Berlin-based Irish singer-songwriter Danny O Connor is set to release his new album, ‘WISDOM & GRAFT’ on September 30th. Like most musicians around the globe, Berlin-based Irish singer-songwriter Danny O Connor found himself at home with no live gigs to play in the foreseeable future with Murphy’s Law, his beloved and normally busy Irish Folk Band, in March 2020. Between making a living as a Graphic Designer and keeping then three-year-old daughter Roxy entertained, he took to the guitar and a notebook. O Connor used the involuntary break from live music during the Covid-pandemic well: Together with long-term friend, producer and musical collaborator Moe Jaksch, he spent many studio sessions writing, arranging and recording new songs, resulting in the album WISDOM & GRAFT
Awash with wholesome melodies, country twangs and a plethora of energetic instrumentation ‘WISDOM & GRAFT’ is an impressive and compelling collection of tracks. ‘New Life’, ‘Closed Doors’ and ‘Empty’ all surge with hearty anthemic musicianship that captures a sense of adrenaline while O Connor showcases his diversity by blending indie elements, folk tones and wonderful melodic progressions together to create unique soundscapes throughout.
Within ‘‘WISDOM & GRAFT’ each song flows into the next with ease, subtly revealing different aspects of O’Connor’s musicianship making for a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. This is best shown within swooning slow burners ‘Rain Maker’, ‘The Winner’ and ‘The Lullaby’ which drift along sweet infectious melodies while ‘Northern Lights’, which features Berlin-based gospel/soul legends Ingrid Arthur and Tracey Duncan on backing vocals melds indie rock swagger with elements of gospel power.
Brimming with radiance, traditional tones and musical refinement, ‘WISDOM & GRAFT’ is a wonderful new album from O Connor and marks him as an artist to keep an eye on.
Pauric O’ Meara has released his new single ‘Lately’. Pauric O’ Meara is an independent Pop/Rock singer-songwriter from Co. Tipperary, based in Dublin. Over the last few years, O’ Meara has seen his headline shows sell out all over Ireland, including venues such as The Workmans Club, The Grand Social, Monroes, Dolans and Cyprus Avenue, as well as supporting major acts such as Hermitage Green and Hudson Taylor, and stand out performances at festivals such as Electric Picnic, Sounds of Summer and Kaleidoscope.
‘Lately’ is a shimmering indie pop tune that boasts Pauric O’ Meara’s catchy and vibrant musicianship. Driven by a bubbling beat, bright funky guitars, and luscious synth embellishments, the track has an expressive soundscape that simmers for the verses before becoming more energetic for the chorus. With soft tropical elements wisping about the radiant instrumentation O’Meara creates an upbeat gem that oozes a sense of euphoria while honest lyrics deal with themes of relationships, friendships and the importance of the time spent and how we spend it. O’ Meara’s music is a joy to listen to and ‘Lately’ is a fine display of how diverse and exciting this artist is.
Damian McGinty has released his new single ‘Like Moments Do’ alongside announcing his upcoming album “Moments” which is out on the 25th November. I spoke to the singer-songwriter about what inspired the song, how this new album is a new creative facet to his songwriting and a new cycle to his sound and the prospect of an Irish show.
“This is the start of a new cycle for me and a cycle I’m really excited about. It’s been such a fun creative experience writing this album and the theme and the feelings behind it are very important to me. I stand strongly behind what the album represents and what the new single represents. I’m genuinely proud of it. Yes, this is what my music looks like right now. It’s common knowledge that as an artist, the hardest thing to do is, find your sound and hone in on that. ‘Moments Do’ is just a perfect representation of where I am as an artist and I just think it’s an uplifting song that I’m excited for people to hear and enjoy in their own time.”
