Slender Pins have released their new single ‘So Happy (90% Of The Time)’. This blistering tune surges in on sharp guitar hooks, and infectious grooves as Slender Pins flesh out their energetic sound with witty lyrics and dark undertones. With raw rumbling basslines weaving between frantic pop-punk instrumentation, the band create a manic and powerful wall of sound as the lyrics swing from happy to dark thoughts “But then come the long, dark nights, and a voice from the depths of your subconscious cries: ‘what the f*ck am I doing with my life?!'”. With desert- esque guitars adding swagger between crazed vocal yelps while the brisk tempo entices you to dance along; Slender Pins create a fantastic tune ready to blast at full volume.
Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets have released their new single ‘Running Away’.In the last year the Indie up-and-comers have amassed over 40,000 streams on Spotify, secured support slots with NewDad and Milk., embarked on their first Irish tour and played a number of sold-out headline shows. The band all met while at college in Limerick, Ireland, and use their music to delve into themes of loss, relationships and mental health. The Indie-Rock outfit have been quickly gaining recognition in the Irish music scene for their energetic live shows, and self-produced releases. Their music has also been heard across major Irish stations such as Today FM, RTE 2XM, and SPIN SW.
Surging with passionate indie rock, ‘Running Away’ is a fantastic new track from Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets. The band take a driving rhythm and wrap it in soaring melodies, dynamic guitars and saxophone embellishments to create a lush and wholesome sound. This upbeat tune is brimming with passion as the band drift a heartfelt melody over the bubbling instrumentation to create a tune that sparks hope and acts like an instant shot of adrenaline. With moving lyrics that discuss themes of love, loss and guilt ‘Running Away’ is a powerful and well-crafted new tune from Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets.
About the track, Dylan Flynn said: “The song’s upbeat feel is contrasted by the lyrics, which I wrote last year while my grandfather was dying. The song covers themes of love and guilt while trying to process losing someone who was so close to me. We wrote, recorded and produced the song from our small studio space in Limerick City, with help from Mike Gavin (Windings). Mike co-produced and mixed the track, while Richard Dowling mastered it.”
N.O.A.H have released their new single ‘Stay Here’. I spoke with drummer Ronan Hynes about the new single, prospects of a new EP in the coming months and their upcoming gigs.
Hynes and I spoke after the band’s exciting Electric Picnic performance. With all the madness that goes on at the festival, the now hoarse drummer explained how well the show went down.
“Yeah, it was great. We went down on the Friday and we didn’t play until Sunday but we did a lot of networking between Friday and Saturday and then played on the Sunday and we were quite shocked at the amount of people that we got down, for the time anyway, because it was twenty to one, I think, on the Jerry Fish stage. So we felt that a lot of people would be hungover or wouldnt be at the festival yet so we were delighted to get around 200 odd people down to the tent at that hour so it went really well.
“To be honest it’s still one of those things to us, that’s kind of unusual. We’re still not used to that either. It feels great and obviously, it’s quite reassuring that we put a lot of work and a lot of effort into making music and trying to get it out there in the smartest way possible. So to realize that it’s connecting with people and they’re starting to feel the need to come and see us and check us out. It’s really special and we’re really taken aback by it. “
The band have self-produced ‘Stay Here’, with mixing and finessing by Grammy Winning Ruadhri Cushnan. We discussed how producing their own track gave the band confidence and empowered them.
“Yeah, I think it is quite empowering because when you’re working with producers and other people are involved in the process of songwriting or just the overall recording of a song, different people’s ideas can come in and sometimes it’s for the better and then sometimes, your own ideas may be the best for, a particular song. So yeah, definitely. This time around, being able to convey our own ideas and be confident in what we’re doing was really special to us because it is something that we are used to in terms of demos before we managed to get into the studio and a lot of the time because Adam, Adam studies music production in college so a lot of the time it is quite high quality to a point when we even wrote ‘Stay Here’, it was almost ready to be released. It just needed a little bit of cleaning up but not a lot, that makes us feel even better because it means that we can do this again and we can do it successfully again. So yeah, it certainly is empowering.“
“Yeah, and it’s super handy as well because one thing that we come up against quite a bit is time schedules. Sometimes it can be quite stressful for us when things are outside of our control. So the fact that we’ve released this and people have reacted in such a way to the song… that’s good for us. “
‘Stay Here’ is a groovy light tune filled with shimmering synths and ethereal melodies and shows a different side to the band’s sound. This subtle shift in sound keeps N.O.A.H’s music fresh and invigorating.
