Irish artist Rory & the Island has released his new summer single ‘Donna Don’t Take My Summer’.The single is released one week ahead of Rory and the Island returning to the live music scene with two sold-out shows in the Dublin Castle Camden, London on 13th and 14th August, and follows his two most recent singles hitting the Number 1 spot on iTunes Ireland in 2021. Recorded in Distant City Studios in Yorkshire, ‘Donna Don’t Take My Summer’ was mixed by Joss Worthington and Paul Gallagher, then remastered by John Davies who has received huge acclaim for his recent work with The Killers, U2 and Years & Years.
‘Donna Don’t Take My Summer’is a glorious groovy gem from Rory & The Island. The artist drifts a sweet melody over funky guitar flexes and rich shaking rhythms to create a strut filled soundscape for listeners to indulge in. Rory’s smooth vocals glissade over the catchy chorus “Donna Don’t Take My Summer away”, while a soulful 70’s/80’s backdrop exudes an upbeat hazy atmosphere. Rory & The Island is a melody wizard who has a knack for creating perfect earworms and musically lush tunes for listeners to enjoy and ‘Donna Don’t Take My Summer’ follows this trend superbly. Press play and enjoy.
Speaking of the single Rory & The Island said: “After releasing 2 quite introverted melancholic songs during the pandemic I decided that with a bit of light at the end of the tunnel to just go crazy with a feel-good bubblegum pop summer song!”
After returning in recent weeks to share his vibrant new single ‘Picture Perfect’, fast-rising Irish artist Curtis Walsh is back once again to unveil the uplifting new video for his latest offering. Directed by acclaimed Irish filmmaker Donnagh Fitzpatrick, the new visuals for ‘Picture Perfect’ aims to highlight the rich and joyous aesthetics Curtis brought to his original performance. Giving us upbeat and enticing images of summer fun, the new video looks to project a warm and inviting texture throughout, perfectly illustrating all of our desires to break free from these recent lockdowns. Curtis Walsh will also be heading out on the road for a number of headline shows across Ireland later this year, as well as a performance at Hit The North Festival in the UK in October.
‘Picture Perfect’ is a shimmering alternative pop anthem. The track captures a sense of nostalgia and fun throughout as Curtis Walsh spreads a smooth, dreamy melody over a bubbling beat and ethereal electronic soundscape. Fusing dance elements with sweet pop sensibilities and infectious grooves, the song leads beautifully into its catchy chorus while lush harmonies ensure this earworm won’t leave your head easily. Filled with summer vibes and showcasing Walsh’s velvety vocals, the track is the perfect sun-kissed bop sure to have you singing along in no time.
Speaking about the new video, he said, “This song really meant a lot to me so I wanted to make sure the video really complemented the whole vibe of the song. It had to be uplifting and have a good happy energy to it. There was a little bit of back and forth on the ideas and treatment for this video, but quickly enough we got to a place where the song and video really linked nicely with each other! I was really impressed with the way it came together and can’t wait to see what everyone thinks!’
In collaboration with Internet Money, Jackson Wang has released a new single, ‘Drive You Home’. Wang uses a bubbling hip hop beat, twinkling guitars and bittersweet melody to create a gripping backdrop for listeners to indulge in. This easy on the ears gem cruises with subtle R&B tones mixed between pop hues and soft 80’s embellishments while Wang’s silken vocals drift upon the delicate melody. Wang has been knocking it out of the park with emotive and musically lush singles lately. His previous single ‘LMLY’ fleshed out his glistening 80’s synth-pop sound, while ‘Drive You Home’ now presents a melodious and guitar infused R&B soundscape. It’s exciting to hear what he will release next.
‘Drive You Home’ comes with a spectacularly cinematic video check that out below
Pa Sheehy has released his second solo single, ‘Róisín’, alongside announcing the release of his debut EP ‘The Art Of Disappearing’ on 24 September and dates for his first solo tour.’The Art Of Disappearing’ EP is available to Pre-save/Pre-order via pasheehy.com and Golden Discs now. Fans who pre-order the physical EP will have access to the pre-sale for the live shows on 4th August at 10 am. Tickets will go on general on sale on 6th August at 10 am via Ticketmaster.ie and Pasheehy.com.
