Following his acclaimed 2022 EP ‘Warm’ and a massive series of spectacular, sold-out shows across Europe, Irish-born singer and songwriter Moncrieff kickstarts 2023 with a sonic declaration of love – his new single ‘What Am I Here For’ out via German label energie.
Filled with 80’s tones, glistening guitars and a sense of urgency ‘What Am I Here For’ is a gripping and utterly invigorating new single from Moncrieff. It’s easy to get lost in the lush intricacies of ‘What Am I Here For’ as the track builds into a sing-along delight and fist-pump anthem. As a songwriter, Moncrieff continues to showcase his impressive ability to capture emotion through gripping and earnest lyricism. His passionate vocals perfectly express the intensity of the lyrics and instantly create a vivid image for the listener of a person rushing to save a relationship before it’s too late “running every red light and stop sign just to realise what I’m fighting for, cos if I’m not here to love you what am I here for”. Moncrieff crafts this track beautifully creating a light indie pop number that boasts the artist’s expressive and infectious sound in all its glory.
Irish singer-songwriter Moncrieff has released his heartfelt new single ‘Perfect’. Moncrieff has already performed with Adele and impressed greats like Elton John and Avicii with his songwriting, yet he is only getting started. His single ‘Warm’ released earlier this year was an instant hit at Irish and German radio and was performed live with The RTÉ Concert Orchestra & Dublin Gospel Choir on The Tommy Tiernan Show. A self-produced six-track EP also titled ‘Warm’ followed in September, which served as an introduction to Moncrieff’s poignant, vulnerable and deeply personal songwriting and clocked in 6 million streams in just two weeks.
‘Perfect’ floods with intense emotional lyrics as Moncrieff displays his striking ability to create moving and memorable songs. The passion in his soulful vocal delivery is goosebump-inducing and is enhanced by the track’s cinematic soundscape. Accompanied by warm piano and soft strings the song glows with uplifting tones between melancholic melodies. It’s a wholesome, honest and captivating tune that beckons repeat plays.
Speaking about the single, Moncrieff says: “Perfect is a very personal song for me about all those small moments in a relationship that make you realise that something isn’t as perfect as it once felt. It can be so hard to admit that something just isn’t right in a relationship and, despite your loyalty and care towards each other, sometimes good things come to an end.”
Having performed with Adele and impressed greats like Elton John and Avicii with his songwriting, Moncrieff is back with his new EP ‘Warm’ via German label energie. I caught up with Chris Breheny aka Moncrieff to talk about the EP, playing the main stage at Electric Picnic and how he lays all his raw emotions bare through his intimate and powerful songwriting.
‘Warm’ is an emotive EP that takes a different approach to Moncrieff’s music. His previous release ‘Class Of 2020’ was angst-riddled with powerful punk/pop elements while the earnest emotion pouring from ‘Warm’ showcases a more tender side to Moncrieff’s sound.
“Well, to be honest, I’ve always struggled to stay inside a box because I get bored of myself very often. I think with the ‘Class of 2020’ I was just very influenced by how crazy the world was seeming to get and Yeah, songs like ‘Playloud’ and ‘America’ spoke about that and I don’t know, even within ‘My Room’. I just felt even the sort of soundscape of that EP, portrayed how I felt really about that year. It’s a big mix of craziness. But after the sort of two years it was pretty hard in those two years with the pandemic. I had a time where I was thinking, should I keep going at this? Or should I call it quits? and I think what made me realize that I wanted to keep going was the fact that I hadn’t done something super personal. I ended up making these songs along those lines that are just trying to be as personal and as honest as possible and I think that’s what it’s come back down to.”
The lyrics within the EP are very raw and honest. Lines such as, “If I don’t believe in God who can I call? Maybe it’s easier to end it all” from ‘Talk’ see Breheny re-imagine difficult moments in his life through powerfully evocative songwriting and the singer-songwriter explained to me how cathartic the writing process was for him.
“I think it was definitely quite cathartic. ‘Warm’ is quite a positive song, ‘Ruin’ is kind of a positive song. ‘Talk’ itself is kind of sad, but I think the overall theme across the EP is Hope and that’s the thread that brings it together. So yeah it was like anything when you’re trying to make something super personal, you’re gonna have some challenges, but I feel it definitely was more cathartic than anything.”
‘Talk’ is a heartbreaking but beautifully presented gem. Breheny recounts the first time he opened up about having suicidal thoughts. His soulful vocals sincerely pour out lyrics of pain while the music delivers this song with a ray of hope. It’s as if the artist gives strength to the listener to push through whatever they are going through. That’s quite a special impact.
