Category Archives: Singer/Songwriter

A Chat With, Interviews, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

A Chat With : Rory & The Island

I caught up with Irish singer-songwriter Rory Gallagher aka Rory & The Island to talk about his new single ‘When The Lights Go Down (Valhalla)’, touring and those fun facebook live streams.

Presented through wonderfully rich and warm musicianship  ‘When The Lights Go Down (Valhalla)’ is a passionate track which talks about the battle of keeping a sustainable career as an artist in a difficult industry. This theme is relatable for so many artists at the moment, but for Rory the track talks about his feelings after finding an exciting new chapter of his live crushed by the pandemic. The opening of his new music venue ‘The Wildcat’ in Edinburgh never reached its official opening night on the 21st March. 

” Yeah, myself and my wife, we moved our family over from Donegal last year, because we got a lease on a music bar in Edinburgh city center. We were going to open up the Wildcat live music bar and we were really excited. We got it painted, got in a PA system, stage lights – we had everything all set, ready to go and right beside the King’s Theatre in city center as well so it was great location.Our opening date was for the middle of March of this year, and we never got to see it because of the pandemic outbreak but we kept paying the rent, it was being frozen held back and everything but we were trying to keep it going as long as possible and it just got to the point, in the summer where we went,this could be a year, a year and a half, at least. So we just handed the keys back. I remember we had to go in and collect a lot of our stuff and some personal things and just that thing of switching off the dimmer lights and looking back at the bar going “Damn it, you know, we were so close”. It’s never easy when the lights go down and it’s like a double meaning as well because it’s when you’re finished a gig in the theater or stage and the stage lights go down, just that feeling, that one second in particular, you know…We’re definitely not giving up yet and that’s the chorus of the song as well, ‘I see Valhalla in the distance’, you know which is like heaven for warriors, but I never actually say I’m going there. It’s in the destination but I’m not giving up.”

Rory takes a laid back 90’s vibe and vintage folk rock stance on the instrumentation which exudes a sense of comfort and warmth. I was intrigued by the slick guitar work on the track.

“Yeah, I just wrote the basic structure of the song – acoustic and vocal. It is very 90s. It has that Neil Finn almost vintage Crowded House warmth to it. I just felt that warmth was needed and there is a bit of Neil Young influence there as well. I thought I’ll just play the drums and bass and I’ll just multi-track to myself in the studio, put it down really basic at first, and then take it from there. There’s no point in getting involved in a big fancy production thing here just make it, as you say, kind of like vintage folk rock, and then it just seemed to suit so well. It’s funny you mention the guitar line because that’s the one thing I was thinking of dropping out of it because I thought it was non experimental. It’s just playing the actual vocal melody on the guitar. You’re always kind of like, ‘oh god has this been done to death’. But I decided it’s actually such a catchy little melody that works, you know. “

“It’s such a natural thing. We were gonna go much deeper into production when simplicity just seemed to be the way to go.”

Rory’s music writing process changes from song to song and he has experimented with his writing techniques to flesh out his style.

” One of the songs I wrote was about a New York/Donegal gangster called Mad Dog Coll ( Vincent ‘Mad Dog’ Coll ). It was based on true events from the 1920s during Prohibition in the USA. So I just sat down and wrote basically a poem about his life. That was one that I would have done the lyrics first but then other ones like this one I think I wrote that when I was tapping my knees. Sometimes it’s just so handy having a phone because you just grab the phone and hit record in the little audio section. I’ve got so many things with just 30 second splices like that. A lot of the time, I’ll come back to that 30 seconds maybe two weeks later and then, add to it and sometimes you get lucky that you get a complete song from it. That’s really the two ways that I would go – it’s either 30 seconds, or one minute, if I get lucky a burst of inspiration straight onto the phone and work on it later, or else I’ll sit and write, try and complete an entire lyric but that’s probably my plan B that’s much more difficult I find.”

Oozing folk and country tones Rory has a unique and diverse voice. However in ‘When The Lights Go Down (Valhalla)’ he exudes a more rock tone. Such confident vocal ability has not gone unnoticed, however he explains vocal confidence is something he built up over time.

