Irish electro-pop artist Slaney has released her new single, ‘Love Is Like A Drug’. The song follows the release of her previous single ‘Chameleon’, which dropped in February and picked up excellent radio and press support in Ireland and the UK.
‘Love Is Like A Drug’ is a refreshing guzzle of electronic pop that bubbles with the infectious musicianship of Slaney. She spreads ethereal electronics over a sticky beat creating a muggy and dance-infused backdrop for her sweet vocals to coo over. There is a beautiful contrast between Slaney’s hypnotic vocals, the honeyed melody and effervescent electronics that adds a bite and edge to the tune. Slaney pulls these different aspects together with the use of soft pop elements and catchy hooks allowing listeners to appreciate and immerse themselves in the tracks’ addictive and enticing soundscapes. ‘Love Is Like A Drug’ showcases Slaney’s musical prowess and sublime knack for melodies, marking her an artist to keep an eye on.
Dublin singer-songwriter Tommy Cullen is tearing into the summer with his new single ‘Violet Rainbow’.Like most of his output to date, the track was recorded in lockdown during a turbulent year spent in a tiny house on top of a river. It is the latest addition to a repertoire spanning such diverse subjects as scary sharks, imaginary breakups and really nice trains. ‘Violet Rainbow’ has its origins in a voice memo captured years ago in a rented bus while Tommy was travelling in the French Alps. Now the song emerges fully formed, expressing the universal desire to shine and giving voice to the many shades of violet that make up our lives. It was mixed by Marcus Jay, who also contributed additional production and drum machine programming, and mastered by Ivan Jackman at Hellfire Studios.
‘Violet Rainbow’ boasts the intricate and catchy musicianship of Tommy Cullen. Riding on a gritty riff, buoyant beat, and lush melodies, the track surges with adrenaline. Cullen’s smooth vocals glide over a dreamy melody filled with funky guitar lines and vibrant soundscapes to create a textured and euphoric tune that is a joy to listen to. There is a subtle sense of mystery within the bright indie backdrop enhanced by shaky percussion and silken electronics that weaves beneath rumbling beats and light guitars. Cullen has a wonderful ability for producing lush and compelling tunes that ooze awe-inspiring musical prowess and ‘Violet Rainbow’ displays this perfectly.
Monaghan singer-songwriter Jim McHugh has released his third album ‘Pretending To Wake Up’. McHugh’s previous releases have been added to RTE 1’s Recommends list, been Album of The Week at KCLR, been All Out Local Song Choice at LMFM and had extensive regional, national and international airplay.
‘Pretending To Wake Up’ is a fascinating collection that showcases McHugh’s most compelling work to date. The gobsmacking singles ‘Dave’ and ‘Hey Jimbo’ only give a glimpse of the treasure that ‘Pretending To Wake Up’ has to offer. Gems like the emotive ‘Her Love’ is a joy to the ears and boasts the artist’s fine musical prowess –the track’s dark tribal beat exudes hypnotic qualities that brood and simmer beneath McHugh’s deep vocals. This mysterious tune glimmers with a sense of innocence as McHugh slips into his falsetto while a supple twinkle on guitar adorns the backdrop in a tender lament. It’s within the deep yearning and minimalist instrumentation that we see the true beauty of the song before it erupts into a cinematic and passionate crescendo. The track is simply divine and quite the emotive masterpiece.
McHugh’s artistic talent is on full display within ‘Pretending To Wake Up’ as he takes us from the lush ‘Her Love’ to the gritty, dark ‘Virtual Bomb Drop’,an alternative rock smasher. This riff-heavy banger drives along a foundation of pounding drums, slithering grooves on bass and angular guitars that ooze swagger and gusto throughout. The track is a wonderful contrast to ‘Her Love’ that pulls the listener further into McHugh’s vibrant musicianship.
All over the album, we see McHugh blending musical genres – something the artist does with deft skill and enviable ease. From the panache dipped rock n’ roll of ‘Dave’ and ‘ Hey Jimbo’ to the jazz hues within ‘Shut Your Mouth’ and reggae rhythmic elements in ‘Mo Stór ’, McHugh invites listeners to indulge in the myriad of unique sounds within each satisfying and richly textured track. McHugh knows when to blast his tunes with ballsy rock and heavy instrumentation and when to tease, lure and create brooding tension within his music. This skill provides refreshing jolts throughout the album, with raw crescendo’s erupting from seemingly tender and pining tunes. This is aptly shown in ‘Mo Stór ’ which sees McHugh movingly lay his heart on his sleeve “I was born to be alive, with you” over a buoyant guitar, and soft instrumentation that becomes more expressive with indie rock elements for the crescendo.