“Honestly, it wasn’t even something that I was searching for. It’s a period of time that I went through where last autumn myself and my wife moved from California to Nashville. We bought our first home, moved across the country and what I didn’t expect, was just shortly after the very harsh covid period, in the industry and it had fully reopened I was just so slammed with work, and with the personal life and moving across the country and setting up a home. So it was the first time ever in my life that I was waking up every day and just felt like I was suffocating. It just felt like I couldn’t catch a breath. Like I was on a hamster wheel and I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t get off. No matter what I did. It just wasn’t working and my brain was going 1 million miles an hour every day and it felt very overwhelming for a fairly long period of time. Then I just started having some conversations about how to fix it like how to slow things down a little, how to be more present and that’s just where ‘Moments Do’ was born. It’s about appreciating small moments. It’s about appreciating moments that don’t get the notoriety or the recognition. You know life isn’t always about bright lights and limousines in the magazines and the billboards and as the song says, it can be something as simple as having a coffee in the morning or having a conversation with your family or just the really simple stuff that doesn’t get recognition. It was about being present and appreciating those moments. That’s just where the single was born. That’s where the whole album grew from.”
‘Like Moments Do’ is a bright upbeat song filled with warm guitar and light piano twinkles between a powerful uplifting soundscape. There is something soothing about the song that creates a wholesome atmosphere throughout.
“Yeah, you’re spot on. I think we started out the session and I was very clear that I wanted something upbeat. But I wanted, it not just upbeat. I wanted it to be hopeful. I think hopeful is the keyword. So you know whenever you go into a writing session, you sometimes throw things on a page or you’ve been messing around with a few chords on the guitar and the piano, whatever it might look like, but just hoping that you can find something and for this particular song, I really knew what I wanted. I’ve been writing all week at this point in Nashville and it was the last session of the week and I just want to write something hopeful. I want to write something that feels like it’s gonna inspire people. I want people to feel simultaneously like they’re getting a hug but also like they’re being told that your life is as normal as my life and that’s great. You don’t need big lights. You don’t need your name on billboards, on magazines. You don’t need all that to live a fantastic life, social media truly is a highlight reel and that’s all we see and therefore that’s a problem of our generation. You compare yourself to what you see on your phone. But yet the moments of the song talks about the in between moments that I think actually have the most beauty. When you are present in those moments, you learn to appreciate them a little more. So it’s definitely like a tip of the hat to all of that.”
The single comes alongside the announcement of McGinty’s upcoming album “Moments” which is out on the 25th November and the singer explained to me the concept behind this album.
“This is the first single and it is the concept of the album. So the whole album dives into these moments that I’m talking about, these moments of the in-between. Different moments in our lives where we feel happiness, where we feel sadness, where we feel contentment, where we’ve been challenged. It’s an album that goes on a journey of all of that and what I like to call you know the journey of the in-between because it really is about normal life and because I just felt there wasn’t a lot of representation for that and I think that a lot of people will hopefully relate. So the album really goes on a journey of all of that and ‘Moments Do’ is the lead single. It’s the perfect song I think to represent the first track and to give the flavour of the album. Then the album takes you on a journey through the in-between.”
In 2021 McGinty released a pandemic project, where he released a new single every month. This album takes a different approach. We discussed how differently he approached this album.
“Initially whenever you’re starting out a project or a record and you’ve got a blank canvas sometimes the only way to start filling that canvas is to just naturally start writing and start creating and see what comes out. That was the really fun thing about this project. I did start writing and start essentially, like painting on the canvas for the lack of another analogy, I started painting on the canvas, and the album and the idea started presenting itself very early on. So I was able to hone in on what boxes I wanted ticked on the album because the album is all about being present and recognizing little moments that never get the recognition because life so fast-paced. Because the album is about that I was reminded on a daily basis to be present. I was reminded on a daily basis to slow down. So it happened to be the record cycle that I’ve enjoyed the most just because I was so present and just because it didn’t feel overwhelming. The entire process has not felt overwhelming. It’s felt well timed, well-paced, so much so that the last song on the album is a song I was able to write whenever the other 10 tracks were already finished. I was like, I want to write a song that really wraps up this theme and I was able to do that which is not like any other writing experience I’ve ever had. So that felt really nice as well.”
To celebrate the release of his new album, Damian McGinty will be hitting the road this autumn for his ‘Live in the Moment’ tour across the US, with dates in eastern Canada as well. With a lot of artists approaching touring differently since the pandemic, I wondered if McGinty was going to take touring at a slower pace and if a show in Ireland would be a possibility.