‘Róisín’ presents Pa Sheehy’s earnest and emotive songwriting through beautiful musicianship and refined arrangements. Sheehy spreads cinematic soundscapes over vivid lyrics to create a heartfelt and goosebump-inducing tune that surges with emotion as he captures timeless mental images of Róisín, “It’s your touch, It’s your face, It’s your cause, It’s like the rest of the world is on pause”. A delicate piano laments over pulsing beats creating a sense of unease and tension as the song builds, becoming more vibrant with ethereal guitars leading the way to the captivating crescendo. Sheehy has a knack for crafting evocative music filled with passionate melodies and honest lyrics and ‘Róisín’ illustrates this perfectly. The track is a first-rate tune and a fine example of Pa Sheehy’s compelling songwriting.
Speaking about his new single ‘ Pa Sheehy said: “How many times can you let down the one you love before they say goodbye?.. when I went to college I had it all! Captain of the local soccer team, I had a little car and a beautiful girlfriend. Róisín. Fast forward 18 months. I didn’t play sport, dropped out of college and I had made it impossible for Róisín to stay. Why? Alcohol. I loved what it gave me and I put it before everything and everyone. I never labelled myself an alcoholic, but after going to a bunch of councillors it became obvious that I was. A reluctant me did everything I could to keep tabs on it but after spending my rent money on a piss up and couch surfing around Cork I finally asked for help. Everything I had was gone. I spent a month in a rehabilitation centre. The first one to visit me was Róisín. I stayed sober for a while but In the end, we had decided to call it quits, not because of a lack of love but I couldn’t put her through this again. I was lost, so was she. This song is a gift to her. Some people deserve to have their name sung from a stage.”
Barbara Craig has released her debut single, ‘Air That We Breathe’. An emotional tribute to those that have lost their lives during the pandemic. Barbara Craig is an Irish contemporary music composer, producer and artist from Dublin, Ireland.
‘Air That We Breathe’ is an atmospheric debut from Craig as she uses airy electronics blended between choppy piano melodies to create a fascinating listening experience. Craig crafts an experimental tune that showcases contrasting musical elements to portray the turbulent year the world has faced due to the pandemic. Her haunting vocals echo between sticky beats and weaving layers of supple electronics creating a spacious soundscape before a jibing piano melody adds an agitated tone to the track. ‘Air That We Breathe’ displays Craig’s unique sound and is a sublime debut from an intriguing artist.
Jamie Noone has released his new single and opening track of his upcoming EP, ‘In’. Jamie Noone is a singer-songwriter, producer and poet from Dublin, Ireland. Noone writes, produces and mixes all of his music from his home studio based in Berlin, where he is currently living.
Majestic and melancholic, ‘In’ presents Noone’s chilled and atmospheric sound spectacularly. The track is a dense endless pool of mellowness that ripples with warm guitar and retro keys while R&B beat adds an edge and bounce to the songs tranquil nature. The singer-songwriter subtly layers the song with soft twinkling bells and foot-tapping percussive textures that wash over the fluttering synths and laid back lo-fi tone of the song to create an instantly pacifying listening experience. Noone’s approach to songwriting is one of deep thought and poetry as his rich velvety voice croons the thought-provoking lyrics “Happiness falls right in your lap, Like a panic attack, I’m afraid to say, Embrace the change in the mess you’ve made”. A little trippy and boasting a plethora of sublime subtle textures and sounds, ‘In’ is a wonderful new single from Jamie Noone.
Co. Down artist CeeV (pronounced like ‘leave’) has released her new single ‘Twenty Three’. CeeV, who’s real name is Caoimhe McAleavey, is based in Newry but began her music career in Manchester studying songwriting at BIMM. Although immersed in music in one of the most creative and musically rich cities in the world, CeeV was reluctant to showcase her own songs and instead took a more backseat role while playing in several bands in some of the most recognisable venues in the city. Although she didn’t perform her own songs live while in Manchester, CeeV plucked up the courage and shared her work with real live people on Soundcloud and was astonished when her music reached over 30,000 listens.
