a good vibe from it, then I’ll work with it. It doesn’t have to be techno or house or pop. It’s more the vocal itself, if it’s good, it’s good. I think.”
The lyrics for ‘No Way Back From Your Love’ were inspired by the Beatles’ – ‘All You Need Is Love,’ by playing on the idea of – if you can envision something, then it is not impossible. Nate explained how the lyrics came to fruition.
Nate: “It was an easy flow, I think. We made this little hook melody “Ooooh, oooooh”. I think that’s what Rune is saying there as well, it has this rawness to it because the night before, I’d been out quite late and I was just not really in the singing mood, but I felt kind of creative. I don’t know if you ever feel like this, when you’re hungover sometimes you are quite creative and come up with things. I came up with this idea. I love that simplicity of that song, The Beatles track, All You Need Is Love, and it’s, “There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done, Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung”. This idea, it’s really simple but I wanted to follow along that sort of idea so yeah it’s not really the same thing but it was sort of the inspiration. Then, at the time I was in this relationship and it was happening really fast so I realised that when you meet someone’s friends and their family and when it all happens really quick, I’m like there’s no way back from your love, that was the idea. It wasn’t necessarily Beatles inspired, I just liked that idea of, there’s nothing you can say that can’t be sung and so on. An inspired hungover moment, I think”
The track is built superbly around the melody and Nathan’s voice, creating a light, fun atmosphere filled with driving beats, lush synths and even a whistle-like feature. This arrangement is the perfect example of Rune’s exceptional production skills.
Rune: “I think, for me as I speak from a production point of view, I tend to do that a lot. I’ve heard that I let the vocal get its place but sometimes maybe too much so the vocals a bit too much in the front but I think here, it turned out really well, but yeah I think that’s important. I really love vocals – so let them shine a bit.”
Nate: “Yeah, I think it’s hard to find that balance isn’t it sometimes?. I think you [Rune] blend the production really well and some producers, the vocal either gets lost or it’s way out, and I kind of get annoyed by that because I like to have a bit of both, you know,”
I wondered if the pair plan on releasing a summer-themed music video for the song.
Nate: “We didn’t do a video actually no. Maybe on the boat. Maybe at the boat party.”
Rune:”Yeah, maybe we could do some iPhone videos”
Nate: “Some decent iPhone videos at the boat party and some candid shots of people. I did actually have an idea of going down to Brighton with my cousin who’s a filmmaker and shooting something on a boat because it’s quite a summery little bopper this song and it’s got the little whistle and everything. I thought it would be cool just to film some girl on a boat, driving around the place. That was the idea but yeah never happened.
Rune:” That would be cool.”
Nate: “ Yeah, I think we just got to the beach and then we got in the water and it was too cold. You realise you’re in the UK. It’s raining, it’s not quite the Ibiza sort of vibe that we’re looking for, but I don’t know it would have been cool to see a video but we’ve actually been working on some other tracks so possibly down the line we will do that.”
With things slowly opening up both Nate and Rune have got a chance to get back performing. We discussed the nerves and surreal experience of doing live gigs after all this time.
Nate: “ I was Yeah” [nervous]
MYXE: “Same here”
Nate: “The first gig I did back, I played guitar for this singer, so I didn’t actually do my own show, and I was a little bit nervous because it was her thing and I was backing her up. I wasn’t necessarily nervous about the crowd but it is a strange feeling, getting back on a stage after a long period.”
Rune: “You can also tell, the people in the crowd they also think it’s been a bit weird, you know people dancing and being close and you can’t really keep one and a half metres on the dance floor.”
Nate: “I’ve done a few sit down gigs where people are separated but after just 15 minutes everyone’s up and dancing on the tables. It’s too hard to stop it. But we make our choices and if you decide to go to a concert, if you want to be there, there’s a risk you’re going to get COVID. So, maybe you have to isolate after the concert for a couple of days.”
Rune: “It’s a bit weird, to be honest, but here in Holland they’ve closed basically everything. It’s obviously nice to be able to play a little bit again and see some people, that’s good, but it’s still a bit weird. We have been so long without it now.”