“It’s the progression, I suppose in ourselves and how we make songs, but it’s also an experimentation. Sometimes we want to show people of course that we’re not just a one-trick pony and we’ve said from the start that we don’t like being pigeonholed into one genre or one area of music. We like to explore and never let people know your next move kind of vibe you know, sometimes it might not work out, but we’re lucky enough so far, that it has been received quite well. In my own personal view of the song. It reminds me of, I suppose, because we’ve been learning, songwriting, production-wise and stuff like that it’s as if we wrote ‘Hands Up’ now that it’s almost like ‘Hands Up’s’ biggest brother. It’s on those vibes but yeah, it certainly is different. We want our fans to feel refreshed as well as ourselves, it’s for both parties really.”
There is a hypnotic synth melody running throughout the song and Hynes explained how that hook was the birth of the song.
“It literally started off with that kind of a loop and Ryan had his guitar going along with it. There was only probably around a 15-second loop between the guitar and that synth and all of a sudden it started to progress into something because we got a beat behind it. We got a lovely baseline from Adam, and it just started to expand and grow itself. In the end, it just grew legs and we had our Management and our PR saying that this is the single this is something that we need to release now. So yeah, it was actually rather quick, the way it grew and progressed and the last few singles that we’ve put out, haven’t necessarily been that easy in terms of how quickly they formed. So it was certainly a surprise to us, but it’s a good feeling as well because there’s nothing better than when a song comes together immediately and you’re just already excited to release it. But yeah, it did start from that strange little synth loop and progressed from there.“
‘Stay Here’ is a sweet and comforting track with lyrics that offer an unconditional, selfless vow to help a friend in need. Hynes explained to me how the band managed to create this soothing and comforting tone within the music to mirror the lyrics
“Usually how it works is the music always comes first. We all write lyrics and we all have our input once we have a theme and once we have something in which we can connect to but generally how we write songs would be that the music would come and then we will get the feeling from the music and that’s where our theme would then come in. Then we would go and start brainstorming how we were going to write it how we were going to project the overall message of the song and realistically with this song, it is something in which the lyricist observes and comforts a friend in need by giving themselves unconditionally without the need of recognition themselves. So we really wanted to bring out the human elements of the lyrics, and in some ways, it’s preaching what we all need to hear, because, we all have that friend or could be that friend within the story. That was something that we really wanted to convey to the listener. So yeah, it was really important in that way. We went for that soothing, and I suppose comforting elements of a story within these lyrics.”
N.O.A.H’s debut EP ‘Echoes of the Night’ grabbed the attention of those on the international music scene, not just the rock and noise genres. I wondered if the band felt pressure deciding what track would follow the success of that EP.
“I don’t think so, to be honest, because I think with the EP it came out and we’re always super excited for the next thing. We spend a long time working on things that come out and they’re brand new, but they’re not brand new to us. So we’re always moving on to the next idea and always the next step ahead. So for us, it’s more an excitement really. I think the only pressure to us is if we come up with an idea, and we look back and we don’t think it’s to a standard than say, you know, any of the songs on the EP, if we don’t feel that it could match one of them or fit into one of them then that’s where the pressure comes from a writing element. Other than that I think it’s more of an excitement really for us, we’re just excited for the next release. So we released this song on Friday, and we’re already thinking about the next one. So we’re quite happy. I suppose in a way we’ve got a short-term attention span when it comes to what we release because it’s just we’re always excited for the next thing.”
‘Stay Here’ feels like it is an appetizer for an EP or album to come and Hynes explained to me the band’s hopes for releasing music in the coming months.
“So we’re playing around with the idea of having an EP out by December. It’s not entirely confirmed as of yet but it is certainly something that the three of us are playing around with. In terms of an album, it would probably be this time next year before we get an album together because we do really want to sit down when it comes to an album and really spend time to get it all together and do it in a way that we’re happy with, that we can connect with. At the moment, we’re more needing to get ourselves out there on a live basis more so than constantly releasing studio songs. We still see ourselves as a small band and a band that’s still developing. So in order to do that, and in order to get more listeners, more fans, we need to be out there in front of people playing what we already have. So at the moment, it isn’t something that’s on the cards, album wise but certainly an EP you know, we are playing around with the idea. “
The past few months have also seen N.O.A.H dip their toes in the UK market. Working with Lander Pr the band secured regional UK radio play as well as their UK debut TV appearance on CBBC ‘Saturday Mashup’, the guys performed live on the show as well as taking part in games and comedy skits throughout. N.O.A.H also performed on Virgin Media Television’s 6′ O’Clock Show on May 27th. This opportunity gives the band more scope to gain fans and tour new places.