‘Twenty Three’ is a lushly arranged tune that displays CeeV’s mature songwriting and beautiful musicianship. CeeV crafts a bittersweet tune laced in rich instrumentation as elegant piano laments through graceful strings and warm guitar refrains to create a wholesome and soothing backdrop for her emotive vocals to drift upon. She coos, “I’m only twenty-three. Got my whole life ahead of me. And I don’t want to waste it. I don’t want you to waste yours on me” over a soft melody while the instrumental backdrop builds with cinematic tones and heartfelt melodies. The song exudes a timeless grace while dipping in and out of contemporary pop with ease. CeeV has created a moving tune filled with emotion and refined musicianship, marking her as an artist to keep an eye on. Looking forward to hearing more from this talented artist.
About her latest release, Twenty Three’. CeeV says… “Twenty Three is a story. But it’s also a lesson. It shows two different perspectives of leaving a relationship. One might think it’s the end of the world but the other knows there is a future out there for both of you even though it’s apart. I wrote this song as a lighthearted reflection. With influences from musical storytellers like Picture This and The Jezebels, I felt this meaningful story was best told alongside uplifting melodies and heartwarming lyrics.”.
Paddy Casey is set to release his fifth album ‘Turn This Ship Around’. The double album is set for release on 6th of August 2021. I caught up with the singer-songwriter to talk about the album and the return of shows, the prospect which has been giving the artist dreams about getting up on stage and forgetting his songs.
“Well, for me, I had a lot of songs that I didn’t think they really fit but, I haven’t released an album in a few years, so I didn’t want to wait a few years more, I suppose. I had these songs and I really liked them, and I know that sounds naff, saying that about your own songs, but I did. Some of the songs, I didn’t think they fit together but I thought they were strong songs, so I decided because it’s been so long, to just split them in two and make one side kind of folky, stringy and piano-y or whatever and then the other side would be more full-on and upbeat.”
The first half of ‘Turn This Ship Around’ is energetic and lively while the second half of the album is a lot more laid-back and boasts wonderful use of elegant piano and strings or guitar and strings. Through the use of lush melodies and rich instrumentation, both sides flow into each other perfectly while allowing each track to maintain its own identity.
“Oh yeah completely. One song,’ You Are The One’, I really liked but I just didn’t feel like it belongs there at all. I played it to a couple of people, my daughter heard it and I know you can’t really ask your family but, she seemed to think it was great and then a couple of other people thought it should have even been a single. I really liked the sound but I didn’t think it fit but then I went.. do you know what, I don’t know where to put the song, so I’m just gonna plonk it in the middle. Honest to God, I didn’t know where to put it and I just went, well there’s no place it belongs, so I’ll just stick it there.“
“Honestly, I don’t have a plan when I write an album, I really don’t. I write the songs and then I just kind of go, well there’s some songs that I think people will like. I don’t do concepts, the only concept is, maybe like another thing I’m working on is a disco album, but there has to be only three instruments in every song. I know that sounds stupid but you know, it’s fun if you give yourself rules like that sometimes. You’re right, the songs, they all grew in their own little worlds. It’s me on different days, you know, everyone has their weird days and they’re up and down days.”
The album begins with energetic tunes ‘Won’t Take Much’ and ‘This World Is Stranger’ which are absolute bangers. Not only does the singer-songwriter lace the tracks in catchy melodies but in a true Paddy Casey style, thought-provoking lyrics resound throughout. A perfect example of this is in ‘This World Is Stranger’, where Casey croons over a bouncy melody “ I know some people say we’ve never been up to the moon. What difference does that make to me if that thing has no gravity or if it’s all technology that someone left for us to see What difference does it really make to me”. Casey hits the nail on the head with social and political topics taking a relatable and light-hearted stance that is charming and witty.
“I don’t really care either way politically. I mean I think it’s all nonsense, most of the time, what matters is the way people feel at the end of it, how they feel about themselves and how they look at themselves. When all that bullsh*t is gone, all that’s really left is how we treat each other. It sounds slightly pretentious but, I think at the core of everything, maybe for that song, ‘This World Is Stranger’, that’s all I’m really talking about, none of this bullsh*t matters. The world isn’t such a small place you know. Let yourself feel the things that you naturally felt as a kid, that you might have pushed aside. It’s not something, we all don’t know. I think sometimes musicians, point out the obvious, sometimes you need to hear the obvious. But yeah, for me it’s like, there’s enough people in the world trying to make it smaller for you without doing it to yourself.“
There are plenty of musical gems on this album. ‘Turn This Ship Around’ in particular exudes a cinematic atmosphere filled with synths, strings, piano and ethereal soundscapes that keep subtly building throughout. The song sounds as if it was written for a movie.
