Lurgan based Indie – alternative artist BECAH, is back with her second single and has announced her upcoming debut EP ‘Freaks’, due out Nov 20th. With her debut single ‘Forget’ released in July BECAH grabbed the attention of the industry with her heartfelt lyrics and original writing style. Now back with her second single ‘Ghost’ BECAH brings a new energy and shows off her flexibility when it comes to songwriting.
‘Ghost’ displays the limitless scope of BECAH as an artist as she dives into the dark electronic and more dynamic side of her mesmerising musicianship. The bittersweet melody drifts atop an effervescent soundscape of punchy drums, distorted guitar fuzz and biting electronics, creating a sweet, innocent contrast to the sinister explosive atmosphere. With heavy synths and sharp guitar this tune is passionate, tender and powerful – the lyrics hit hard as BECAH’s crisp and wonderfully lush vocals coo with soulful tones while a choppy piano refrain accompanies the verses creating an almost jazzy retro element before the chorus consumes the song in a rage of emotion.
BECAH’s debut ‘Forget’ gave listeners a glimpse of her immense talent and sterling sound. However she has turned up the heat for ‘Ghost’. The maturity displayed in her songwriting, tantalizing musicianship, and precise guitar work is impressive. Keep an eye on BECAH.
About the song, BECAH say :”Ghost was the first song I ever sat down and finished when I began writing. Scrawled out in an old notebook on my bedroom floor with a few rough chords as I was only teaching myself guitar at the time. I’ve always noted it as the foundation for everything that has come after, as it gave me the confidence to continue writing. It speaks of those almost loves – the longing to have a person that can never be yours, and the difficulties that surround those kinds of relationships. The sleepless nights, the hope, the disappointment. Feeling as though that person is almost like a ghost in your life because one moment they’re there and then the next they’re gone.”
Hailing from Co. Kildare with a sound that hovers close to the baroque pop and tender folk-rock of Roy Orbison and Glen Campbell, John Hynes songs are a storyboard for hopeless romantics and hopeless romances. His songwriting explores the grey areas of life and love, where the good and bad reside uncomfortably side-by-side. John’s previous singles reached No.1 on the RTE Radio 1 airplay chart and received plays on Today FM, Lyric FM, 4FM, Radio Nova, and a host of regionals.
John Hynes has a soothing warm voice. His poetic, moving lyrics and sweet melodies make for a wonderful listening experience. There is passion and emotion oozing from each of his catchy songs. His tender vocals and heartwarming rich melodies are irresistible. This live stream is going to be sublime.
You can stream John Hynes’ single ‘The Glory’ below
Hot off the heels of his atmospheric synth pop single ‘Timeline’, PureGrand (Luke Faulkner) returns with his new single ‘Such A Fright’, accompanied with a self made video which parodies the pressures and hypocrisy of the modern workplace but dresses it up in the stylings of the 1990s.The song was written and produced by Faulkner and is the latest single to be taken from his new body of work which is inspired by social themes felt by young millennials and by Faulkner’s own experiences in the past year and exploring them through the sounds and aesthetics of 90s and millennium pop.
‘Such A Fright’ is an intoxicating slice of electronic pop as PureGrand uses building soundscapes, catchy melodies and earnest songwriting to create a danceable dark tune.The slapping beats scuff the atmosphere in ominous undertones while the coiling electronics shuffle with an 80’s hue and disco vibe. With a bittersweet pop melody and sombre vocal delivery the track is a lonely bop brimming with lush textures and surging electronic pop sensibilities. Lyrically the song illustrates the claustrophobic sensations and the trappings of dealing with anxiety. PureGrand use retro synths and infectious melodies to create an asphyxiating atmosphere showcasing brief moments of innocent release to compliment the tracks lyrical theme. ‘Such A Fright’ is an infectious meaningful number from PureGrand.
