The culmination of six months of dedicated work, Joel Camille has released a brand new album ‘Folk Against the Machine IV: Holy River’ featuring brand new songs, along with songs that he has played live over the last decade. A performer and songwriter with over 25 years of experience, Queensland-based Joel Camille made his name playing anything and everything on a six-string Dreadnought acoustic. Picking up the Harmonica in 2011 cemented Camille’s style in a rootsy mix of influences that Camille styles as Folk Against the Machine, also the name of his debut album.
‘Folk Against the Machine IV: Holy River’ is a wholesome and moving collection of folk-infused tunes that showcases the emotive songwriting of Joel Camille. This guitar-focused album takes a minimalist approach instrumentally as Camille focuses on melody and intricate guitar manoeuvres to create a warm atmosphere within the album. With buoyant passionate ditties like ‘Plans of Oblivion’ and lamenting harmonica pines on tracks like ‘The Beauty That He Gave’, the album oozes soft supple soundscapes and delicate melodies making for a satisfying listening experience.
‘Folk Against the Machine IV: Holy River’ is fused together as a cohesive album with the river motif. The river motif represents love, sorrow, spirituality and power. “During the writing and recording process, my community was devastated by a dramatic flood event,” explains Camille who feels that joy and horror mingle together on the album as a reflection of this tragic event. Camille hopes that this album conveys the message of extending familial relationships out towards communities, to repair, maintain, and create relationships.
Stream ‘Folk Against the Machine IV: Holy River’ below
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.”
Neil Dexter has released his new single,’I’ll Be Ready’, the final single from his forthcoming debut album due October 14th 2022. Along with the album announcement and single release, Dexter shares details for his debut headline show in Dublin’s Workman’s Cellar on October 20th. Tickets are available through Singular Artists.
‘I’ll Be Ready‘ is a rich and compelling tune from start to finish. The track is a fine display of musicianship as Dexter deftly blends contrasting elements together to create a mesmerising listening experience. Dark propulsive beats create a push-pull effect that draws the listener into the track’s immersive soundscapes while flashing synths, dynamic bass and indie rock guitar moments inject a gritty/edgy element to the track.
‘I’ll Be Ready’ is truly a magnificent piece of music. It’s lushly textured and meticulously layered to create a constantly evolving soundscape that is an exciting rush to the senses. A fine example of this is Dexter’s sweet vocals coupled with the track’s pop-speckled melody that subtly contrasts the fuzzing soundscapes and bubbling rhythms allowing the song to take on a dreamy almost psychedelic state before it progresses to its intoxicating crescendo – simply divine. ‘I’ll Be Ready’ is a wonderful example of Neil Dexter’s exquisite musicianship.
Dexter describes ‘I’ll Be Ready’ as a “Frankenstein composition comprised of three different ideas saved in one project file” that he’d been working on in his Dublin-based home studio. Expanding upon the demo with David A. Tapley (Tandem Felix) and recording engineer Stephen Dunne, Dexter notes that their guidance allowed him to approach the arrangement without artistic boundaries; layering textures and taking the song in different directions. Lyrically, ‘I’ll Be Ready’ confronts feelings of apprehension. Neil says, “I wrote the song when I was in my mid-to-late 20s, it’s about jumping into the next stage of your life and the fear of not knowing whether or not you’re ready to take those steps. In those moments, you try to reassure yourself by saying, ‘Ok, I’m ready. I’ll be able to do this,’ whilst simultaneously having a sense of uncertainty. I think at one point or another, everyone goes through this feeling of overcoming self-doubt.”
22-year-old Irish artist-songwriter, Bradley Marshall has just released his brand new single ‘Better Left Unsaid’. I caught up with the singer-songwriter to talk about the single, his upcoming headline show in The Workman’s Cellar and working with Danny O’Donoghue (The Script), Ryan Hennessy and Jimmy Rainsford (Picture This), Jimbo Barry and David Lucius King on the song.
“Yeah, it’s quite surreal to be honest, working with people that I’ve looked up to for the last few years and writing with them was a really great experience because you get to understand how they work and you learn a lot from it. So it was really cool.”