“Yeah, it kind of came together on the piano. I was just sitting down one day and usually, it doesn’t happen, where it just comes together so easily. But the song just fell out and I don’t know I feel maybe it’s the chords that are kind of reassuring. Because it keeps coming back to that major root chord and that gives it that reassuring vibe, that sense of hope within me and hopefully for other people. But yeah, it wasn’t done, really on purpose. It just came out that way.”
Breheny has a knack for writing powerful and uplifting melodies. He explained to me how melody drives his songwriting process.
“The melody comes first generally. Or it’s maybe a little phrase or something. But melody is the main thing that really inspires me and then that will influence where the lyric goes.”
The title track ‘Warm’ was an instant hit when it was released. It went to the top 10 in Irish Radio and was performed live on Germany’s ARD Network (“Frühstücksfernsehen”).
“Yeah, considering ‘Warm’ was the first track off the EP that I wrote and that was in, I think November 2021. I was like, wow, this is really, really good, not like patting myself on the back but it made me feel something. I wrote it with a couple of friends and I was like, this feels like something special. So seeing people react the way they did, considering it was written at a point where I was at my lowest, feeling the lowest in terms of where I felt in my career. Seeing then the next song be like the biggest received song in Ireland that I’ve ever done is crazy.”
Breheny also provides the listener with a little treat on the EP in the form of a time-stopping version of Avril Lavigne’s ‘I’m With You’. I wondered what sparked his decision to cover that song.
“ I think I wanted to make something for the tour that I was doing. I wanted to make a cover for the tour and I think I did it towards the end of 2021. I produced it myself. I was bored in my room and I was like, this sounds really good and I wasn’t really planning on releasing it. Then I was like, Why the hell not? I mean, what’s the point in having another mp3 sitting on my laptop? So yeah, I just put it out and because I made a little video to go with it back when I was on tour in Limerick we did this one-shot video where we do like a transition and I walk out onto the stage. I was like, that’s a cool video, its a cool song, people would enjoy it if I put it out. So that’s why I did it.”
This year Breheny was moved up to play The Electric Picnic main stage last minute and we discussed the excitement and anxiety that came with the news.
“Yes, I did. That was amazing, it was super special. I was very worried, to be honest because I wasn’t supposed to be on the main stage and then Thursday morning came around and my manager gave me a call and said we’ve been asked to move up to the main stage which is obviously such an amazing privilege to have. But I was a bit worried at the same time, what if it’s raining, and it’s like pretty much second on Sunday, like what if nobody shows up and all this stuff. Luckily, it was really good weather and luckily it was really busy, so many more people turned up than I thought would. So yeah, all in all, it was something I’m not going to forget for a long time.”
Moncrieff has announced a headline show in The Olympia in December which has since our interview sold out.
“ The Olympia is something for the bucket list really. So yeah, hopefully, we can get it sold out and move forward, I can’t wait for it. We’ve got also Belfast in November, and London in November and two shows in Germany as well which can be my first ever two shows in Germany and show in Amsterdam as well.”
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Moncrieff is a passionate musician and an exceptional songwriter. Within ‘Warm’ EP he provides moments of heightened emotion while the depth in the lyrics will take your breath away. He is a musical wizard who can break your heart in an instant with one gripping line while his refined and uplifting music comforts your soul. It’s quite a masterful display of musicianship that Moncrieff finds effortless. He is an artist to treasure and the songs within ‘Warm’ are a fine example of this musician’s boundless talent.
Having performed with Adele and impressed greats like Elton John and Avicii with his songwriting, singer-songwriter, Moncrieff has now released his new EP ‘Warm’ via German label energie. The EP follows the successful release of the title single ‘Warm’ which was an instant hit that went top-10 on Irish Radio and was performed live on Germany’s ARD Network (“Frühstücksfernsehen”).
Throughout ‘Warm’ EP Moncrieff unleashes a tidal wave of emotion while fleshing out his eloquent songwriting and expressive sound. ‘Warm’, ‘Rewind’ and ‘Ruin’ exude anthemic soundscapes and rich instrumental flourishes that make for an immersive and exciting display of musicianship from the artist.