” No, I’ve never been confident with my voice and even in the studio I hate hearing it back. I’ve always got a nice response from people and I’ve been doing the Facebook Live thing every Saturday night and it’s got good viewers and people just going ‘oh, I love when you sing this song’ so thank God those people are there because if they weren’t I probably would have stopped singing when I was 19. I just never felt comfortable with my own voice and I probably should have taken lessons but I never did and it’s probably that thing of craft you know when you’ve been doing it so long. I’ve been playing in the pub since I was 15, and for certain bands, you might have to learn a Nirvana song and then you’re playing in a bar and somebody at the bar’s favorite song is by Willie Nelson. That’s where all that would come from and it’s just you constantly learning different styles and hoping that you’ve maintained your own way of singing.I always try to keep my own accent and find my own meaning of the song. So I rarely would ever sing something that I don’t feel, you know. “

Rory has managed to break a world record by becoming the first solo artist to fill the entire eight-hour time slot given by Facebook live. 

” Yeah, well speaking of Wi-Fi, I tried it twice and the first time I got six hours into it the Wi-Fi cut out. Can you imagine that. So that was, like ‘operation don’t smash everything in the room’. But then the second time I tried it like two or three weeks later and managed to get through it and that was great. I didn’t actually end up as hoarse as I thought I would. I’d been doing the gigs for maybe 25 weeks in a row at that stage and just wanted to make it interesting and just start getting a little bit of a buzz going and kind of go right Facebook’s got an eight hour slot. I’m going to give it a go. And there’s that intriguing thing from your own point of view – you kind of go, ‘Am I gonna make it? So yeah it was great but the actual world record, the online world record I think is something mental like 24 hours of videos on YouTube and the actual solo gig was done by a French rapper/producer. I think he did it in Paris and that’s 28 hours, so they’re kind of untouchable swans.”

” You just make it interesting for yourself and you’re seeing people’s comments coming up on the screen as well so you’re interacting with that and sending stuff back to them and I wrote every song that I know. So, I think I wrote, like 210 songs and just put them all on sheets on the wall – the biggest set-list I ever wrote out. I just went through them all and I think I only repeated about six songs which is amazing.I actually enjoyed a lot of it. “

Rory was previously part of the band The Revs but independently earned himself 8 top 30s, 2 top 10s and a number 1 single in the Irish charts, as well as performing all over the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Ocean Colour Scene, Feeder and Alabama 3. I wondered was it daunting going solo.

“It’s weird, after The Revs I moved to Lanzarote because I fell in love with a girl over there who is now my wife, that was in 2006, and I had no money. So, I had to go back and just start playing the pubs again. That was daunting you know where I’ve gone from like doing one hour sets in Europe, Australia and UK with The Revs and having to go into a three hour set of like 90% cover songs, and I had this fear that people down there will be shouting up failure and loser and, and it was probably even worse than that because nobody knew who I was. It was just basically starting from scratch again and built up a whole new thing and I always maintained that even from the age of 15 that I always tried to play my own music in the set, to the point where I’m playing 60% original music which is unheard of in Lanzarote, a holiday resort. So I ended up building up a completely new type of following and I went under the name Rory & The Island, so it was easier to Google, because going under the name Rory Gallagher was just a disaster with the blues legend. Florence + the Machine and Noah and the Whale were quite big at that time so I said well Rory & The Island is nice because I always liked the image of the island for escapism which it was for me. I liked the term Island from the book and from Island Records and when that was set up for Bob Marley. I just like the name Island basically. “

” What was probably daunting as well when you start up your Facebook page, you know, this was in 2010, and I had to start up Rory & The Island and it’s at zero. Then at the end of the week, you’ve got 81 followers and that stuff’s quite tough because you go ‘oh my god I had a top five album and I played Slane. How can I have 81 followers?’ – this goes on in your head with your ego, you know. So I just kept at it and every week grew it up and at the moment now it’s I think 27,000 after 10 years and a lot of them are so loyal it’s just brilliant. It’s very real as well because it just grew so natural but yeah there were a lot of daunting moments. I remember, Ocean Colour Scene and just thinking God I wish the two guys were here and we could play electrically, crank it up and really get this crowd going and then you’re just having to walk out with acoustic guitar in the Olympia before Ocean Colour Scene. Little moments like that, they were daunting. We had such a long slow wind down in The Revs like the last two years were just really tough because, we started off flying and we were doing Slane and Oxygen festivals and we got top 30 single in Australia, all in the first two years and then hit a brick wall and just started to decline. So in a way it was nice to break away for a while, to be honest.”