“It was kind of me bringing some ideas to them and then they had ideas for me and so we just mixed them together. But, I’m confident in my ideas and what I had. It was daunting at first, but when they said that they liked the ideas and stuff then it was really cool.”
“Luckily enough when I was in London with the guys, we were there for two days and we got three or four songs done which was really cool, which doesn’t really happen a lot but I’m happy that it did work out that way.”
“Sometimes I think when I go into a studio ‘will something come out of today?’ but if something doesn’t come out of studio session, then that’s okay. You just do it again and again and again and something will finally come.”
‘Better Left Unsaid’ is a wonderfully tender tune that discusses coming to terms with the fact that some relationships are just not meant to be. Marshall told me how the idea for the song formed and the personal concept of the song.
“In relationships sometimes things aren’t just meant to be and that’s okay, and sometimes things are just better left unsaid. That’s why it’s called Better Left Unsaid, yeah, that was the reason behind the song.”
“It was on my behalf an experience, but it was also an idea that the lads had as well. So when they actually had the idea I was like, that’s really cool because I’ve actually experienced something like this.”
Emotional cinematic tunes seem to be Marshall’s forte. ‘Better Left Unsaid’ follows the heart-gripping power ballad aesthetic of his first single ‘Make Believe’ – the song exudes lush soundscapes and an elegant soaring piano melody before the anthemic chorus kicks in.
“Personally, I don’t love too much crazy production because I think the piano and vocals are really most important to me. You can add some drums and some strings just to make it really heartfelt and emotional that’s really all that I need in a song. So when I’m writing, I imagine the production and I say to the lads what I would like in it. Jimmy Rainsford produces most of the stuff that I do right now, and he’s just incredible. So, I let him just do what he does and I’m always happy with it.”
Marshall released a stripped-back performance of the song which was captured on video by Jimmy Rainsford during a recent London trip and recorded in Hoxa Studios. Stripped-back versions of Marshall’s songs are so impactful. Marshall told me he feels at his best performing live.
“Yeah, I’ve done a few gigs, the last couple of months and it’s just been my pianists, Jake Richardson and me and I feel that’s where I thrive”
The track is awash with relatable content and eloquent lyrics. Lines such as “few more years of being broken trying to right my wrongs and when I find a brand new person I’ll still write you breakup songs” are honest and impactful. We discussed how daunting it is for artists to pour their heart and feelings into lyrics for other people to hear and interpret.
“Yeah it really is because you’re putting all your personal experiences that you haven’t really talked about to anybody into a song, and everybody listens. So everybody knows what you’ve gone through and stuff like that. So it’s a little bit daunting, but that’s the reason why I do it because I know that through my experiences other people will also have experiences like that, and that’s why I write music. I want people to relate to it”
“It’s absolutely therapeutic for me. Definitely. I’m not the best at talking about things. So writing was always my way of just getting things down. It’s literally like talking to somebody when you’re writing a song because you’re putting it out there even though it’s not out yet. When you’re writing on paper it’s still like you’re putting it out to somebody. So yeah, it’s definitely therapeutic for me.”
The last time we spoke Marshall told me he was building up his tunes and I wondered if we can look forward to an EP soon.
“Yeah definitely. I do have a next single lined up. I will probably do singles until the end of the year, maybe two or three more and then next year, we’ll think about something like that [an EP]. Last time we talked, I didn’t have many, but now I have a lot of songs lined up so they’re all ready to go out and it’s just about patience and time. “
Bradley Marshall is a talented artist who is growing and developing his sound wonderfully. He is an artist to keep an eye on and his velvety voice is sure to charm all who hear it. Luckily for fans, Marshall has some live shows coming up.
“I actually just announced my debut headline show in Workman’s Cellar on December 16th. So really happy about that and then I’m also playing a festival next month Kildareso yeah, just a few things lined up”
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 ***
Renowned session musician Jake Richardson, who has worked with Dermot Kennedy, Lyra, Mark Feehily, Robert Grace, Ryan Mack, and Tim Chadwick, has released his original Project “JNR” with his new single ‘Fallin’.