There is no denying Moncrieff’s magical songwriting ability. The artist delves deep into his innermost emotions and deepest thoughts and expresses them through wonderfully poetic lyrics. Each lyric has movement and depth adding an exciting dynamic to the EP. ‘Talk’ is a sublime example of this. In this raw heartbreaking ballad, Moncrieff recounts the first time he opened up about having suicidal thoughts. His soulful vocals sincerely pour out lyrics of pain, “If I don’t believe in God who can I call? Maybe it’s easier to end it all” while pulsing beats, a choir on backing vocals and ethereal soundscapes rush with emotion. Though the subject matter is heavy and dark, in true Moncreiff manner the gripping lyrics are presented with a ray of hope. The lyrics look back at a dark time in his life while the uplifting music becomes the light at the end of the tunnel and depicts a sense of inner strength and new-found empowerment.
Although ‘Talk’ is a powerful and stand-out gem on the EP, each track in its own right has something special that allows it to shine just as brightly. Throughout the EP, feel-good moments ( alongside heavy subject matter), expressive instrumentation and poignant songwriting abound as ‘Warm’ stirs the listener’s soul on a deep level making for an exquisite listening experience.
There is something for everyone in this EP. Moncrieff lays bare themes of loss and loneliness while maintaining an air of hope and comfort throughout. Moncrieff is a rare talent and ‘Warm’ is just a glimpse at this artist’s ability.
Moncrieff has released his new single ‘Ruin’ via energie. The song comes hot on the heels of his smash single ‘Warm’ which went to the top 10 in Irish Radio and saw the up-and-coming musician perform live on Germany’s ARD Network (“Frühstücksfernsehen”). Following his recent Irish nationwide tour, Moncrieff is set to take to stages across the country this summer including Indiependence Festival, and is appearing as a special guest for Stereophonics at Fairview Park.
‘Ruin’ showcases the passionate and diverse sound of Moncrieff. The track twist and turns through elegant ballad-esque tones and vibrant indie-pop outbursts to create a wholly immersive listening experience. Moncrieff’s knack with melody is on full display as he drizzles lush tones over a bubbling rhythmic foundation and shimmering synths to create a catchy tune sure to revolve in the listener’s head for days. His powerful vocals soar across the dynamic backdrop and anchor the listener within the track’s expressive soundscape as the song rushes to a cinematic crescendo. Moncrieff is a master of his craft. He captures heart-racing emotion through compelling hooks, evocative lyrics and emotive arrangements that stir the soul, ‘Ruin’ is an excellent example of this.
Having performed with Adele and impressed greats like Elton John and Avicii with his songwriting, Irish-born singer/songwriter Moncrieff has just signed to German label Energie Musik and has released his new single ‘Warm’, ahead of his new EP which is set for release in Spring 2022.
Beginning as a piano-led stripped-back ballad, ‘Warm’ highlights Moncrieff’s eloquent musicianship and deft lyrical prowess. It’s an immaculately blended tune that introduces pulsing beats and ethereal soundscapes to create wonderful suspense before the anthemic chorus kicks in with a choir providing lush backing vocals. A heartwarming piano melts into the cinematic crescendo as the radiant vocal melodies and clap along rhythm lift the song to exhilarating heights. The tracks heartfelt lyrics,“I remember everything, the picnic in the park, how the rain played on the roof that night” surge with earnestness as Moncrieff’s soothing, soul lathered voice croons the sweet, moving melody with ease. ‘Warm’ is a compelling new single and passionate delight from Moncrieff. Press play and enjoy.
Speaking of the single Moncrieff says “Nobody’s perfect. This song is about being that person, and that rare moment in life when you find that person that truly sees you for you, your imperfections, flaws and scars as well as your good traits and loves you for them. It’s a really comforting and happy feeling to just know that all you have to do is be yourself.”
Subterranean Sessions – Songs From Beneath The Surface Of The Earth
Airs on RTE 2 on Thursday, July 15th at 22.30h
Filmed In The Spectacular Surrounds of the Mitchelstown Cave
Featuring Stunning Performances from Lisa Hannigan, Gavin James,
Paul Noonan, Lyra, Talos, Eve Belle, Moncrieff and Róisín O
Filmed in the atmospheric and awe-inspiring caverns of the Mitchelstown Cave, Subterranean Sessions will air on RTE 2 on Thursday, July 15th at 22.30h.
Subterranean Sessions: Songs from Beneath the Surface of the Earth, is presented by Róisín O and Barry Murphy (Hermitage Green) and features stunning performances from Lisa Hannigan, Gavin James, Paul Noonan, Lyra, Talos, Eve Belle, Moncrieff and Róisín O.