This allowed Rory to learn more about his own style of writing. It also allowed him to build and craft his own sound. 

” With The Revs, it was trying to make it as much of a democracy as possible so there was always that one third input from each member. You could arrive with a really good idea and after three hours it just wasn’t working with the other two guys and they would scrap that whereas, with the solo stuff it’s much easier, and probably much trickier in its own way because you’ve got enough rope to hang yourself. You can do whatever you want, you would release some of the stuff and then a month later you go ‘Oh my god ! Can I delete this from YouTube’ “

” Yeah, it’s nice to have yourself completely to blame for everything, if that makes sense. You can build up a lot of resentment, especially when you’re younger and there’s ego. You have enough rope to hang yourself so if you put something out, it’s a disaster, you put your own hands up and that’s it. So, yeah, there’s advantages and disadvantages to both things really. Rory & The Island project has been so much more acoustic based, a lot more percussion, bongos, kind of sunshine influence from Canary Islands, using small Spanish guitars and just trying to make it feel warm. Whereas The Revs was hard indie rock, so total contrast you know. That’s the thing after seven years in The Revs, you know even John (McIntyre) the electric guitar player, he hasn’t really played electric guitar much since. He plays with his wife Zoë Conway and they do brilliant interesting Trad Irish stuff. I think after a decade of really loud music and if you haven’t cracked it in the way Metallica or these guys have, you sometimes don’t really want to hear over-driven electric guitar for a long time. When you’ve heard it five nights a week in loads of different clubs all around the world, it’s just like a ringing. You get this ringing in your ear from electric distorted guitar and cymbals, and it’s just a relief to hear the natural sound of wood, acoustic guitars, things like that again. Then you can go full circle where after a couple of years of just acoustic you go ‘it’s time to plug in again’. “

2019 saw Rory return back to Ireland and extensively tour, filling out rooms around the UK and Ireland with his London show at The Dublin Castle selling out within 48 hours of going on sale. I wondered how he has been coping with this lull in shows.

“It’s been very weird. I’ve always suffered a little bit from anxiety. So, even though it was the worst in the world that hour before a gig, once I was 10 minutes into the gig, I was probably happier than I would ever be because I felt comfortable on stage and you could let loose. I was doing that five nights a week at minimum in Lanzarote so it was always there. You could have a bad day and you didn’t feel like the oxygen was flowing right in your system or whatever and then you would get that nervous thing at nine o’clock.Then you start at 10 o’clock, and you feel great at quarter past 10 and that carries through until the following afternoon. It’s weird to get into that addicted to applause type thing where you are just living for live music. For that to stop, for me, it was really difficult to be honest, especially losing the live music bar. So from recommendations of people that went ‘Why don’t you try the Facebook live gigs’ I started that and it’s been saving grace really every Saturday – something to look forward to. It’s not the same buzz at all, not the same energy because you just finish your song, and it’s like a musician’s nightmare. You play the final chord and it’s just silence..You just get used to digital interaction. “ 

There is a lot of pressure on artists now and the music industry can be competitive at times which can be overwhelming but Rory has some words of wisdom for artists looking to pursue a career in the music industry.