Nate: “It’s crazy. I’ve lived in London so it’s almost back to normal. I don’t know if you saw the Euros, the finals like Wembley was pretty packed, the streets, it’s crazy but there’s kind of a spike again in cases so that scares me you know, events are coming back but are they gonna stay. What’s nerve-racking about it for me, is actually booking shows and having to cancel them because I’ve had to do it twice now, I’ve cancelled two tours. We’re booking a tour at the moment and if something happens again we got to cancel it again, reissue tickets, it’s a nightmare, but also it’s exciting, getting back out on stages. I’m playing a gig next weekend in my town in Mullingar. They’re doing a charity event, and it’s gonna be streamed live but there’s a small crowd there so even if it’s only like 25 people or something that are allowed to be at the event, it’s still nice to get to play for a few people. Although here I’ve been doing open jam sessions. I’ve been to concerts in London so it’s quite unusual that Ireland is a little bit behind, but maybe they’re doing the right thing, who knows.”
Both Nate and Rune have new music in the works for the rest of this year and they told me what they are looking forward to the most.
Rune: “Releasing music and hopefully get some gigs outdoors in winter and, yeah, travel a little bit again. “
Nate: “I’m actually releasing an EP, and an album. We’re trying to do it this year but it’s looking like it’s gonna be next January. But I’ve got a five-track EP coming at the end of August and, the album will be next year so it’ll be a few singles coming out before that, I have a few videos done. Then I’m booking a tour for 2022. “
‘No Way Back From Your Love’ is an infectious tune that is perfect to enjoy in the sweltering heat of summer. Both Nate and Rune display their refined musical prowess within the track and the result is a luscious pop banger that beckons repeat plays.
Alt-pop artist Jack Hughes has released his new single ‘Crossed The Line‘. This brooding and cinematic tune boasts the refined and striking musicianship of Jack Hughes. Icy keys slice through a muggy soundscape as Hughes creates a tense and enticing backdrop for his rasped vocals and eloquent lyrics “it ain’t just the cocaine, It’s the white line dividing our hope” to drift upon. The song builds in drama and excitement as Hughes blends elements of alternative rock, pop and hip hop to create an expansive sound full of vigour and grit. With heavy rhythms intensifying while warm guitars interweave between dense electronics, subtle brass elements and potent rap feature, Hughes manages to create a pulsing tune that is a joy to listen to. ‘Crossed The Line’ is a compelling powerhouse that marks Jack Hughes as an artist to keep an eye on.
HVNTER has released ‘Breathe’, the 3rd single from his upcoming EP ‘You Don’t Know Love’ – Out July 30th. HVNTER is an electronic singer-songwriter from Pontypridd, South Wales who found his love for music uploading self-taught acoustic covers to YouTube at 16, where he began to craft his songwriting skills. He soon found his feet and after just 3 years had surpassed over 250,000 views. His debut track “Blood” quickly racked up over 30,000 plays on Soundcloud within the first few weeks of release. Over the years HVNTER bloomed as a live performer. HVNTER has performed with and supported touring artists Bright Light Bright Light, Into The Ark (BBC The Voice), Let’s Eat Grandma, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Tinchy Stryder and Chris Stark (BBC Radio 1), to name a few alongside landing slots at Young Peoples Village and Truck Festival.
‘Breathe’ is a refreshing guzzle of electronic pop that boasts HVNTER’s emotive and irresistible sound. The artist spreads a bittersweet melody over an effervescent backdrop of fluctuating beats and swirling synths to create a heart-rushing soundscape that is sure to guarantee repeat plays. Soothing vocals glide over the melody with tenderness and emotion as twinkling keys create an element of innocence between biting grooves and heavier electronic moments. HVNTER is an ambitious artist whose deft musical ability creates compelling tunes that are easy on the ears, relatable and exciting to listen to. Oozing an infectious chorus and surging soundscapes, ‘Breath’ is an irresistible and passionate new single from HVNTER.
Zach James Douglas has released his second single ‘Even As The Knife Went Through’ on ZJD Records via Faction Records. Zach James Douglas is an indie/alternative producer and songwriter, hailing from the South Dublin suburb of Tallaght.