‘Fallin’ is a slick alternative pop tune that glissades along infectious grooves and wonderous melodies. The track is a fine display of Richardson’s fresh, immersive sound and is a joy to listen to. Smooth vocals coo between warm guitar lines, a buoyant bass and punctuated beats to create a laid-back, easy listening experience for listeners to indulge in. Boasting soft R&B tones and groovy jazz embellishments ‘Fallin’ is a musical gem that showcases Richardson’s exciting musicianship in all its glory.
Richardson states the track is “…about investing too much of yourself in someone too early when you’re not sure if the feeling is mutual”
East Manchester indie band Palava have released their new EP’ Just Look Into My Eyes’.This swagger-dipped alternative rock EP is filled with gritty riffs, groove-laced rhythms and slick musicianship. Palava create soaring and exhilarating tunes laced with rich sonic embellishments and ‘Just Look Into My Eyes’ is the perfect example of this. The EP blends vigorous indie rock with sweet tender moments to create an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. From the sharp rock n roll saunter of title track ‘Just Look Into My Eyes’ and the punchy edge of ‘Yesterday Is Calling’ to the pining sharp guitar in ‘Rainy Day’, the band pack emotion and power into each song. Boasting heartfelt melodies, shredding guitar moments and pummeling rhythms the band create an invigorating wall of sound that is a joy to listen to.
‘Just Look Into My Eyes’ is a satisfying body of work from Palava. The energy, passion and vigour bursting from this EP is admirable. Each track oozes charm and showcases the refined and infectious sound of Palava.
Lewis Tivey has released a music video for his new tune ‘Seed You’ which is taken from his debut EP ‘Bittersweet’ which was released earlier this year. Aiming to recreate the energy of late 70s/early 90s punk, the video is set in an abandoned warehouse and stars a guitar destined to an early doom. First picking up the guitar aged 16, Lewis Tivey cut his chops gigging with a local band. Tivey released his first album with this band, a completely DIY project that enjoyed some success. Whilst the band parted ways, Tivey never lost his creative spark. Styling himself as an alternative DIY Rock, Tivey is on a mission to prove that you don’t need a fancy studio to make it.
‘Seed You’ is a coarse, adrenaline fulled tune that rushes with angsty punk and thrilling grunge-smeared sonics. It’s a high-energy song that builds becoming more fierce with each verse. Biting guitars spiral over a rampant bass and drum foundation to create an edgy and manic wall of sound before chilled vocals nonchalantly croon the grunge-hued melody. Featuring shrilling vocal screams and distorted guitar wails between a thumping drum progression and immersive dark soundscape ‘Seed You’ is a thrilling and equally chilling track.
Isle of Man’s Ocean’s Avenue have released their second single ‘Overdo$ed’. Written after seeing a friend leaving a toxic relationship which resulted in turning towards alcohol and drugs, ‘Overdo$ed’ carries relatable images of hitting rock bottom, trying to get over someone. Collaborating with Ben Donaldson (VooDoo Bandits), Jamie McIntyre and Graeme of Two Zero Nine Mastering has allowed Ocean’s Avenue to unlock their sound and achieve their vision. Ocean’s Avenue formed in March 2020, just days before COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were implemented. Despite the subsequent challenges that followed for the whole music industry, Ocean’s Avenue have already secured several live shows, delivering electrifying performances that have allowed their fan base to grow. The boys are currently hard at work recording their first album, consisting of songs they have written together over the past year.
‘Overdo$ed’ is an energetic blast of indie punk that fleshes out Ocean’s Avenue’s catchy and buoyant sound. The band create a bubbling soundscape of elastic bass grooves and driving rhythms with sharp lacerations on guitars that gash throughout. The track is an impressive display of musicianship and a joy to listen to. Filled with an infectious melody and sing-along chorus ‘Overdo$ed’ is a vibrant and energetic tune from Ocean’s Avenue.
Corner Boy have released their new single ‘Kingdom Come and Go’. I spoke with singer Mick D’Arcy about the new single, upcoming gigs and their fantastic video filmed in Johnstown Castle.