“Yeah, absolutely. You see all your peers and all the people you look up to, obviously they’re doing European tours, American tours and stuff like that and it certainly is something different when you can then turn around and see yourself getting on a plane to go play a gig. It’s something that’s quite surreal to us in a way. We can get in a car and go to Dublin and play a great gig and it feels good. But there’s something quite different about getting on a plane or a boat and going elsewhere to a different country and getting new fans over there. It certainly is exciting and with the UK market we certainly have been trying to get more and more vibes going over there. Thankfully, we have a PR company over there under Lander, so they’ve been helping us out quite a bit over there. So we’re really excited that we have a London gig and Manchester gig and a Glasgow gig coming up in November, and we’re really excited with that and then obviously to finish off those string of gigs in Whelan’s on the eighth of December is something that we’re extremely looking forward to because the last time we played there, the crowd was crazy. So we’re hoping that we can up that game even more to finish out the year. “
“I suppose it brings it all back, as I said, it’s quite surreal going to different countries and stuff like that to play. So then to bring it back to where we started, and almost bring it full circle again, it grounds us when we get there. But the crowd is the fourth member of our band so when they show up, it just makes it even more special for us and reminds us why we do it.”
N.O.A.H are building their sound superbly and fast becoming one of Ireland’s finest indie gems. ‘Stay Here’ is an intriguing glimpse of what’s to come from this talented band. Exciting times ahead.
RATIOS have released their new single ‘Wait Some Time’. RATIOS are a 3 piece Kildare/Wicklow based indie-rock band consisting of lead singer Dan O’Shaughnessy, Liam Brady and Mike O’Sullivan who began as a 2-piece in September 2021. Despite having no luck securing any additional members to add to the line-up, both Liam and Dan entered the studio to release a single that they hoped would draw some attention to their sound and attract a bassist to join. Their first single ‘Yellow Ribbon’ was released on March 10th 2022, and gained the attention of Mike O’Sullivan, who came across an ad which the band had published. Mike became a driving force behind the band’s sound and invited a whole new platform for them to experiment creatively. Since then, RATIOS have performed across some of Dublin’s most iconic venues for new bands (Whelan’s, Fibber Magees, The Workman’s Club) and most recently had the pleasure of opening for Desert Storm while they were on tour.
‘Wait Some Time’ is a blistering new tune that showcases RATIOS’ dynamic and invigorating indie rock. Combining raucous alternative rock with indie melodies and youthful vigour, the band prove they are capable of producing a solid banger sure to have live audiences in a frenzy. Filled with rampant bass lines, shredding guitar hooks, rasped vocals and pounding drum assaults the song has a mammoth wall of sound that is a joy to listen to. ‘Wait Some Time’ is a thrilling new single that marks RATIOS as a band to keep an eye on.
Minus Ten Thousand Hours have released their new EP, ‘Could Be Worse’.Minus Ten Thousand Hours are a Dublin-based band. Formed in 2013, MTTH has evolved from a punk/metal band to a hard-hitting, hook-focused alternative rock band. The band have built a reputation as a live force on the Dublin music scene and are starting to show that around the country.
Blazing on a crushing wall of solid no-nonsense riffs and pounding rhythms, ‘Could Be Worse’ is a mammoth EP from Minus Ten Thousand Hours. The band deliver an onslaught of lean mean alternative rock throughout this EP to create a mosh-ready listening experience. Each song exudes attitude and power from roaring angst rock vocals to catchy melodies and blistering crescendos; it’s a mighty collection of tracks. This EP screams with slick guitar work and insatiable bass grooves. With tunes like ‘Wicked’ and ‘The Fear’ full of smouldering emotions, fiery guitars and ravaging drums the band create a full-bodied soundscape that is thrilling and explosive to listen to.
There is a dark undertone within the tracks especially through ‘Fad Haircut’. The band creep a chilling grunge tone over jagged slicing guitars and pummeling drums while a moody melody haunts throughout. It’s a memorable moment within the album as the crescendo builds becoming more harsh and harrowing with fierce vocals and aggressive riffage.