“Yeah, I’m really excited to get on the road. I’m really excited to perform this music. Obviously, I’ve never performed it live yet. It’s gonna be great. Live music looks a lot different now. It just feels different in a very weird way and I think almost in a healthy way live music for the artist doesn’t feel like it’s 100% necessary anymore. I’m trying to explain that because I’ve seen a lot of artists being like I don’t want to tour right now. It’s not good for my health. It’s not good. So I think we’re entering a really healthy period for music, where people are not letting it define them. Which is really important because touring, sometimes can feel like the be-all and end all and how many shows you do in a year, defines how successful your year is. Whereas now, people are just learning a little more to look after themselves and the music and the performance will then benefit from that. So it’s almost like a partnership. It’s like if you take care of your health, and if you’re in a good place, then the performances don’t feel like a chore. They just feel like something that you enjoy, and that you happen to do and you’re lucky enough to do. So that’s where I’m at. I’ve been just trying to be present, be steady look after myself and then I just feel very fortunate that I get going and do six weeks of live shows in the autumn. That just feels really exciting to me to get to see people on a face to face basis. So I’m really excited.”
“It’s something that I’m very interested in [ a show in Ireland]. I’m heavily considering so I’ve had a couple of conversations about it. At the moment, it’s most certainly a watch this space thing so yeah, that’s definitely something I’m gonna keep my eye on.”
Filled with wonderfully expressive instrumentation, sweeping melodies and warm lyrical content ‘Like Moments Do’ is a compelling glimpse into the joyous musicianship of Damian McGinty. This song is a fantastic appetizer for his upcoming album.
FYA FOX has released her new single ‘Like Loving Jesus’.Following a stellar set of releases, sold out Whelans Dublin headliner (Nov 2021), showcased at Ireland’s leading festival for emerging artists Ireland Music Week and selected to play the BBC Introducing Stage at OutPut & Stendhal Festival, FYA is gearing up to play her 1st ever UK festival Live At Leeds (Oct 15th). Gaining major support across Irish national and regional radio stations along with plays on BBC Radio 1, ‘Track of The Week’ features on RTE 2FM, Spin South West and Today FM, to mention a few. To date FYA has gained over 203K Spotify streams with playlisting on ‘New Music Friday’, ‘New Pop UK’, ‘EASY’, ‘Chilled Pop Hits’, ‘New Pop Revolution’, ‘Fresh Finds’ and ‘Fresh Finds Pop’, along with playlisting on BBC Radio Ulster ‘Where Music Matters’.
‘Like Loving Jesus’ is powerful alternative pop at its finest. FYA presents a soul-filled tune brimming with catchy melodies and R&B tones that is a joy to listen to again and again. Melancholic verses brood atop a lamenting piano and ethereal soundscapes before a vibrant punchy chorus kicks in. The track is an emotive-filled banger from start to finish enhanced by gospel elements and lush textures throughout. Produced to perfection with FYA’s compelling vocals at the helm, ‘Like Loving Jesus’ confirms FYA FOX as a true force to be reckoned with.
About the track FYA said: “I wrote this song over zoom with Bill Maybury (Cian Ducrot, Ryan Mac, Lenii & Fia Moon) & Matt Weir during lockdown. I’d been listening to a lot of Noah Cyrus at the time, so I feel like some inspiration for the session came from that”.
Blood Donor has released his new single ‘Lonely Street’. Blood Donor is an alt-pop artist based out of Dublin, Ireland. The solo project of ex-Otherkin frontman Luke Reilly, he has released two singles thus far (the euphoric pop belters ‘Bienvenue’ and ‘Under the Sun’) and is now on the cusp of releasing his debut album (due summer 2023). Blood Donor will debut his new material alongside ‘Lonely Street’ with a 5-piece band in the Workman’s Cellar in Dublin on October 29th and plans on releasing a new single every couple of months in the lead-up to his debut album.