Lyrical honesty and storytelling is something McHugh has become known for. Most notably in ‘Such A Cow’. McHugh exclaims “you’re such a cow” over jagged guitar and punchy drums. He’s not one to mince his word. However, there is plenty of witty insights and thought-provoking idioms within his lyrics that leaves much to be admired about the artist’s talent as a songwriter.
‘Pretending To Wake Up’ is a fantastic and cohesive collection of tracks that marks McHugh as an artist to keep an eye on. The diverse blend of instrumentation teamed with catchy sweeping melodies and lyrical content makes ‘Pretending To Wake Up’ an exciting record ready for repeat plays.
The Academic have announced details of a new EP. ‘The Community Spirit’ EP will be released on the 9th of July through Capitol Records. To coincide with its announcement, the band have released the first taste of the EP with their new single, ‘Kids (Don’t End Up Like Me)’.’ The Community Spirit’ EP was written, recorded and produced by the band through lockdown.
Exuding a youthful persona, ‘Kids (Don’t End Up Like Me)’ is an irresistible earworm that surges with The Academic’s thrilling indie sound. The rugged driving bass lines and punchy drum progressions create a gripping foundation while shimmers of guitar lift the track to majestic and ethereal heights. It’s a gripping and powerful number as the band flesh out their exhilarating musicianship with weighty instrumentation and honest lyricism. Craig Fitzgerald croons, “when I say I shine, I barely glow “ over a sweet melody while the indie backdrop builds for the anthemic chorus. The track is a joy to listen to and ready for repeat plays.
Showcasing crisp production and energetic instrumentation, The Academic are building their sound superbly and fast becoming one of Ireland’s finest indie gems.
About the song, vocalist Craig Fitzgerald explains: “Kids (Don’t End Up Like Me) is one of the first songs I remember writing back when I was a teenager. It was the first time that lyrics had come very easy to me. It’s written about the fear of not getting out of your hometown and amounting to anything. Thanks to the lockdown, I had plenty of time on my hands, but nothing to write about, so I started looking through all my old notebooks and found this song fully written. I had a gut feeling that it might come to life now with a few more years of living behind me since it was originally written.”
Emily 7 have announced their new single ‘Somebody’ will be released on all digital streaming platforms on Friday, June 4th. Hot off the heels of a feature in RTE One’s My Tribe, the Dublin Four-piece are delighted to release a fan favourite from live sets as a single.
‘Somebody’ announces itself in a swarm of indie rock glory as Emily 7 drench their hook-laden sound in gritty instrumentation and oodles of swagger. This stomping anthem swirls into a backdrop of scorching guitars and rampant bass grooves while a pounding bloodthirsty drum foundation creates an infectious beat throughout. Warm rasped vocals anchor the listener within the song’s thrilling soundscape while expressing feelings of angst and longing “everybody’s got somebody I need someone… someone like you gonna take my blues away”. The song drifts between punk, blues flirtations and confident rock embellishments with ease as the band display their deft musical prowess and immersive musicianship. Boasting catchy lyrics, riveting instrumentation and Emily 7’s sharp lyrical content, ‘Somebody’ is a blistering new single sure to be stuck in your head for days.
Australian three-piece band Peach Lane unveil their long-awaited debut EP ‘Take This Day’. Peach Lane explores feelings around growing up and learning to look after yourself in an EP that they describe as cathartic and organic. “These were the first songs we wrote together as a band. They just kind of fell out of us, and it felt really natural and easy.” explain the band, who recorded the EP with producer Louis Montgomery (Peking Duck, Safia, Citizen Kay).
‘Take This Day’ is a lush collection of tracks that showcases the stunning melodic world of Peach Lane. Throughout the EP, the band blends electronics with sweet pop elements to create an ethereal soundscape that is euphoric on the ears. From the supple dance-infused synths and rich rhythmic pulse of ‘Rolling’ to the twinkling sun-kissed indie-pop of ‘Watch Me Leave’, Peach Lane invites listeners to indulge in immersive tracks filled with rich instrumentation and pristine production. The electronics and innocent keys provide a sublime contrast to the harsher moments, allowing the band to blur the lines between genres to create hypnotic tracks with cinematic tendencies – ‘Just The Start’ and ‘Bad Friends’ are fine examples of this, with the latter displaying an intriguing mirage of shimmering guitars that glimmer with psychedelic hues and a bright indie edge. The EP as a whole boasts the diverse and wondrous sound of Peach Lane and is a compelling and glorious listening experience.