Recorded live, Subterranean Sessions was filmed in the beautiful Mitchelstown Cave in December 2020. The superb acoustics and the vast natural auditorium of the cavern makes for a unique and unforgettable concert experience.
With a diverse and talented range of artists performing, this is sure to be a spectacular night of music. From the passionate and ever-changing sound of Moncrieff, the mesmerising alternative pop of Lyra, and Eve Belle to the timeless vocals of Lisa Hannigan, Róisín O and Paul Noonan, it’s one not to miss.
Producer Shane Dunne says: “At the point this was recorded we as an industry hadn’t worked or seen our colleagues for months. While we are still very much in the worst impacted industry of the pandemic, recordings like this were such a special few days for artists and crew alike. It was a chance to feel normal, to feel valued and to see brilliant artists express themselves in a beautiful location. Now as we hopefully see green shoots and look to the future, it’s nice to look back to those dark December days in South Tipperary and believe this time, that some summer night we’ll see our friends again.”
Subterranean Sessions was part-funded by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media through the Live Performance Support Scheme.
Subterranean Sessions: Songs from Beneath the Surface of the Earth will air on RTE 2 on Thursday 15 July 2021 at 22.30h.
Moncrieff has recently released his second EP ‘The Class of 2020’. Having spent most of early 2020 in the solitude of his friend and co-producer Toby Scott’s home studio in Brighton, Moncrieff has created a collection of songs free and unconfined by genre that capture the zeitgeist of an ever changing musical and cultural landscape. Moncrieff’s debut body of work ‘The Early Hurts’ EP featured lead track ‘Like I Do’, this debut radio single (released in Sept 2019) received extensive airplay across national radio racking up nearly 12 million audience impressions and 5 million streams. The success of the single and EP led to Moncrieff selling out his first headline show in Dublin in less than 3 hours. His growing reputation also landed support slots touring with headline Irish acts Picture This and Walking on Cars.
As far as sophomore EP’s go ‘The Class of 2020’ is a musical triumph which boasts the unique genius of Moncrieff. Within this catchy, upbeat and candidly honest EP Moncrieff pushes boundaries and expectations while being extremely forthright with his emotions. The rich and utterly lush production on the tracks is masterful and something to be admired. If his debut ‘The Early Hurts’ EP had you thinking Moncrieff is an exceptional artist – ‘The Class of 2020’ will not only confirm your hypothesis but tell you the artist has more talent up his sleeve than he is letting on.
‘PLAYLOUD’ jump starts the EP – lathered in electronic production, R&B and infectious pop Moncrieff’s fun, euphoric expression of youth surges through playful soundscapes and witty lyrics “I’m a f*cking unicorn if I say so”. Oodles of attitude spills all over the EP. From quirky censored F word’s to catchy shout along choruses – it’s an energetic start to the EP. Moncrieff utilizes his unique and soulful vocals to inject rich depths through the rapid lyrics in ‘PLAYLOUD’ and surge emotion and velvety tones into the upbeat, urban pop ‘AMERICA’. A track that is vibrant, rich and laced in satirical commentary ‘AMERICA’ displays Moncrieff’s versatility as an artist through tropical rhythms, jangly soundscapes and a catchy chorus subtly scented with the aroma of Fun Boy Three’s ‘It Ain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That You Do It)’. The track is an impressive earworm which will chime in your head for days, its infectious rhythm unabated by any other tune you play after it.
Moncrieff doesn’t pull punches lyrically in this EP. He delivers an exhilarating middle finger to those in power failing to support society; “We chase our dreams while you spread your lies, Build castles in the sky, Heaven knows we’re all gonna die” in ‘AMERICA’ and rips shreds out of himself in ‘Sad and Horny’ “I’m a looser yeah i’m just a creep, who would wanna f*ck me”, it’s an honest account of his journey and thoughts on this year expressed through slick, first rate musicianship. The lush falsetto on the latter is simply flawless and gives listeners a teasing reminder of Moncrieff’s debut work – a clever addition and one that works so well. The chorus of ‘Sad and Horny’ erupts with subtle bursts of luscious pop followed by bubbling beats and simmering synths which blossom into a catchy release of tension as Moncrieff gravitates from glistening pop into a more melancholic undertone.
Similarly the dancefloor bop ‘DANCE’ follows the glum lyrical theme ‘we’re born, make money then we die’, however once again Moncrieff packages the ominous message within an upbeat infectious gem. ‘Dance’ is arguably my favourite track on the EP. This tightly produced glitter ball is drenched in bitter-sweet dreamy melodies, warm vocals and a catchy whistle along feature. Destined for the kinetic energy of a live show, the body moving beat, sweet electronics and jaunty guitar make this track a delight on the ears.