Saturated in hazy nostalgia, ethereal pines on guitar and delicate shimmers on synths, ‘Lonely Street’ is a compelling new tune from Blood Donor. Reilly’s warm vocals soothe atop a country – esque melody while buoyant beats create a soft cushion from the sombre lyrics “A sad sad song, a sad sad scene We waste our time with fever dreams”. The song is a well-crafted tune that reveals many instrumental gems with each subsequent listen; ethereal keys, western-toned guitar and glorious musical embellishments to name a few. The track subtly builds becoming more cinematic as a shredding classic guitar solo leads the song to its lingering fade out. With ripples of delicate ambient soundscapes and rich instrumental moments; ‘Lonely Street’ is a fine display of Blood Donor’s emotive musicianship and deft musical prowess.
About the upcoming album Blood Donor said: ‘’The album has been a long time coming. It was supposed to be out in 2020 but when COVID kicked off I went back to working in medicine. It was a very intense time in my life to be honest, and for the guts of a year and a half I lost all contact with music-making. It was only when I played a gig with some friends in March 2022 that I realised the extent of the void in my life. It was an Indie Covers night with James Vincent McMorrow and other Irish musicians, and it such a cathartic and life-affirming experience for everyone involved. I resolved myself to get the album finished and get back to playing live.’’
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.
Rowlette has released her third release of 2022, ‘Perfect’.The song explores the relationship with one’s body and our tendency to chastise it, despite all the amazing things it enables us to do. The song was produced by Dave Skelton and mastered by Aidan Foley. Rowlette, currently based in London, has been busy since the world of live music has returned. She recently hosted a packed-out headliner in the British capital with fellow musician Faraway Martin. As well, she’s back in Dublin frequently, performing at venues such as Workman’s and The Soundhouse. As a solo performer with an acoustic guitar, Rowlette is recognised for her powerful vocals, inspirational lyrics and captivating performances. Hailing from Co. Mayo, she has a distinctive writing style, known for her storytelling ability. Rowlette’s tracks have received radio play across Irish radio stations and abroad and were added to several Spotify editorial playlists.
‘Perfect’ is a tender ballad that displays Rowlette’s eloquent songwriting over delicate yet cinematic soundscapes. With swooning strings and warm bass sweeping over folk-esque acoustic guitar and elegant piano, Rowlette creates a well-crafted backdrop for her soothing vocal delivery. Her voice caresses the soothing melody with a sense of comfort and uplifting earnestness as the song ventures into its cinematic crescendo with a grace and elegance that is to be admired. Filled with warm tones and ethereal orchestral elements ‘Perfect’ is an emotive gem from Rowlette.
Cold Comforts have released their new single, ‘All Wrong’. The song is the second single from the band’s upcoming sophomore album, ‘I Need It’. Cold Comforts are an alternative rock trio. In their three years together, the band have already, Self released their debut album ‘Living in Relative Obscurity’, been on a 9-date tour of the UK, longlisted for Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Competition and played support slots for artists including Thumper and Mother’s Cake.
Riding in on a mammoth assault of razor-sharp guitar and pummeling drums ‘All Wrong’ is a thrilling beast of a tune from Cold Comforts. The band masterfully capture a manic sense of frenzy as they harness the best elements of rock and grunge with subtle pop elements softening the abrasive instrumentation while gravelly vocals scream atop the frenetic soundscape. The track is exhilarating to listen to and one for blasting loud from the speakers.
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.”
Stoke-on-Trent band Old Glory & The Black Riviera have released their new EP ‘Subtle Reminder of Somewhere’. The band create a blazing wall of sound within this EP filled with swaggering riffs, blues-soaked bravado and oodles of energy. From the stomping drums and shredding guitar embellishments of ‘Had It All’ to the sulky ‘Waiting for You (To Come Home)’ each song showcases the band’s refined musicianship as they lace catchy melodies in steamy blues tones while rock-dipped guitars and pounding drums provide a gritty edge throughout. Old Glory & The Black Riviera meticulously craft each track to create a thrilling listening experience that is a joy to listen to from start to finish.
Stream ‘Subtle Reminder of Somewhere’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