” I would say hold on just to see how the vaccine is gonna work first. Let’s just take it from there first. Then after that I would say always try and keep the love of it and always make it fun. It can get very stressy and it can get accidentally competitive if you start competing against other bands in your city. If you’re going to get into music, you’re going to get into it because you’ve obviously built up a love from listening to it. Just keep that initial buzz. I remember, when I was 14 or whatever in your first band and we would complete something by Iron Maiden. We just all looked at each other and tried not to hug you know, just that amazing feeling of ‘that’s what music should do’. Even though most musicians always try and deny it, it’s a big thing – a lot of the time your music is there to lift the soul. If it’s not doing anything for your own soul it’s not going to do anything for anybody else’s so you always have to be wary of that as well. “

Very wise words indeed and very much appreciated.

Rory creates passionate tunes which ooze emotion. His charming, mesmerising persona radiates from each of his tracks through heartfelt songwriting and rich musicianship. If you want to hear more of the antics Rory gets up to on his facebook live streams they are on every Saturday. Rory plans to record more tunes in the New Year. I am very much looking forward to hearing more music from this talented artist

” I’m gonna maintain these Facebook Saturday night gigs to keep myself going anyway and I’ve started writing again and got a buzz from that.I’m recording another single in January and going to put that out, hopefully in February and take it from there.”

Stream ‘When The Lights Go Down (Valhalla)’ below 


Author : Danu

Indie, Singer/Songwriter

Stardiver ‘Sinking Feeling’

Indie songwriter Stardiver has released his new single ‘Sinking Feeling’. Stardiver has been writing his own music since he was 14, pulling inspiration from everyday life. Infusing his indie folk tracks with a sense of pop to make them memorable, his writing is imbued with a sense of personal connection and an overwhelming sense of ‘it’ll be alright’

‘Sinking Feeling’ trudges along a foot-tapping beat while warm guitars and buoyant melodies highlight the emotive songwriting of Stardiver. His warm deep vocals ruminate over the melancholic lyrics while the percussion and jangly guitar maintain a more upbeat tone. Stardiver’s tight musicianship creates wonderful richness and depth in the track as the lush backing vocals surge warmth into the track’s vibrant backdrop. ‘Sinking Feeling’ is an emotional and upbeat new single from Stardiver.

Stream ‘Sinking Feeling’ below


Author : Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Pastiche ‘Chasing Down the Fame’

Dublin-based singer/songwriter Pastiche has released her debut single, ‘Chasing Down the Fame’. Though Pastiche performs with a live band, this track was completed remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic with producer Fergal Mullen (Jupiter Parks). The vocals were tracked at Beardfire Music. 

With building fiery electronics and power pop might ‘Chasing Down the Fame’ is a compelling debut from Pastiche. Using swirling synths, dynamic drums and a dark progressive wall of sound the track is an invigorating listening experience. The sultry synths weave between flashing and pulsing beats while Pastiche exudes power and emotion through her mesmerising vocals. With glittering pop sensibilities the track is an explosive debut and an exciting glimpse into Pastiche as an artist. Looking forward to hearing more. 

About the song, Pastiche says, “The song addresses the idea of achieving fame as a subjective journey; it almost never looks the same. I also think there’s a difference between fame and significance. Fame is usually an accident, but you can claim your own significance. I think this track is me doing that: showcasing my sound and trying to prove myself. I wanted to address not only where I hope to go but also where I came from. The line “I’ll show them what they made of me” is about all the rejections and “no’s” that have led me to where I am, developing thick skin, and needing to rely on my own self-belief.” 

Stream ‘Chasing Down the Fame’ below


Author : Danu

Indie, indie rock, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Aaron Spencer ‘Flower’

Aaron Spencer has released his new single ‘Flower’.’Flower’ began life as a bedroom demo during lockdown that Aaron Spencer created, bringing in his band members to record on with the final sessions taking place at Oscillate Recordings. A proud Cumbrian, Aaron Spencer is now based in Liverpool as he pursues his dream of a music career. After short spells of being in bands, Aaron Spencer launched himself as a solo musician with the successful release of his 2020 solo debut ‘Sticky Dancefloor’ which received praise from CLOUT and Reyt Good Magazine

Aaron Spencer spreads punchy punk over an anthemic indie rock backdrop to create an upbeat vibrant track with ‘Flower’. The jaunty guitars jab through a stomping drum beat and elastic bass rumble while Spencer spits out the striking lyrics. There is melancholy behind the melody while the lush backing vocals add a hint of innocence and vulnerability. ‘Flower’ is a dynamic new single from Aaron Spencer.