‘Even As The Knife Went Through’ is a beautifully arranged tune that balances tender emotion with experimental electronics. Zach James Douglas layers the track spectacularly. He introduces fresh new sounds through guitar embellishments, twinkling sounds, elegant piano and synth flurries with each verse to create a constantly evolving listening experience. The track has an ethereal quality to it that is enhanced by the soft, soulful vocals from guest vocalist Saoirse. She coos over a dreamy melody while tropical tones and wispy atmospherics build throughout. Zach James Douglas is an impressive and extremely talented artist who uses rich and diverse soundscapes to create wholly immersive and engaging tunes that are simply a joy to listen to.
About the song Douglas says…“Even as the Knife Went Through explores the scarred mental state of someone who’s been hurt by a previous partner. It details the intimacy and trust issues that a person develops within future relationships and how despite being the target of such abuse, they still tend to carry a sense of guilt and a deeply hard wired love for their ex partner.”
Soda Blonde have released their debut album ‘Small Talk’ via Velveteen Records, the entirely self-produced album sees the group reflecting on their twenty-something experiences with refreshingly honest transparency. All four band members (Faye O’Rourke, Adam O’Regan, Dylan Lynch and Donagh Seaver-O’Leary) are seasoned musicians, despite their youth. They have been playing together since their early teens, with their previous band – the internationally renowned Little Green Cars, whose seminal debut album skyrocketed to number one on the Irish album charts.
‘Small Talk’ is a collection of musical marvels that showcases the magic and brilliance of Soda Blonde’s artistic musicianship. Filled with cinematic undertones and heart-rushing emotional moments, the four-piece have created a body of work that seems to flow like a soundtrack to a movie. ‘Tiny Darkness’ acts as the prelude to the album. Opulent soundscapes of elegant staccato strings, lush harmonies and lamenting piano introduce the listener to the musical wonder that is Soda Blonde while O’Rourke’s sweet, lulling vocal brings to life the vivid imagery within the lyrics “They said that I could be a star, But I bent out of my shape, I’m like a washed-up tv host, Watching back old tapes”. The track is a fine example of the band’s blossoming sound and poetic lyricism and a fantastic opener for a debut album.
There is an air of mystery and a relatable theme of self-discovery within the tracks on the album, however, hidden beneath the instrumentation is an undercurrent of melancholy. This aspect is deftly expressed throughout the album in different ways for example the spacious brooding atmosphere in ‘The Dark Trapese’ exudes a deep sense of loneliness while dark synths and the eerie, shimmery lustre of ‘In The Heat Of The Night’,and hypnotic guitar refrain within ‘Terrible Hands’ all allude to the element of sadness within the tracks while O’Rourke’s lyrical mastery cuts deep with honest tales of heartbreak and insecurities.
An intriguing aspect of Soda Blonde is O’Rourke’s storytelling ability which takes the listener on a journey through the inner workings of the singer-songwriter’s mind. Through poignant lyrics and effective use of stream of consciousness, the listener begins to truly understand the artist’s thoughts and emotions. This is shown in the utterly magnificent ‘Holy Roses’ – “so many fights, so much nothing in the bed, so many railroads that don’t lead to anything…” and ‘Try’ as O’Rourke aptly describes the complexities of navigating through the constant tasks of modern life – “Gotta get a job, Gotta go to work, Gotta find yourself? Then Meet me afterwards”.
Throughout the album, Soda Blonde display their deft musical prowess. Each track is lavishly adorned in shimmering synths, sensual basslines and virtuoso guitar embellishments that is simply a joy to listen to, however, ‘I Still Have Feelings For You’ highlights the power within the band’s minimalist arrangements. Combined with gentle guitars and a soft beat beneath O’Rourke’s emotive vocals, the song ventures into the band’s more folk-pop sound and is a time-stopping moment on the album that leaves the listener dumb-struck by the tracks lyrical beauty and musical grace.