Bristol indie folk singer songwriter Joe T. Johnson has released his new single ‘English Elegance’. This sweet retro hued ditty drifts upon Johnson’s 60’s melodies while he subtly builds a psychedelic hued backdrop. The song weaves between eerie moments with light pop elements glimmering throughout while a dreamy melody, upbeat rhythm and sweet vocals contrast the sinister, lamenting spaghetti western-esque guitar whines throughout. With harmonica moments and march-like drum elements Johnson wonderfully layers ‘English Elegance’ to create a fantastic pop delight to listen to.
Folk troubadour John Hynes has returned with his new single, ‘The Glory’ which is inspired by the death of his father, “a man for whom a life well lived meant a humble life of independence.”, as John puts it. Hailing from Co. Kildare John’s songs are a storyboard for hopeless romantics and hopeless romances. His songwriting explores the grey areas of life and love, where the good and bad reside uncomfortably side-by-side.Produced by Gavin Glass (David Keenan, Lisa Hannigan) and featuring string arrangements by Cormac Curran (Hozier, Villagers), John has expanded and grown from his previous singles and is releasing his most autobiographical song yet. With John’s previous singles reaching No.1 on the RTE Radio 1 airplay chart and receiving plays on Today FM, Lyric FM, 4FM, Radio Nova, and a host of regionals, he is eager to keep the momentum going with a busy year of releases.John is also announcing his forthcoming debut album due out in May 2021. “A Man In Love” will expand on these themes of love and loss; the death of a father, the birth of a child, lost loves, marriage and modern manhood and will be released in May 2021.
‘The Glory’ is a heartwarming emotive track as John Hynes wraps tender lyrics in passionate melodies and beautiful musicianship. Graceful strings swoon with elegance and grandeur while the warm guitar strums and steady beat provide a cosy and wholesome atmosphere within the track. Hynes’ emotive vocals exudes a country tone as the track beautifully blossoms between pop and folk- rock. As the song progresses it becomes more powerful and anthemic with lush backing harmonies and a captivating crescendo. There are elements of Father John Misty sprinkled throughout the track as Hynes showcases his poetic and moving songwriting to create a delicate and utterly moving tune.
TYG returns with his new single ‘One More Time’. ‘One More Time’ is accompanied by TYG’s debut video, directed by actor/director Ruaidhri Conroy and starring TYG, rising star Peter Newington (Walking On Cars’ Don’t Mind Me, Calm With Horses) and stunning dancer Ghaliah. Shot by Patrick Jordan(The Young Offenders) on location in Dublin it visually and narratively explores the song’s themes of desire and longing.
‘One More Time’ is a powerful and ambitious tune as TYG uses his exceptionally passionate vocals and moving songwriting to create quite the hair-raising experience. The song builds superbly with a country rock element which ignites the songs emotive core while the twinkling guitar and brooding melody express the songs moving lyrical content. The steady beat progresses becoming more dynamic taking the song to cinematic heights for the soaring chorus. ‘One More Time’ is a brilliant and timeless example of TYG’s refined musicianship. ‘One More Time’ is sleek and grand in nature but musically loose and ethereal enough to keep it fresh. TYG is immensely talented.
About the track TYG said : “Longing for what was and what could have been is something I think we all experience from time to time,That potent feeling I myself have experienced at times is what inspired this song”.
Lav has released her new single ‘Reds’ which is the first single from her yet-to-be-titled debut EP due in February 2021 on Color Study.The release follows a succession of buzzy singles, “From Me, The Moon”, “Wavvy” and “The Girls Before Me”, which has positioned the LA based artist as one of this year’s hot tips.
There is a slow groove and dreamy quality to ‘Reds’ as Lav coos over a delicately lush instrumental backdrop. Synths fizzle in and out of swirling soundscapes and jazzy warm keys while rippling beats add an R&B element to the tune. The track is a well crafted expression of adolescent romance. Lavs sultry vocals echo and lull over the nostalgic melody, her sweet vocals seduce and draw the listener further into the songs brooding sense of euphoria. ‘Reds’ is another enchanting track from Lav.