Taking inspiration from observations made on nights out, Aaron explains “I wrote the song when I started going out to pubs and clubs in Whitehaven. Nights out have always been influential for my songwriting. There’s an air of escapism, remedy and even desperation.The song digs below the surface and states that there’s more of a sombre reason behind people’s actions. You shouldn’t judge unless you are willing to spend some time in their shoes.”

Stream ‘Flower’ below


Author : Danu

Alt- Pop, Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Sam Ludlow ‘Summertime Somewhere’

Dublin multi-instrumentalist Sam Ludlow is set to release his new single ‘Summertime Somewhere’ on 20th of November. The song was recorded during the Summer with producer/friend, Mateusz (Shaky Shack), and Andrea Louise Jones on sax in a small house outside Dublin.

‘Summertime Somewhere’ is a wonderfully melodic track as Sam Ludlow spreads mellow alt pop over infectious grooves and intricately crafted soundscapes. The track’s soothing atmosphere and relaxed vibes seep into the listeners ears with ease as Sam’s velvety vocals cruise over the laid back melody and bubbling beat. The sunkissed haze on guitar is perhaps the most interesting aspect on the track, it exudes warmth through a soft beat which ventures slightly into reggae territory without fully committing to the genre. Sprinkles of jazz provided by a sultry sax give that final touch to create an all consuming listening experience.

‘Summertime Somewhere’ is a delight to listen to. Sam Ludlow is honing in on his sound and perfecting his craft. Looking forward to hearing more from this artist.

 ‘Summertime Somewhere’ is set for release tomorrow 20th of November for more you can follow Sam Ludlow on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/samludlowartist


Author : Danu

New Music, Singer/Songwriter, Single Premiere

Kryan ‘Scars’ Premiere

Kryan is set to release his new single ‘Scars’ tomorrow November 20th. Kryan is a Dublin based Singer-songwriter who blends intimate and honest lyrics with pop sensibilities. In addition to being featured on Spotify’s ‘Easy’ playlist, previous release ‘I Always Knew’ was praised for Kryan’s mature and developed sound despite being the artists first release under the’ Kryan’ moniker. ‘Scars’ was co-written and produced by David Prendergast (Kodaline, Overheard, The Albatross).

Showcasing earnest songwriting and deftly embellished building soundscapes, ‘Scars’ is a beautiful and emotive track from Kryan. The song takes a retrospective look at the shared victories and losses of a blossoming relationship. Kryan displays this through a progressive instrumental backdrop which exudes a hopeful tone. ‘Scars’ begins with elegant piano and soft guitar accompaniment allowing Kryan’s warm vocals express the passionate, meaningful lyrics through a moving melody. As the track progresses it becomes more uplifting; the guitars and keys intensify and a suspenseful beat rises in the background as the song reaches its cinematic crescendo.

Deeply personal and honest ‘Scars’ is a passionate track from an intriguing artist. Looking forward to hearing more from Kryan.

Discussing his new single Kryan said “I began writing ‘Scars’ at the end of the first lockdown in Ireland. I then brought the track to good friend Dave Prendergast who would later flesh out the track and we would begin the recording process when it was safe to do so in August. After a week or two tidying up lyrics and melodies, Scars found a whole new meaning. As a follow up to ‘I Always Knew’, ‘Scars’ tells the story of the ups and downs that nobody sees.

Stream ‘Scars’ below 


Author : Danu

A Chat With, Indie, Interviews, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

A Chat With : AJ Wander

I caught up with London-based singer songwriter AJ Wander to chat about his debut single ‘Time Out’ and how he managed to turn his life around during the pandemic. We discussed how sometimes the Wi-Fi gods cannot be appeased, the relief that we no longer live in the times of Nokia 3310 and if we did there would be no hope.