Moncrieff brings the EP to a close with the first demo he released this year during lockdown, the tender and earnest ‘in my room’. This beautiful track is again, a throwback to ‘The Early Hurts’ EP and the ruminating, depressive side of Moncrieff. Brooding, sombre and soulful Moncrieff coos a bittersweet melody atop ethereal soundscapes and lamenting piano creating an expansive, lonely and almost celestial backdrop. His wonderfully expressive vocal delivery hits hard and is raw and honest. Riddled with pain and expressing heartfelt emotion the track winds down the EP to a perfect end. ‘in my room’ is a poignant representation of how many people felt this year. However the track can be interpreted in many ways, for example it is a wonderful contrast to the upbeat, energetic bravado of opening track ‘PLAYLOUD’ where youthful angst has the potential to take on and change the world whereas ‘in my room’ is vulnerable, afraid and filled with doubt. Looking at the EP as a whole one can see Moncrieff is allowing the listener to glimpse different opposing facets of his personality and emotional state, which in truth on introspect is within each and every one of us. Moncrieff is vividly painting through the medium of music how we all feel at times. We may put on a brave face but within we are vulnerable and filled with doubt. Subtle messages, themes and nuances such as these lurk throughout the EP, within the lyrics, soundscapes and musical embellishments, deftly left obscure by the artist for the listener to make their own assumptions on the topic at hand.
Another point of interest is Moncrieff is ending the year as it began for the artist. His first release of 2020 is his curtain call as well – the finale of a chapter, the end of a crazy year and ‘in my room’ aptly closes the chapter or does it ? .. the haunting nature and sorrow of the track feels as if it’s a small break before everything kicks off again… Intriguing to say the least.
‘The Class of 2020’ displays a different facet to Moncrieff as an artist. His sublime ability to make you feel the pang of his isolation and emotional state through tonally tight, crisp and full flavoured production is awe-inspiring. The dynamic energy within each track is infectious and each song warrants its place on the EP creating a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable collection of tracks. Moncrieff is a musical force of nature who possesses depth and artistic understanding that is both mesmerising and enviable. ‘The Class of 2020’ is only a keyhole glimpse of the boundless talent this artist has to offer. Keep an eye on this guy.
Having been featured on a host of 2020 hot lists and named as one of Her.ie’s ‘Ones To Watch’ for 2020, Moncrieff has had a monumental year. Now he is set to release his second EP ‘The Class of 2020’, which is out on December 11th. I caught up with Chris Breheny aka Moncrieff to talk about the new EP and his slight shift in musical style. This EP, like all of Moncrieff’s collections to date, express his journey through life so far through the medium of music as he navigates being in his 20’s during Covid 19 while at the same time providing the listener with catchy, witty lyrics and showcasing deft musicianship in the process.
In true Breheny manner our chat meanders through many topics, from Christmas plans to EP track titles and then ventures into many tangents from there as we discuss how people are coping mentally with the Covid crises, the gym and the dangers of doing a workout beside the kitchen fridge.
“The first lockdown all the gyms were closed for however long so we just started doing runs and stuff like that.That was really good and then the gym’s opened back up, I did a bit in the gym. I stopped running. And now I’m just like, I’m just so unfit. I’m doing this circuit thing at home, I’ll do like 10 minutes and then I’ll do this pull up or push ups. It’s just not the same, when you go to the gym, you’re going somewhere to get something done. But here it’s like you’re in your kitchen. It’s close to the fridge.”
Breheny’s debut body of work ‘The Early Hurts’ EP featured lead track ‘Like I Do’, this debut radio single (released in Sept 2019) received extensive airplay across national radio racking up nearly 12 million audience impressions and 5 million streams. The success of the single and EP led to Moncrieff selling out his first headline show in Dublin in less than 3 hours. His growing reputation also landed support slots touring with headline Irish acts Picture This and Walking on Cars. His new EP ‘Class of 2020’ shows a different facet to Breheny as an artist. The EP was co-produced by Breheny and his friend Toby Scott who has a home studio in Brighton. The result is a collection of songs unconfined by genre that captures the zeitgeist of an ever changing musical and cultural landscape. However one theme that keeps popping up in Moncrieff’s lyrics is how Breheny is terrified to die. In ‘F*CK It – Dance’ (strong in the running for my favourite track on the EP) he contrasts an upbeat, vibrant soundscape with dark lyrical undertones. This mesmerising song is the result of a crazy lockdown.