Minus Ten Thousand Hours present a rip-roaring EP that is exciting to listen to. These guys are a talented bunch and their gritty alternative rock will thrill you to your core and send shivers down your spine with their dynamic musicianship. Keep an eye on these guys.
N.O.A.H have released their new single ‘Stay Here’.’Stay Here’ was self-produced by the band, with mixing and finessing by Grammy Winning Ruadhri Cushnan. N.O.A.H comprises of three lifelong friends Ryan Hill, Adam Rooney, and Ronan Hynes. N.O.A.H formed back in January 2020, on the cusp of a global pandemic! (Great timing) After finishing in college (BIMM Dublin and MU) the group decided to reform an old musical endeavour. Obsessed with the idea of creating something new and a relentless desire to be heard, a fresh canvas was needed. Thus the band took inspiration in its naming from the biblical story of ‘Noah and the Ark’, the ultimate new beginnings story. Already N.O.A.H, have garnered thousands of streams, sold out multiple venues, signed with a major UK agency, supported The Coronas in Ulster Hall, played Main Stage at Sea Sessions 2022, and announced for Ireland’s leading festival Electric Picnic.
Draped in shimmering synths with an 80’s pop sheen ‘Stay Here’ is an emotive new single from N.O.A.H as the band delve into a new facet of their catchy indie sound. With a dreamy melody drifting atop glittering guitars, spongy beats and an irresistible bass groove the band have created a tune that boasts their tight musicianship and refined songwriting. It’s a sweet and comforting track with lyrics that offer an unconditional, selfless vow to help a friend in need. Ryan Hill croons,” I’ll take your pain if it means that you would stay here” over a supple warm melody while the bubbling backdrop creates an ethereal atmosphere throughout. Tender and earnest with a lush instrumental backdrop ‘Stay Here’ is a sublime glimpse into the boundless talent of N.O.A.H
Jim McHugh has released his new single ‘Can’t Feel Anymore’.This is the second single from Jim’s upcoming fourth album ‘I Whisper to the Dawn’. ‘Can’t Feel Anymore’ was recorded, produced and mixed by Alex Borwick (Niamh Reagan, James Vincent McMorrow) at Transmission Rooms Studios, Drumlish, Longford and The Stables Studio, Castleblayney, Monaghan. It was mastered by Fergal Davis (Sinéad O’Connor/Muse). ‘Can’t Feel Anymore’ features Jim McHugh on Vocals/Backing Vocals, Electric Guitar, Paul McCabe on Bass/ Backing Vocals, Paul Sherry on Electric Guitar, James ‘Butch’ McNeill on Drums, Alex Borwick on Trombone and Ronan Morgan on Backing Vocals.
Riding on a relentless buzz of biting guitars and punchy rhythms, ‘Can’t Feel Anymore’ is a fiery anthem from Jim McHugh. Showcasing the artist’s powerful indie rock in all its glory the track discusses social media influencers and the artist’s disdain for the power they yield and their negative influence on society, “Do your followers conform?Oh yeah, they’re all under control with a flick of my hand, But your selling lies online, Oh yeah, I’m an influencer and I’m influencing you”.With swaggering rock bravado, infectious melodies and invigorating soundscapes ‘Can’t Feel Anymore’ is a catchy musical delight from Jim McHugh.
Hawke The Band have released their new single, ‘Miracles’. Hawke The Band was formed in 2018 by two friends in the shadow of the world-famous Guinness Brewery (in the south of the city) and features Richie Power (vocals/keyboards) and Eoghan MacMahon (vocals/guitar). Irish rock legends Aslan quickly declared themselves major fans, with frontman Christy Dignam proclaiming Hawke The Band “the next big thing” to emerge from a country that consistently punches above its weight in terms of quality music.
Propelling at an exciting pace ‘Miracles’ is a highly charged shot of adrenaline from Hawke The Band. The jubilant tune showcases Hawke The Band’s distinctive melodic prowess and anthemic, infectious sound in all its glory. The song starts off unhurried with just guitar accompaniment and warm vocals before springing into motion with driving rhythms and a vibrant wall of sound that is sure to have listeners dancing and singing along in no time. The charm of this band’s sound is irresistible and ‘Miracles’ is a fine display of this. The track is a joy to listen to and beckons repeat plays. Turn it up loud and enjoy.