Bio: Colm O’Mahony & The Hot Touches are a Rock ‘n’ Roll band from Killarney Co.Kerry, Ireland. Their self-titled debut album, featuring eight all original songs, was released on June 5, 2020. The album is an examination of life by way of rock ‘n’ roll. With eight original songs, each written by O’Mahony, it explores issues such as love, loss, betrayal & defiance. The band have released their new single ‘Preacher’s Daughter’, taken off that album,
Track: Preacher’s Daughter
Why We Like It: The band take their passionate songwriting and spread it over a powerful and evocative backdrop. With warm guitars jangling through steady rhythms and soft keys, the song has a glowing sun-kissed atmosphere with a rock undertone. Boasting an upbeat tempo, smooth, dreamy melody and emotive rasped vocals, this expression of youth, love and freedom is a sublime example of the compelling musicianship of Colm O’Mahony & The Hot Touches. ‘Preacher’s Daughter’ is a joy to listen to.
Bio: Love Crumbs is a folk-rock and Americana group based in Massachusetts. Known for blending poignant lyrics with evocative vocal storytelling. Their debut single, “Cavalcades,” received critical acclaim from celebrated outlets such as Adobe and Teardrops, Postcard Elba, and Obscure Sound.
Track: Ellipses
Why We Like It: It’s a lush and energetic tune brimming with rich and beautifully arranged instrumentation. The band blends warm Americana through hearty acoustic guitar and rhythmic bounces, while elegant piano surges with jazz hues between graceful strings. Teaming lush harmonies with folk melodies, this song is laced in intertwined arrangements that is simply awe-inspiring. Showcasing a powerful chorus filled with ethereal guitars and punchy drums, Love Crumbs present a catchy emotive tune that boasts their refined and mesmerising musicianship.
Bio: Since the release of his debut EP ‘Astronaut Complex’, Alt Bloom has accumulated over 29 Million total streams, been featured in Billboard, American Songwriter, F L A U N T, among others, and released a hit collaboration with LA rapper gnash with “text talk touch.” Last year while in quarantine, Alt Bloom opted to find new ways to connect with his audience when the rest of the world was shutting down — whether it was putting out acoustic tracks and unreleased music on Soundcloud or hosting ‘Tribe Tuesdays’ on his Instagram and TikTok.
Track: Fly Away
Why We Like It: It’s a catchy new song. Alt Bloom presents a cheery tune surging with positivity and his unmistakable infectious pop sound, Jaunty guitars inject warm tones between soft electronic flurries and energetic beats to create a dynamic and vibrant soundscape for listeners to indulge in while radiant glimmers on electric guitar and Alt Bloom’s smooth vocals chime throughout, gently guiding the listener to the exuberant chorus. The track is an uplifting ode to the moments where we all need to break free. Alt Bloom uses adrenaline rushing melodies, vibrant instrumentation and enthusiastic lyrics to capture this message superbly. ‘Fly Away’ is a charming spark of joy.
Bio: Alt-pop act Saige launched onto the Irish music scene in 2020, and despite just a few months and four singles under her belt (Soothe Me, Ultraviolence, Late Nights, Mama) Saige has already established herself as a force to be reckoned with within the industry. Hailing from Co.Wexford, the singer/songwriter, studied in BIMM and cut her teeth gigging Dublin’s music circuit while developing her unique sound. ‘What Should I Write’ is Saige’s 5th single, taken from her upcoming debut EP.
Track: What Should I Write
Why We Like It: It’s a delicate tune that boasts the mature and earnest songwriting of Saige. Enveloped within a reverb guitar melody, the track has a hazy, almost dreamlike tone. A nostalgic bittersweet melody plays atop a delicate soundscape and is greatly enhanced by the artist’s expressive and mesmerising vocals. Saige’s strong, soothing voice anchors the listener within the song and showcases a musical depth, control and beauty that is simply divine. ‘What Should I Write’ is quite the timeless number that gives listeners a keyhole glimpse into the musical talent that is Saige.
Watch the lyric video for ‘What Should I Write’ below
Ali Tommis
Genre: Singer-songwriter
Bio : Singer-songwriter Ali Tommis has released his new single ‘Make It Better’.Being born into a family of musicians, Tommis was surrounded by music from a young age and began playing piano at the age of three, leading to his passion for writing music at the age of 17.‘Make It Better’ was made during the first lockdown and is about the struggles of being a musician. It is the first song Ali released that he recorded on his laptop as he couldn’t get to the studio due to the pandemic. Ali plays all the instruments and the song was mixed and mastered remotely by Al Groves and Loic Gaillard at The Motor Museum recording studio in Liverpool.