Lav calls the track “a seductive and melancholy tune I whipped up after reflecting on romance in my adolescence. Dreamy and idealistic, without acknowledging the reality of an eventual expiration on the relationship”.
Irish glam-pop artist Jack Rua has released his new single ‘Isolation’. Writing music at the age of 15, first for a rock band and then as a soloist, he renamed himself Jackal in 2013. Backed by an 8 piece band, his theatrical and energetic stage show saw him perform at venues such as Whelans, The Academy, The Mercantile and Vicar Street. Graduating with a BA in Commercial Modern Music from BIMM Dublin, Jack took a hiatus from performing in 2017 and moved to New York City where he immersed himself in the cultural scenes of drag, burlesque and theatre – shaping his sound around these creative concepts.
‘Isolation’ is a glorious display of Jack Rua’s shimmering pop as he takes an emotive theme and shrouds it in infectious glittering electronics and bubbling rhythms.The song is glowing with Rua’s refined musicianship and impressive songwriting prowess as light verses simmer while entwining synths and ethereal elements contrast the thematically darker undertone. The track has invigorating bursts of release between the coiling beats while Rua’s smooth warm vocals ooze swagger and charm.
‘Isolation’ is a richly textured track exuding finger clicking elements and catchy soundscapes. Rua’s ability to provide a danceable catchy tune with relatable lyrics and conflicting sonic twists is masterful. Jack Rua is an artist to keep an eye on.
About the track Jack Rua said : “It was written about how I was separated from my boyfriend for 2 months because of the COVID pandemic. We had only just gotten into a relationship and were enjoying the throws of the infamous honeymoon period, so to be separated from each other for such a period of time for reasons beyond our control was very difficult.I love this song because it really captures what I was experiencing. I was trying to remain positive and remind myself that things were only temporary, but still feeling a sense of hopelessness and a complete lack of control of the situation. I knew what I was doing was right morally in the context of a pandemic, but it felt so incorrect personally and all of these conflicting emotions and ideas were driving me crazy.”
I caught up with Lucy Gaffney. We talked about how she became comfortable as a solo artist, her inspirations and how she wrote and recorded her new single ‘Send Me Away’.
Hailing from Belfast, the now Liverpool based, Irish songwriter has released her new single ‘Send Me Away’, via Frictionless Music.The track was produced by The Coral’s James Skelly, positioning her as a rising artist in the fertile Northern English indie scene. Featuring on the track alongside Lucy is Thom Southern (Electric Guitar, Bass) and Jim Sharrock(Drums).
“The reaction has been amazing, the radio play as well there’sbeen so much support from radio stations.I only released my first single, back a couple of months ago, and I’m obviously a brand new artist. So coming out with the second single, I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out because for me it’s more of a lo fi track, but everyone seems to be loving it and there’s RTE behind it and Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6 played it the other day so I’m so chuffed about that as well. So yeah, it’s great.”
The track has a heavier sound with fuzzy guitar, psychedelic soundscapes and dream-pop melodies which is quite different to the sound of Lucy’s other projects Southern and MMODE.
“Well what happened was I was coming out of, one of the previous bands, and I was on tour with The Coral at the time. James Skelly produces a lot of bands and he was just watching us live, you know every night and he said ‘you guys are great, would you ever want to get into the recording studio’. So it was just kind of a natural thing and we didn’t really have any expectations. It just felt right for me to be doing my songs that I’ve had on the shelf for ages and he was really into the vibe that we were getting, it was kind of like Krautrock, kind of shoegaze. Thom, who was in the previous band with me, my brother he creates a lot of guitar sounds and I would write a lot of my melodies on top of that, probably, almost the same way like The Stone Roses would work. It’s very melody orientated with elements of deadpan vocals and a lot of reverb and things. So that’s really what I’m into, and the sound really just developed after doing those two tracks in Parr Street with James so I’ve had them ready to go since last summer.”