‘Kingdom Come and Go’ is a spirited tune laced with the band’s passionate musicianship and irresistible melodies. With a foot-tapping rhythm and vibrant instrumentation, this song is a musical gem sure to delight listener’s ears.
“This was a song that we had worked on a couple of years ago. Sometimes, you might work on a song and it might not click at that moment, but we were in a rehearsal room about two years ago and we were playing through the song and yeah, it just came back to life. Sometimes it happens with songs that when you play it, just new ideas will come to it and I guess the story of the song as well, it’s an exploration of a connection between two people, the highs and the lows. So we started working on the song with the new energy we had brought. We were able to finish it then lyrically as well. That new energy like I said, it just breathed life back into it. So it was a song that we had on the backburner for a long time and we just thought it’d be a great single to release”
There is a lively atmosphere in the song enhanced by fiddle and banjo elements. Corner Boy pivot the track around the fiddle/banjo embellishments and driving guitar to create a folk/ indie fusion that is a joy to listen to.
” I guess our sound will be considered to be folk and from a young age, we would have been raised in the folk tradition with aspects of traditional Irish music as well. That’s always really important for us to retain what got us into music, folk and traditional Irish music. It’s really important as a band to try to find the balance with contemporary sounds as well. You’re brought up in traditional music from a young age but then, you know, you leave home, you see a bit of the world on your own two feet, you take new sounds and you begin to allow yourself to be influenced by newer ideas, new sounds and contemporary themes, music structures and songwriting. So combining that with what we knew from a folk sense, all of a sudden for us as a band, we arrived in this place of writing songs that sounded really fresh and exciting to us and something worth developing. So I guess it’s kind of exploring the potential of that feeling. That’s where we are as a band, taking a bit of old, taking a bit of new and then finding something that’s fresh and exciting in between too.”
‘Kingdom Come and Go’ is awash with lush instrumentation and driving rhythms. The song is brimming with emotive sounds yet each element within the track has its place allowing the expressive soundscape to flourish without becoming overpowering.
“We’ve had a lot of years to refine that process and what it feels like to us. It’s a delicate enough thing. When the band first started out, we released our first EP. It was very roots orientated. It was folk it was traditional Irish influenced, then we would have released another EP that was a bit more Indie influenced and another one that was a bit more rock influenced. So we finally feel that, you know, we’re in a position this year where we’re releasing our debut album that we’ve kind of taken all of that learning, that journey over the last 9/10 years as a band and I guess two years ago, when we decided to finally sit down and record the album we felt that we were in this comfortable position where we really knew the essence of what we were trying to do. We had gone through all of the different stages to get to this point and we feel that’s fairly self evident in the music. We’ve gone through this whole cycle of different genres and exploring them and we’ve emerged with this original sound that’s very much representative of ourselves. “
“I think a lot of artists put a lot of pressure on themselves to be this new all encompassing, fresh and exciting sound. Our band started in fairly humble, modest surroundings. One of the main things we wanted to do was just play a gig outside of Wexford and to write three or four original songs and then all of a sudden, we just had this massive creative burst from early on in the band. We started getting invited to play festivals and we had to start building a set and it was a really, really exciting time for us. When you put yourself under that kind of pressure, a lot of things can get rushed. So we said we’re going to try to take the pressure out of that scenario at all costs and slowly develop our sound, not rush it and make sure that the music is something that’s representative of all of us. It was trying to make sure that we had this collective sound that represented us all equally. That can be a really difficult thing to do. Sometimes that takes time and it certainly took time. My one piece of advice is; try if at all possible to take the pressure out of the situation as much as you can and allow the space and time that you need to evolve naturally. We feel collectively as a band now that we’ve certainly arrived at that place.“
Corner Boy’s songs are filled with vivid imagery, and ‘Kingdom Come and Go’ is no exception. Lines such as “Your careless and free, A Lark on the breeze “ are simple yet wonderfully evocative and add a poetic aspect to the band’s music.