“I can’t remember, that’s a few years old now, I actually don’t remember how I started it. I think I just started with a piano. It’s a breakup song. I mean if I haven’t written it in the lyrics, I’m not really doing a good job, I suppose you find yourself out on that abyss, or like this kind of no man’s land and you know you’re hanging on to something that’s not really coming back, and you’re missing out on everything else because you’re doing that. I wanted that to happen in the chorus, that decision to happen. So it [the chorus] had to be big and it had to be like, f*ck it, let’s do this, let’s do something else, let’s go for another world. I’m not great at explaining my songs but there definitely had to be two different worlds, there was the guy who was, out there lost, and then there’s the guy who was like, I could spend the rest of my days looking for something.”
Casey blends an array of lush sounds that create subtle bursts of musical euphoria throughout his songs. From the electronic pulses and swaggering guitars in ‘Ready For The Good Times’ and the sugar pop rhythmic bop of ‘You Are The One’, each track is a delight to listeners ears. I wondered does he ever get overwhelmed discovering these perfect musical blends and moments of inspiration when creating his songs.
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever said this, but when I’m writing a song, I will sometimes start, and just sit there and actually sing the song line by line like when I’m recording it, and I won’t have any lyrics in my head beforehand bar, the first line. I’ll know where I want it to go. Sometimes I write like that and sometimes, the next line just feeds, how I want the music to feel if that makes sense. Sometimes I play it line by line because sometimes I literally don’t know what I’m gonna do. I know in my heart what I want the song to say, but I haven’t written the words if you know what I mean. So I will just sing it and I’ll know the line feels right, I’ll know it’s not perfect but it’s pure heart.”
“ I don’t know what people think about my songs. I know they love certain songs, and I don’t understand why they love them. It’s not a problem, but it used to get me. I was like, why don’t I get what they get off that song or why don’t I understand it or whatever. Now I’m just grateful that they do. You know, that’s their world and that’s the way they feel and I know why I wrote the song, but I always feel like maybe, I shy away from emotions a little bit sometimes. I’m not really great saying how I feel, I suppose. Maybe that’s what makes me kind of weird and uncomfortable about it.”
“I have songs that I wrote when I was a kid that people love and for me, it’s like if somebody read your copybook when you were in school or wherever, all the sh*t you’d written you know, to me it’s a little bit like that. But I put it out into the world so I should be able to accept that.”
I wondered if Casey often looks back at his older songs and thinks, if he could do it again, he would change them.
”Yeah, the first album [Amen (So Be It)], we literally went in and banged it out. I just picked up whatever instruments were in the studio. We had two days, it was supposed to be demos. So, it was just literally me just having fun for a couple of days doing demos, but that’s what I thought it was. So, there’s definitely a few things on that I’d love another go at but I’d ruin it for people if I recorded them”
‘There Will Be Love’ begins the second half of the album – radiating a mystical atmosphere and a captivating cello arrangement, Casey blends folk tones with warm guitar, ethereal soundscapes and Traditional Japanese undertones to create a timeless and beautiful tune that is simply divine.
“There is a Japanese girl playing on that and you can kind of hear the bit of a Japanese vibe and there is a girl playing cello as well so there is two string players on that one.”
“She was singing with us because she’s a friend of my daughter’s and she gigswith my daughter, So yeah, I’ll rope in anyone who’s around but they were doing gigs with me and so I was dragging her on stage in my set or whatever and she’d just jam in. She’s a great, great violin player and the cello player I’ve been playing with for years so I drag her away from her kids for a day or two, as often as I can, just to record stuff.“
Casey is hoping to do live shows soon to accompany the release of the album. However, the absence of gigging due to the pandemic has caused a sense of anxiety and nerves for the singer-songwriter as he anticipates the return of live shows.