“I was just taking the time to do gigs, I went on tour with Bill Ryder-Jones and that was a great learning experience for me because it was the first time I was solo performer, without a band or anything so working with him as well on that tour, gave me that kind of, I don’t know full roundedness that I have in my vision for the music that I do. So yeah, the songs are coming across really well and it’s just a shame I can’t gig them. “
Doing shows on your own can be difficult when you are used to having a band with you. I wondered if the solo transition was daunting.
“Definitely, yeah for sure because it was my first, I had done gigs just kind of one off gigs. My first gig was actually supporting the DMA’s in Belfast which was an amazing first gig and yeah I was super nervous. It’s more the build up to it that you’re nervous about and then when you’re on stage it just comes so naturally, because that’s what you’re good at, and on tour with Bill (Ryder- Jones) was more about learning how to engage the audience and finding your place on stage in terms of, do you want to give a lot of yourself away to the audience, because Bill in particular, he is almost like a comedian on stage. In between the songs he’s telling tales and I’m not really like that you know naturally I’m probably a little bit more of an introvert and I wouldn’t want to give too much of myself away but yeah, so just finding that balance.”
“It was definitely daunting to begin with but it’s like anything, you know, practice makes perfect. Since being in lockdown it’s weird because doing the live gigs online has been really beneficial for me, because I think it’s more daunting to play a gig online for people than it is in real life. I mean it’s like doing faceTime with someone and the camera you have to get your camera angles right and you know there’s all that flack and you’re always worrying is the signal gonna go mid set, whereas live, the freedom that you have to play live is just amazing there’s nothing like it. So yeah, I’m definitely missing that but I’m hoping next year we’ll have some socially distant gigs.”
In her solo career so far, Lucy has already had acclaim from Liam Gallagher (who called her music ‘celestial’), a collaboration with DMA’s and tours with Bill Ryder Jones and She Drew The Gun with support on Radio from BBC Radio 1, as well as BBC Introducing Merseyside and BBC Introducing Ulster.
“ I’m just launching literally and if anyone tells me they like my song I’m glowing after it. Whatever you get in response to your track it’s just nice for it to resonate with people. I put out the cover of Oasis and I don’t normally do covers but I happen to really like the song ‘Songbird’, by Oasis and obviously, Liam Gallagher is very influenced by John Lennon, and the Beatles and I’ve always been really influenced by, The Beatles and their songwriting and John Lennon in particular, so that’s obviously why I like that song, but I put it up on Twitter and in the few hours it had gone viral and Liam Gallagher caught wind of it and commented on it. So yeah, it’s just amazing, it is mad how the internet works.”
The music industry has changed a lot with streaming and social media and Lucy has managed to keep on top of her social media by putting out a lot of content during lockdown to keep her fans engaged. This is a task artists can find difficult with pressure of finding visually appealing settings etc.
“Yeah definitely, it’s a job in any sense having to do that kind of thing and it’s been a learning curve for a lot of musicians, trying to come to terms with the fact that the only way we can promote ourselves is online. I am a bit of a technophobe, apart from posting photos and stuff and tweets, I would never have been going live on my phone. But you do get the hang of it and it is really nice you know when people tune in and people are lovely. I’ve never had anyone say anything bad, I’ve always had really nice feedback during the gigs and everyone was being really supportive and people love it. In fact the only thing for me that I don’t have at the minute is any merch and a lot of people say to me, do you have any vinyl things since the songs have come out but obviously it’s early days for me so I’ve not had them made”
“The whole experience I think has been really beneficial for me, in particular, as an artist. I think for bands that were touring a lot before the lockdown happened it’s been hard for them. It’s funny and it’s something I have talked to, my friends who are musicians. It’s almost put the power back into the artists hand, and it’s taken a bit of the, I don’t know, control maybe away from the record labels, I mean social media was doing that anyway. Even my friend who plays drums for me, he is promoting himself online and he gets such a great reaction, people love it. It’s so interesting, even for me, to be able to watch someone online who I admire. I was able to see Beck, who is a bit of a recluse, you know he was never really sitting online chatting and I’ve looked up interviews of him from the 90s and things and there’s so few and to watch him sitting in his living room playing live has been such a novelty. So yeah, it has definitely been a game changer for musicians, I think. “
Lucy’s voice is beautifully sweet over the bubbling instrumentation in ‘Send Me Away’, it creates a lulling sense of calm. I wondered was she always a confident singer
“I definitely wasn’t, just because of my background. As a kid, I sang in the school choir and I was really into female singer songwriters. Like any young girl when I was seven or eight Avril Lavigne was my inspiration and so it was always in my mind to be a songwriter and sing. But because the way I started was in a duo, I started busking with my brother and we were really based around harmonies, so I sang alongside someone else for years, so it does take mental strength to work up the ability to do it completely alone. It’s always a learning experience throughout your musical career to do anything, for example I play a lot of piano, but I’ve never played it live so imagine if I was to have to do it I’d probably be nervous because it’s not something I’ve tried before. But I think now I’m definitely a confident singer, I could sing to anybody on the street I don’t mind.”