‘Choices’ brings the album to a close similar to how it started with cinematic, swooping strings and vivid soundscapes that pulse and surge with emotion while a bittersweet melody drives the songs catchy alternative pop sensibilities. The band bring the album full circle, however within the lyrics we get a sense of empowering confidence as the four-piece leave us on a pondering thought that our choices can lead to a sense of liberation. Interestingly, as the last notes of the track fade to silence the album doesn’t feel as if it’s a conclusive end. It resembles more of a cliffhanger which is quite refreshing to experience on an album.
Small Talk is an emotional and beautiful work of art. The band have been honing their craft meticulously, and the result is a breathtaking debut that cements Soda Blonde’s position as one of Ireland’s most exciting bands. Press play and enjoy
Ria Rua has released her new single, ‘Asking For It’.Ria Rua is a modern Irish female electronic art-pop singer, songwriter and producer. After spending years as a professional drummer and touring the world with orchestras, she decided to take a chance on her own material. Her first three releases received national radio play in Ireland and the UK, and she was awarded International Artist of the Year 2020 by Nova Radio in the UK. Ria writes about power, love, obsession and control. Her debut single was about the global response to the coronavirus pandemic and has become a staple on Irish national radio. She has been awarded several Irish Arts bursaries, including the highly coveted Irish Arts Council’s National Music Bursary (2020) and has plans to release more singles in 2021, followed by her debut album.
Shrouded in gripping, nail-biting tension and unnerving electronics ‘Asking For It’ is a thrilling new single from Ria Rua. The track pulses with dark undertones as the artist blends heavy moments of EDM with head-spinning synths and techno flourishes. A dazed backdrop reminiscent of a rave has a muggy, lulling effect on the senses while Ria Rua’s vocals maintain an unimpressed matter of fact tone throughout. The striking lyrical content hits hard with bruising force as the artist pulls no punches, “people used to say to me you don’t walk around in short skirts cause they know what you’re asking for. No, it’s just implied cause you’re asking for it”. Boasting masterful production and thought-provoking lyrics ‘Asking For It’ is a fine example of Ria Rua’s boundless musical talent. Looking forward to hearing much more from Ria Rua.
Fresh off the release of his widely acclaimed EP ‘Transcendence’, Robert O’Connor presents his new single,’ Save You’.The track was produced by Gareth Shortland, who was recently recruited to remix hits for Steps and Will Young.
’Save You’ is an effervescent 90’s-infused dance anthem. Saturated in fizzing electronics, buoyant beats and chiming keys, the track swirls with infectious dance soundscapes while showcasing O’Connor’s impressive melodic prowess. A sweet melody glimmers through the shimmering backdrop while reverb vocals chime through the kinetic soundscape. ‘Save You’ is an upbeat bop that exudes an instant charm as O’Connor blends crisp production with catchy grooves to create an exciting dance floor filler. Press play and enjoy.
Dublin Producer, Songwriter & Multi-Instrumentalist, Cabin has released his debut single ‘The Parasocialite’.Cabin (aka Adam McCabe) began crafting his songwriting and production skills as part of post-punk outfit Brass Phantoms, and has had his music featured on the likes of BBC Radio 6 with Steve Lamacq and Spotify’s Hot New Bands and more, along with production credits for the likes of Fangclub.
Cabin announces his solo debut magnificently. ‘The Parasocialite’ is an extraordinarily detailed opus that boasts the velvety, dense sound of Cabin. This tune ripples with light glimmers on synths, jangly guitars and steady beats as Cabin creates a lucid psychedelic soundscape for listeners to immerse themselves in. It’s easy to get lost in the many luxuriant layers within the song as the sound ventures effortlessly from silken psychedelia to 70’s -esque chicness. The production is magical and a joy to listen to, right down to Cabin’s smooth vocal delivery which caresses the dreamy melody with a laid back soul-infused croon. ‘The Parasocialite’ is an impressive experience of musical mastery. Keep an eye on Cabin.
About the song, Cabin says: “At its core, it’s a track about infatuation, the throws that it puts you in, and how much of a whirlwind that can be. It’s intense, short-lived and constantly changing”
Stream ‘The Parasocialite’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