“That’s the plan, It depends on what the government say, in their next rollout. I can live a little bit longer but they want to get it together soon. Even if it’s just outside, anything you know. It’s a long time to leave us in the lurch”
“I’m sh**ting it, excuse the language. I don’t know what’s gonna happen when I walk on the stage, I mean, it’s the stuff of nightmares. Gigging, for me, it’s like, I don’t think about what I’m doing before I walk on the stage, and somehow it just, comes together, like the first few songs I might be a little bit nervous but it kind of kicks in, I’m kind of hoping that the muscle memory, still kind of works, you know. I should practice because my voice is definitely not up for doing a few gigs in a row. I’d say I’ll have to sing a bit every day now before I start. I get hangovers from gigs, like the next day. I don’t know maybe it’s the breathing, I’ve always tried to figure out what it is but maybe it’s because you’re breathing, you’re singing and you’re breathing so fast, or something. Yeah, you’re breathing differently than you do normally. It could be just pure adrenaline for that long, maybe makes you feel a bit sore, I’m not complaining but I definitely get a weird hangover off gigging. I think you just give an energy that you don’t really use every day in your life, [ it ] sounds stupid because you don’t get a hangover from running around the block. But yeah, I’m nervous and I’m slightly anxious of doing a gig. I’ve definitely dreamt about getting up on stage and forgetting songs or not being able to sing a song or get through a song, and then the crowd just walking out and things like that, just weird things. There’s a certain degree of the unknown and fear factor when I walk on a stage. I think it’s a good thing to have it. If you walk on stage with no feeling at all, you might as well be sitting in your sitting room watching telly. You have to feel something. As soon as I start walking on stage, and I’m not a bit freaked out, then maybe it’s time to stop. “
The musician has been at the forefront of the Irish music scene since his multi-platinum-selling debut album ‘Amen (So Be It)’, His career has taken him all over the globe touring with acts such as The Pretenders, R.E.M, Ian Brown, Blondie and Tracy Chapman to name a few. He has played all over Ireland, including a record-breaking week-long run in The Olympia Theatre, alongside special guest spots with U2, Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan and more. His successful debut album ‘Amen (So Be It)’ achieved many international highlights including tracks being featured in hit television shows such as ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Roswell’ alongside extensive American and European tours. Further establishing himself as one of the country’s most successful artists, his second album ‘Living’ went on to become one of the biggest ever selling albums in Ireland (approximately 15 times platinum). I asked Casey if he had any advice for anyone who is embarking on a career in music.
“I think it’s different now. I don’t think you need a record label now. If you’re really good at pushing yourself online you can do as well as anyone. So it’s a different world. For me, the only rule, I had at the time was, just play everywhere and play to as many people as you can in the beginning. Don’t be a snob about gigs, don’t be a snob about anything because people are people and it doesn’t matter where they see you, you know, where you see them. I think the best thing to do is just put yourself out there in front of people because that’s where you learn everything when you’re standing there. You don’t learn it sitting in your room. You learn it forged in the fire. The truth is you really learn everything while you’re doing it and no amount of pontification is going to help you. I think the kids are brilliant now, lyrically people have come a long way. Maybe people are better at their feelings now or something I don’t know but it’s a good thing”
“They don’t rhyme anymore. Everything needed to rhyme when we were starting. Nobody gives a sh*t about rhyming anymore and it’s cool, it works. I still rhyme all the time. I don’t know are kids smarter, smarter in some ways, you know, the internet, Spotify as much as I hate it and it killed the business, it’s great for getting music out there because people don’t necessarily want to spend money but they want to hear your music, you know,”
Casey isn’t one to sit still. He is writing music all the time and even has a musical in the works.