“I think it always depends on each song really but my influences in the last few years were bands like the Cocteau Twins and Mazzy Star, so, I was always into that kind of soft, you know, sultry vocal and I love a deadpan vocal. I love Grian Chatten’s voice in Fontaine’s DC. I love how he sings, I love that kind of laziness to it, and even in the last few months I’ve really been listening to a lot more of Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile and that. That is just my kind of vibe, so I think towards next year the songs are going to be maybe less shoegaze, and more, I don’t know, you’ll hear more of my voice, to an extent. Yeah and I’ve definitely got a lot more new material since the lockdown happened. I’m actually working with a couple of producers at the minute for next year. I can’t really say who but the new songs for me are miles ahead of what I’ve done before. It’s gonna be really exciting to put them out, so I’m really looking forward to next year, to be honest.”
So what advice would Lucy have for anyone who wants to start a career in music or as a songwriter.
“ My advice, just from my experiences…You can only ever be yourself in your songwriting. I never liked it when I see someone who’s just regurgitating other artists. I can understand having an influence but I think it’s never good to just rip other artists off, and I think it doesn’t necessarily have longevity. So I think always working at your craft and always having a passion for it, it’s probably the same with any art form. But definitely being honest and making sure you actually like the songs you’re putting out because, I mean, I have spent years putting out things because I think it would fit, it would be something that people would want to hear rather than if it was something that I’d want to hear myself. And I think I’m at a position now after a couple of years of working my craft to know that if I love my song, that’s all I care about.”
Lucy has some exciting plans for the coming months and next year with lots of amazing tunes for us to indulge in
“ So I’m promoting ‘Send Me Away’ at the minute but hopefully I’ll be in a recording studio over in England in a couple of weeks, doing the third and fourth singles and they should maybe out by December or next year. I also have way more recordings and I’m booking in gigs and stuff at the minute for Ireland next year so if everything goes ahead hopefully, you know, lots of tours and lots more music.”
Lucy Gaffney is a compelling artist and talented songwriter, showing strong personal musical growth from her days in Southern and MMode. ‘Send Me Away’ is just a glimpse into her musical prowess and songwriting capabilities. It’s an immersing track laced in rich textures and lush instrumentation which hooks the listener from the start. I’m looking forward to hearing more from Lucy Gaffney in the future.
RACHEL is a singer-songwriter from Mayo whose musical journey started at the young age of twelve writing original music while learning the guitar and banjo. She has performed, and competed in RTÉ’s televised ‘All-Ireland Talent Show’ and reached the final of the local talent competition. In 2019, she released her first single ‘Down Low’ which reached the number one spot in Ireland’s iTunes Charts.
RACHEL has a diverse and rich sound. She blends pop with some country tones and dark electronics to create a warm and rich soundscape for the listener to indulge in. Her unique rasped vocals surge emotion and subtle power into her catchy melodically lush tracks. RACHEL is an artist to keep an eye on.