‘Time Out’ is a passionate and captivating new single which introduces Wander’s pop songwriting magnificently. However Wander didn’t instantly know when writing the song that it would make for a fantastic debut single

”I didn’t, no. I wrote the song a while ago, maybe three years ago, perhaps. It was after the breakup with my first real love.I had no idea it would be the first song I would release. It was one of those songs that almost wrote itself. It was just there after an hour of sitting at the piano and it was complete.It was a very easy song to write and that probably means that it, you know, it really did come from the heart and it’s honest.”  

”So, yeah, in terms of deciding that it should be the song to release, I guess, it was just going through all of my back catalogue of tracks that I had and all the demos. I had a version of that from a few years ago, when we wrote the song and we sort of clicked with it straight away and were like, yeah this is where we need to start”   

‘Time out’ has a progressive cinematic soundscape. Warm guitars, elegant piano twinkles and lush harmonies on backing vocals build alongside pulsing beats. In the studio, Wander explains the creative process was an organic experience. 

”Yeah, I think it is an in the moment kind of thing. I didn’t know what I was gonna sound like going into the studio and it was an experiment. The song naturally lends itself to a certain sound whether you know or not, and you just have to find what that should be. Again that sound came together pretty quickly and naturally, and it seemed like it wouldn’t be right to fight and that’s just how it happened, It wasn’t premeditated at all. It just happened like the writing of the song did really.”    

‘Time Out’ is an emotional song written soon after an explosive breakup and Wander offers an intimate take on a universal topic – relationships. Writing such passionate songs can be therapeutic but I wondered is it difficult for Wander to hear or sing the song now – do all those emotions resurface?

”It’s sort of taken on a new meaning for me I guess. I suppose if I forced myself to get my head back in that space where I was when I wrote it can be painful. But I think you know naturally, we all move on, we all want to move on.”

”For me when I sing, it means something else and it’s more positive, When I wrote it I was trying to be positive and trying to put a spin on this breakup as in, it’s a new beginning…so I think I apply it to just looking onwards and upwards right now and again that meaning will probably change for me, as my frame of mind changes. I’m sure it’ll mean other things to other people too, but I try to make it positive and more uplifting.”   

Wander explains to me that he has plenty of songs written and how he plans to vary his songs and genres for his upcoming tracks

”Well, I think I might be covered for the next few, but in about six months time I might be panicking. I’m writing every day, and you naturally go through phases of not being able to write or not having as much to write about but then at times you’ve got too much to write about. So far, I haven’t struggled too much with writer’s block. I’ve managed to find things whether that be in my own life, or the people’s lives around me or just in the world around me and again in the studio.I think you’ll always find it, whether that does come naturally or not.”  

” I’ve been writing since I was 14/15. The ones that I wrote between 14 and 18, I’m not going to be playing them. I’ve tried to forget them. But, yes I have definitely kept a hold of all those songs and I still go back and look through them.I don’t necessarily use the whole song…I don’t know how many I’ve got – a fair few, and I dive in and sometimes tune in to a certain part…so it’s nice to have that sort of backlog of material that a lot of people starting out don’t, so I feel pretty lucky to have that for sure.”

”No artist wants to be a one trick pony. But it’s cool to at least stick with a theme for a little while, rather than just dipping your toe in and leaving it there. So at least topically it’s centered around relationships, love and the fallout from breakups etc for these first releases.”

”With respect to the mood of them ..there’s a range.They were written from very different places emotionally, and I hope that comes across in the songs”

The pandemic has been a productive time for Wander, he managed to turn his life around in this crazy time gaining signings with the US-based Elevation Group and UK-based BDi Music during the pandemic. I wondered did he see this time as an opportunity or was it all just a happy coincidence?

”I definitely did lots of drinking wine and eating for sure. But it was a conscious decision in terms of minutes. I’ve always been trying to do it and I’ve always been wanting to do it. Prior to the lockdown I drifted into playing piano bars, and hotels, etc for a living, to pay my rent, and that definitely started getting in the way of me actually throwing everything into my own music, and just being all on the line and saying ‘look, this is what I’m gonna do, I’m either in or I’m out’.”