“ I’m always writing songs. I’m writing some great songs at the minute. As soon as I release the album I’ll sit down and I’ll try and finish off a bunch of new songs. I’m gonna try and get a new album out by next year and even if it’s not an album, because they say you shouldn’t even bother releasing albums anymore. I mean even just EP’s or whatever, you know, people only want songs now. I always love albums and I love what people are trying to do with albums. I don’t necessarily do it myself, like I was saying earlier, my album is kind of a bit Higgledy Piggledy or whatever but I love when somebody gets together and the whole vibe of the album feels cohesive. But I am a Prince fan and Prince did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. In the beginning, when I make it [an album], I want to make myself happy with it. I want to feel that excitement of a song, whether it’s the emotion or whether it’s the style, it has to be in there somewhere. Once I get that I’m like, Okay, I hope other people get that too or something. I don’t really know what I’m doing and that’s the truth. You’re not making the chair, you know, if all you had to do was somebody would sit and it was comfortable and it didn’t break, at least you know that’s what an album should be but it’s not like that. There’s no rule. Most of my favourite music is random. I love Parliament but, you know, from one album to the next, they’re a completely different band and that rubbed off a bit. You don’t want to write the same song again ever. I’m doing a musical and the best thing about the musical is I can write a love song. It’s not necessarily me, you know what I mean, I know that sounds stupid but I don’t want to write ‘Saints And Sinners’, again, or I don’t want to rewrite ‘Sweet Suburban Sky’ even though I think I could write it better now. I’ve just been doing it [the musical] in my head for years anyway. It’s only because of lockdown I kind of, consciously set out to do it. I’ve been writing and a guy I’ve been working with over the years he mixed one side of this album and he always thought I was writing a musical from the day we met. That’ll be two years at least. That will take a while, it’s actual work.“
‘Turn This Ship Around’ is a sublime collection of songs that showcase Casey’s deft musical prowess. Each tracks intricate instrumentation and emotive lyrical content are a fine display of beautiful musicianship. This double album is a real treat for listeners to indulge in again and again.
Jake Carter has just released his self-penned summer anthem ‘Sink or Swim’. The vibrant pop track was produced by Diffusion Lab’s Chris Bubenzer and Marcin Ciszczon, the team behind Jake Carter’s previous singles ‘I Won’t Be Leaving’ and ‘Loving In Darkness’ as well as the producing for the likes of FLYNN, Jafaris, Soule and Rushes among others in recent years. The track was written by Jake Carter along with Irish songwriters Conor McQuaid & Graham McCartin at The Nucleus Studio in Dublin. Carter has over 440k total streams on Spotify as well as 400k+ views on his YouTube channel, with appearances on The Ray D’Arcy Show and The Late Late Show, shows at Vicar Street and Cork Opera House as well as radio slots on Today FM, 2FM, Spin1038 and more.
‘Sink or Swim’ is a shimmering pop tune that boasts Jake Carter’s catchy and vibrant musicianship. Driven by a bubbling beat, bright guitars, and luscious synths, the track has a sun-kissed soundscape that simmers for the verses before becoming more energetic for the chorus. Well-paced and superbly produced, the track evokes images of hot sun and beach, filled with good times. Boasting crisp production, smooth vocals and a catchy melody ‘Sink or Swim’ is a refreshing tune sure to have you singing along in no time.
Speaking on the song’s origins, Jake Carter says: “It was a song we wrote a couple of years ago and it always stuck out as that feel good, Summer Drive-Along song. We changed lyrics, re-wrote melodies and spent hours and hours on making sure we had the track just right. I can imagine myself sitting on a beach and drinking cocktails whilst listening to this song, and that’s the vibe we were all going for. I think we could all do with as much summer vibes as possible this year!”
Jack Joyce has released his new single ‘Voodoo Belladonna’. Joyce continues his brooding darker sound with ‘Voodoo Belladonna’ as he blends sombre tones with energetic indie superbly to create a track that is a simmering delight on the senses. Boasting the artist’s agile lyrical ability and refined instrumentation, the song showcases the singer-songwriter’s maturing sound. Joyce opens the track with an intriguing contemplation, “does your tongue go numb as you swallow the sun” while thudding rhythms and chiming guitars adorn the backdrop. Hisquirky labyrinthine lyrics weave random thoughts together through a whimsical dream-like melody as Joyce’s distinctive vocals express the songs conflicting emotions “break, break my heart, don’t leave me alone please leave me alone”. Filled with haunting backing vocals, punchy drums and jangly guitars ‘Voodoo Belladonna’ is a confident and expertly presented tune from Jack Joyce.
Stream ‘Voodoo Belladonna’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