Dublin’s postmodern, post-punk indie outfit TV People have released their new single ‘Circle’.‘Circle’ was recorded and mixed at Battery Studios London by Grammy award-winning Caesar Edmunds (QOTSA, ST Vincent, Foals) and assistant engineer Joshua Rumble. The track was mastered by Christian Wright (Radiohead, FONTAINES D.C) at Abbey Road Studios. Since forming in 2019, the band have honed their craft across the live scene, playing in some of Ireland and the U.K’s most iconic venues.
Filled with expressive soundscapes and immersive tones ‘Circle’ is a striking new single from TV People. Within the track, there are many contrasting elements at play that contort and blend throughout. A fine example of this is the ethereal guitar flurries and haunting vocals that interplay with dark bass rumbles and pounding drum progressions – the result is a compelling and evocative atmosphere for the listener’s imagination to indulge in. ‘Circle’ is an exciting musical marvel, a thrilling listening experience, and an excellent example of TV People’s ever-evolving sound.
Of their new single, singer Paul Donohoe says, “We wrote ‘Circle’ as a tribute to our loved ones and friends and to the countless times that we have relied on each other in times of difficulty. It explores the feeling of being lost within yourself and how you can find identity and meaning in the shared experiences and compassion of those around you.”
Following a wave of highly-praised singles over the last few months, including ‘Don’t Wanna’, ‘Us’, ‘Follow You’, ‘Islands’ and ‘Familiar’, Irish indie-pop-rockers modernlove. have now released their eagerly-awaited new EP ‘Oh My Mind’ through Akira Records (Phoria, Henry Green, Mt. Wolf, Rosie Carney, Shura). modernlove. will also be embarking on their first UK and Ireland tour in November later this year. Demand for these shows has been so overwhelming, the band have added a new date at London’s Camden Assembly on the 8th November, with their Manchester performance which was upgraded to YES! (Basement) has now sold out.
‘Oh My Mind’ is a fizzing collection of fantastic indie pop songs full of earnest lyrics, heartfelt melodies and invigorating sonic embellishments. This band craft their songs meticulously and the result is exhilarating musicianship. From the effervescent electronics on ‘Island’, elastic bass grooves in ‘Don’t Wanna’, brooding atmospheres in ‘Familiar’ and rush of instrumentation in ‘Us’, each song possesses glorious musical moments that are a joy to listen to again and again.
However, it is ‘Take My Hand’ and title track ‘Oh My Mind’ that steal the show. Boasting fluttering rhythms, shimmering synths and sun-kissed guitar elements these two tracks highlight just how good modernlove. are as artists. The expressive instrumentation and deft production is a delight to listener’s ears and offer a spine-tingling listening experience to indulge in.
Not only do modernlove. deliver on lush dynamic pop backdrops and intoxicating melodies their lyrics are deep and speak of heavy themes; mental health, loneliness and yearning. Well phrased and evocative songwriting is delivered by Barry Lally’s emotive vocal delivery. He pours tenderness and passion over the poetic lyrics and truly brings the subject matter to life.
“She left his room when he lost his balance and She didn’t move back in again when he found it” – Island, “Babe something feels strange drank wine but then you spilt your cup, had a good time but never carpet is stained, it has to be torn up” -’Us’.
Throughout ‘Oh My Mind’ modernlove.’s honesty, vulnerability and deft musical prowess leaves much to be admired. This heartfelt body of work that is filled with spectacular musicianship, keeps modernlove. on the ones to watch list.
Speaking about the new single, they said, “Oh my mind explores the modern day neuroses of young people and the mental health challenges brought upon them by pop culture, the internet and most recently, the coronavirus lockdowns. I think we all went a little mad over lockdown and most of this EP was written in that state of social isolation. Without distraction or release from cycles of negative thought you can begin to spiral to the point of derealisation and being in a constant state of panic. But then we kinda juxtaposed that by a brighter and more playful sonic composition. I think as young people, we tend to joke about our mental health as a way of relating to one another and not feeling so alone in all of it. So it felt natural to write a poppy, upbeat song about such dark themes rather than treating them with a forced solemnity and formality.”
modernlove. will be embarking on their first UK and Ireland tour in November later this year. See the dates below
UK
2 – Birmingham – Hare & Hounds
3 – Manchester – YES! (Basement) ***UPGRADED VENUE / SOLD OUT ***