”Yeah so it was a combination of always having that desire and that dream of doing it, and then lockdown sort of eliminating all the work that I was doing. It just made me reevaluate and reset and say in 10 years, if I look back and I didn’t give it my all then I know I’ll forever regret it.. It forced my hand into going all in and start to release music.”

A lot of artists when they release music they plan how they are going to perform the tracks live and Wander like many artists is craving the live setting. He has been performing for years and to be unable to see people react in real time and connect with his songs is difficult for him.

”It’s sort of craving nothing more than to get out and play the songs live and actually see people’s faces. So, yeah, I think about it all the time.”

”I’ve not done live streams, but I believe that is going to be coming very soon. I just need to get better Wi-Fi in and I’ll be out there live streaming to the world.” 

We have all become painfully aware of how one thing can affect work, entertainment and our nerves…. Wi-Fi. Live streams totally depend on this sometimes fickle creature

”I know, and it’s let me down this morning. But, yeah, it’s crazy the amount of time I spent on zoom in writing sessions, what a weird thing that is. I’m just glad that this happened now and not in 2002 when I had a Nokia 3310…Actually no, I didn’t…I was seven years old. What am I talking about, 2005 I got my first phone. Yeah, I think I’d be pretty bored of snake by now.”

Wander has been doing zoom writing sessions. I wondered can the mood and craft of songwriting really be captured in zoom with time lapses and glitches as well as that annoying inaudible moment when two people talk at the same time and they both stop and say nothing due to the awkwardness.

”Yeah, I think it’s very different. It’s less organic. It’s hard to cultivate this electric atmosphere that you often get in a room when you’re writing with people because you have to do your thing, you have to play your idea and then wait a minute, wait for the delay, and then wait to see what they think and then they’ll bounce back with another idea rather than it happening in the moment. So it can be a bit of a barrier for sure, but I guess it’s better than nothing. Some people love it. Some people hate it.I prefer being in person and being in the room, which we can actually do now, so hopefully I don’t have to experience another zoom writing session for a little while.” 

Wander’s lyrics are rich and filled with depth and emotion, however the goal of a poetic lyricist is not something he seeks out intentionally.

”Depends on what I am writing about I think.There are some songs where you’re writing about something that isn’t personal to you then, I think it puts more pressure on you to be more poetic and say something in a new way, that hasn’t been said before, because you’re observing something that other people can observe. But if it’s something personal. Then you just say how you feel. If it’s something about you and something you’re actually experiencing then I think there isn’t as much pressure to put a twist on it because I think you want to be honest.”

The music industry is a tricky business to navigate through. It can be difficult to learn your craft and focus on the music with so much going on. The rewards can be little. I asked Wander if he had any advice he would like to give to budding young artists. 

”I think just stick it out. It’s a long road.It doesn’t happen overnight and it hasn’t, you know..happened for me yet but I think you will never regret sticking it out and putting your all into it, and it’s easy to get distracted from it, responsibilities of life and living that responsible life but you’d never get more satisfaction than seeing your songs out there, and seeing how people react to them and knowing that you did what you’ve always dreamed of, which is to put the music out there, and give it your all.”

Hearing your song on the radio for the first time is a huge and special experience. I explained to him another artist I was in conversation with, when they were notified their song was going to be played on radio they actually went out and bought a radio for the occasion because they didn’t have one at the time. I was intrigued as to how Wander reacted the first time he heard ‘Time Out’ on the radio.

”I wish I bought a radio, that’s way cooler.I just put it on my phone. I think the first time it got played I was in the studio. Maybe I didn’t give it as much focus. I mean it’s definitely very cool.I think I’m a bit of a pessimist.I always find it hard to be like, oh that’s it, like I’ve done it, which I think is definitely not a good trait, because it is so cool and nice to be excited about achieving something in the moment, but I guess I’m always chasing the next thing. I think I’ve always found it hard to stand back and give myself a pat on the back for seeing something cool that I’ve done.But it was cool to hear it,and maybe I will buy a radio for the next one.”

So what can we expect from AJ Wander in the coming months ?