Track: Make It Better
Why We Like It: It’s a cinematic piano-led gem that oozes the emotive and potent songwriting of Ali Tommis. Tommis creates a rock ballad that packs an emotional punch. The song is beautifully arranged with a melancholic piano melody backed by a steady beat and soft atmospherics. As the track builds in intensity Tommis injects electric guitar pines into the soundscape that lifts the song to its dynamic crescendo. Tommis’ rasped rock hued vocals exude emotion and tenderness as he croons and exclaims over the passionate melody. ‘Make It Better’ is a hair-raising and utterly compelling experience that showcases the artist’s mature and captivating sound. Press play and enjoy.
Pauric O’Meara has released his new single ‘Final Say’.O’Meara is an independent singer-songwriter from Co. Tipperary, based in Dublin. He has been making his mark on the Irish music scene for quite a few years since his time on The Voice. His raw, powerful vocal has been known to grab people’s attention across many places and many stages. Through the years, he has performed in many top venues around Ireland supporting bands such as Hermitage Green, Hudson Taylor, Billow Wood, Amazing Apples and HAWK but had a breakthrough year in 2019, with 2 successful headline shows in Dublin in The Soundhouse and Workman’s Club, as well as making his Electric Picnic Festival debut.
‘Final Say’ is a fine example of O’Meara’s dynamic sound. Pulsing beats create a sense of tension while subtle wisps of electronics flurry about the verse as O’Meara displays his meticulous musicianship and deft ability to evoke emotion through his songs. It’s an ambitious track that tethers alternative pop to indie sensibilities, enhanced by a plucked guitar refrain that injects a bright indie glow into the song’s backdrop. O’Meara’s sweet voice easily drifts between the brooding verses and mighty chorus while matching the track’s kinetic instrumental elements without becoming overpowering. Boasting a cinematic chorus, expressive soundscapes and driving rhythms, ‘Final Say’ is a compelling and well crafted new single from Pauric O’Meara.
FYA FOX has released her new single, ‘Sunset’. FYA’s debut single, ‘White Lies’, received favourable radio support across the UK and Ireland, including a world exclusive from Radio One’s Gemma Bradley on BBC Across The Line. Her previous two singles, ‘Body’ & ‘White Lies’, have already been supported by 2fm, Today FM and many more. ‘Body’ was added to the BBC Radio Ulster ‘Where Music Matters’ playlist, which features ten new tracks across the BBC Radio Ulster playlist each month and was also added to a number of prestigious Spotify playlists, including ‘Fresh Finds’ (750k followers).
Showcasing mesmerising vocals and a shimmering electronic pop backdrop, ‘Sunset’ is a compelling new single from FYA FOX. The song broods for the verses creating an enticing vast soundscape that flickers with dark alternative pop embellishments, rich textured rhythms, shadowy instrumental elements and soft keys. FYA FOX’s magnificent vocals are the icing on the cake in this track. Her vocal range is stunning and a joy to listen to. Her voice holds an air of majesty as she coos through the verse before echoing delicate harmonies in the dynamic chorus. ‘Sunset’ is a catchy, luxuriantly arranged alternative pop gem and a beautiful example of why FYA FOX is an artist to treasure
Seán Finn has released his new single ‘Old and Grey’. Originating from rural Ireland, Seán Finn is a multi-instrumental songwriter, grounded in pop and jazz. With a few years of songwriting under his belt, Finn’s homespun style provides a warm and inviting soundscape for his listeners. Seán is currently working together with sound engineer Jack Roulston on a project titled ‘Pencil In Regret’. The project consists of 11 songs that were written before and during the pandemic and ‘Old and Grey’ is the second of three singles to be released from this upcoming project.
‘Old and Grey’ is a catchy ditty saturated in Finn’s warm and wholesome musicianship. The song bounces along a playful and bright rhythmic foundation filled with vibrant percussion, twanging guitars and cheery light arrangements. Finn has a sound that exudes charm and ‘Old and Grey’ is an exquisite example of this. From the twinkling jazz -esque piano to lively infectious melodies and earnest lyrics the track surges with radiant, fun vibes and rich instrumentation. Finn crafts the song superbly to create an infectious gem with lyrics that remind us to make the most of our life before it’s too late.
About the track Finn said: “Growing up I always got the impression that the younger generation is supposed to be flexible, the people that roll with the punches as it were, and that much of your younger life is made up of jumping through hoops, making the best out of situations with the hope of landing on your feet. However, I soon realized that people can become cynical at any age. This song should act as a reminder that if you want something in life, you are likely the only person that can make it happen, the motto being ‘Give it a shot, I bet you’ll be alright.”
Stream ‘Old and Grey’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