“Some songs take a long time to write, some songs take you know only five minutes. This was one of those songs that we had originally written the music of but lyrically it’s something that came really quickly. Some people think that’s a really good thing, some people think not so much but for us we were happy this song emerged naturally and finished itself really quickly with regards to the lyrics. This song is about the discussion of connection between two people. It’s almost like a back-and-forth conversation at times, you know, talking about the idea of connection, and what it would mean to one another. So describing these things and bringing in aspects of narrative and storytelling that’s really important to us – painting that vivid imagery within the song and allowing it to match up with the energy of the music as well is key. So, yeah, these different musical ideas within the song that are kind of soaring, really powerful and energetic the music, just trying to match that. So I guess we felt that we had done that really well with the single in particular, then as a result, we decided to have this as a great representation of us, where we are now musically, sonically, lyrically.”
The vocals in this song are quite powerful. It’s not one for a timid vocalist and D’Arcy delivers a goosebump-inducing performance. We discussed his vocal talents and if he was always a confident singer.
“No, I certainly wasn’t a confident singer. I remember in primary school, there was 36 people in my class and 33 of them got picked for the school choir, I was one of the three that didn’t. I always had my own style, but I guess this is something that would have come out from us playing around at different sessions being around other musicians. For me, it was always important, playing with other musicians to have a voice that really had an impact to it and was able to be quiet when it was needed in certain parts of songs, but you know, really show the power of what you’re trying to connect with in the lyrics when it’s needed and I guess, it arrived with this song.The song is incredibly vibrant, energetic and impactful. The vocal melody really needed to match that at certain points. So we’re quite lucky with the band as well that we have five different vocalists as well, five individual strong singers. Yeah we were blessed when it came to laying down backing vocals and stuff like that as well. It was a nice challenge for us to be able to match the intensity of certain parts of the songs.”
The band have released the music video for ‘Kingdom Come and Go’. Shot in Johnstown Castle the band discuss the theme of the song through wonderful visuals.
“We wanted something that embodied [ the ] story. We shoot all of our own music videos, we storyboard it all together, we direct everything. So everything is very much self-contained within the band, all the visuals all of the artwork, it’s done by the band. So the story was that the castle in essence you know, somebody’s been stuck really in their own mind and trying to wander around and figure out what exactly they wanted from a relationship or a conversation and that’s what we’re exploring lyrically in the song.The castle is something that’s very much representative of that, you’re stuck in this place, and you’re trying to figure your way out. The conversations that you have with yourself and the actions that you go through to find your way out of it. So it’s something we wanted to to get across. We all [the band] live within 10 minutes from each other in County Wexford and the one thing in that area is this place called Johnston Castle. It’s right in the middle where all of us live. For a long time, we would have all driven by this huge place and thought wouldn’t it be amazing to shoot a video there one day and luckily enough they were like absolutely. They gave us the keys to the place and we’re able to create the story that we wanted that would match lyrically with the song and for the video to be dynamic and interesting. We feel we achieved that anyway, with the video. We’re really happy with it.”
Corner Boy’s debut album is due for release in October 2022 and D’Arcy told me what gigs the band have planned to celebrate the release.
“Yeah, so I guess our next show will be I think we’re okay to announce that we’re playing Electric Picnic at the start of September so that will be one of the first airings of the song which we’re really, really excited about. Then after that we have dates that are going to be launched soon for shows in our hometown in Wexford, then in Dublin and Whelan’s in October when we’re releasing the album as well. Information on that is going to be coming out in the next week or two. So we’re really excited to start gigging again and be able to air the album in full in the live setting. That’s really, really important to us. Playing live is the thing that’s always been central to the band. So we’re looking forward to getting back on the road from September onwards.”
Corner Boy package their exciting and kinetic sound in one fiery heartfelt tune and the result is a song that boasts glorious melodies, rich instrumentation and heartfelt emotion. Featuring surging brass sections, gripping fiddle outbursts and an anthemic sing-along chorus, ‘Kingdom Come and Go’ is a fine example of Corner Boy’s immense talent.
Watch the video for ‘Kingdom Come and Go’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