”Good question.I guess up until January, I’m going to be writing. I’ve got a host of writing sessions booked in, and in between those I’ll be writing by myself and hopefully get back in the studio with the songs that click with me most early next year. I’ve got a bunch of tracks that I recorded at the same time as I did ‘Time Out’, so I’ve got the next three tracks already lined up. Which, I’m actually a bit disappointed about because I love being in the studio and I wish I had a deadline to get something else recorded, because it’s my favorite place to be. But sadly, they’re already recorded. So I’m not sure when I will be back in the studio, hopefully next year and planning for the releases after this EP. But yeah, I think the next song to get released will be in early next year, maybe January/February.”

AJ Wander is a talented musician. His ability to capture emotion within his music is captivating. ‘Time out’ is a solid debut and a special gem to behold. I can not wait to hear more from him. Keep an eye on AJ Wander 

Stream ‘Time Out’ Below


Author : Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Jonnie Wallace ‘I Talk Too Much’

Edinburgh singer songwriter Jonnie Wallace has released his new single ‘I Talk Too Much’. Rich percussion and warm guitar create a vibrant atmosphere as Wallace uses fluctuant bass lines to flesh out the track’s backdrop. This charming tune takes a quirky and honest view on a date gone wrong as Wallace admits he talks too much. The song builds superbly as the catchy chorus and instrumentation bounce behind Wallace’s vocals. He layers and builds the track superbly creating tension for the bridge. The playful verses and tight chorus showcase Wallace’s ability to create rich multi textures within his songs while exuding a comical tone of self loathing; camouflaged by the infectious pop melody, funky rhythm and glittering indie soundscape. ‘I Talk Too Much’ is an enjoyable well crafted track from Jonnie Wallace.

Stream ‘I Talk Too Much’ below


Author : Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Chris Conroy ‘Sink Or Swim’

After his debut release ‘Dive’, Chris Conroy has released his second single ‘Sink Or Swim’. Named after his grandad, who coincidentally was the only other musically orientated member of his family, Chris was destined to pursue a career in music. Discovering a love for guitar and in turn songwriting in his late teens, his life experiences have shaped who he is and how his music sounds today. A constant battle between happiness and heartache, love and loss, Chris expresses a refreshing and honest vulnerability, a defiant and hopeful mindset all in a playful yet serious manner.

‘Sink or Swim’ is a powerful number saturated in intense soundscapes, emotive melodies and Chris Conroy’s heartfelt songwriting. The track surges with tension as rushing electronics create an adrenaline infused soundscape. Conroy’s vocals rasp and passionately drift over the bitter sweet melody as the track builds for the explosive chorus. ‘Sink or Swim’ is a song expressing the conflict between chasing your dreams and staying comfortable in your surroundings. Conroy talks about the uncertainty in moving forward whilst trying to hold onto the past. This twisting and coiling emotion is perfectly expressed within the tracks intricate layers. Simmering electronics pull the listener into the songs abyssal depths while elegant keys create moments of innocence and sweetness that become almost suffocated by the jittering beats. ‘Sink or Swim’ is a dynamic and compelling tune from Chris Conroy. 

Stream ‘Sink or Swim’ below 


Author : Danu

Event News, Indie, Live Music, New Music, Singer/Songwriter, Takeover

Event News : Rachel Grace Takeover

Rachel Grace will takeover our Instagram and Facebook for a live stream on Saturday at 8.00 pm

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/indie_buddie/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/indiebuddie/

Rachel Grace is a singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has been creating music from a very young age. At 13, she released her debut album and now at 18, she has just recently won the Four Star Pizza, Star Nation competition. Along the way she has also supported established Irish musicians such as Wallis Bird, Brian Deady, Don Mescal and Paddy Casey. She has also played a number of festivals including Vantastival & Electric Picnic.

Grace is a diverse and engaging performer who blends genres to suit her wonderful emotive style. Her mesmerising vocals showcase a warmth and maturity beyond her years, as do the passionate and well crafted tunes she writes. Grace stops time when she sings and her soulful songs and dreamy melodies are a joy to listen to. 

You can stream Rachel Grace’s new single ‘Cry Me An Ocean’ below 


Author : Danu