“Basically, I had a very weird lockdown. I ended up getting close with a friend of mine. She’s a very good friend of mine and I was like, ‘this shouldn’t be a thing’ and she was in agreement. Then things just got really weird, she kind of, got feelings, I thought I had feelings…maybe just not as much as was on her level. Basically long story short, that song, I was right in the middle of it,..writing this song and was kind of, inspired by her.”
The lyrics in this EP are particularly well crafted, highlighting Breheny’s lyrical prowess and songwriting ability – phrases such as “this 2020 depression” can be interpreted many ways, for example, the obvious depressive mental state the world has experienced with isolation and loneliness due to Covid but also a financial depression for many people, especially musicians.
“They take time but the lyrics are always good lyrics. I always have certain phrases stuck in my head for weeks at a time. I have a couple of phrases running in my head and sometimes they’ll fit into a song. I was really worried about putting in 2020 depression because it then frames the song and that year. I’m like, ‘How will that feel in five years’ time when people listen to it?’… I was gonna put in something like “this 20 something depression”, but I just feel this year is such a weird year that it deserves to be named. Each song was written in 2020, and was written during lockdown. It’s been written about the year so there’s no better time to release the EP other than now.”
It all started this year with the release of ‘In My Room‘ however on ‘The Class of 2020’ EP ‘In My Room’ is the last track on the EP.
” I just liked it as a demo. I always like having a demo at the end. It almost feels like, on CDs where the album the last track would be super long, you’d have to skip forward like a minute of silence and then there’d be the secret track. So yeah, it’s just that kind of idea.”
The songwriting is candid as Breheny expresses through his lyrics what he was going through emotionally and physically. Again in ‘imsadandhorny’ he places dark and honest lyrics into an upbeat and extremely catchy tune.
” Yeah, both the last two tracks I produced myself so I wanted to make it like a Selena Gomez type record you know what I mean, like super pop. The melodies are all super pop, but I wanted to inject this overwhelming existential thing in there for the laugh”
“They do feel like singles. But, yeah, producing was painstaking because I’m so slow, but I had a lot of time to produce them”
The EP reflects on a difficult year through the eyes of Moncrieff as he ruminates on feelings and emotions a lot of people have had to cope with however within this EP he digs deep and finds himself looking at how he is living his life and spending his time, The experience has been an eye opener for him.
“Yeah, definitely to a certain degree, it should be an eye opener. If you let it go by, and it doesn’t teach you something about yourself, you certainly missed out. You realize what’s really important when your whole world is brought to a standstill. Anybody going to college doing a degree they have no idea why they are really doing it, they just did it because their parents thought it was a good idea, and not really living up to their own standards. When they realize you could be going to college for a job that could come to an absolute standstill just because of a virus, then you have to really look at how you’re spending your time and what sort of person you want to be.”
”Having none of those distractions (social media) you really have to be cool with being on your own. It’s been a tough year but you should try use it as a learning experience to find out more about yourself and what’s important to you.”
I’ve met Breheny in person and he is a charming and charismatic person. I was surprised to hear how tough he is on himself at times on the EP.
” I guess the side I put out in public is quite extroverted, upbeat and happy, but I don’t really talk. I need to be able to talk more when I’m having trouble and stuff. When I’m going through tough times I don’t bring it to anybody and that’s a really bad thing. My music is where I get it out, that’s where I need to get that kind of stuff out in some way.”
Each song on ‘The Class of 2020’ is catchy, vibrant and polished. When I first heard the EP as a whole I thought it would sit very well with an American audience. I wondered if Breheny had his sights set on America.
“Most of my fans on Spotify are from the States. I’ve 10 times as many followers on Spotify in America as I do in Ireland. The dream is to move to LA and be signed out there. I don’t want to go to LA and be like scraping and trying to like…I’m better doing what I have here. It’s going well and not like super super struggling, but if I go to LA without a proper deal or whatever things in place, it’s going to be a really difficult time. But America is the dream.”
Speaking of America our chat ventured onto the infectious The Fun Boys Three’s snippet of “it ain’t what you do ( it’s the way that you do it)” in his track ‘AMERICA’ and how it made it’s way onto the song
“That actually wasn’t my idea. I write with a guy called Paul Harris, I had the actual instrumental made, which is the beat that I made. I brought that to my mate, and next thing I know, we’re like, we could do this, and…. it just turns into such a sarcastic, like, weird vibe, and it just worked out. If that song went to Imagine Dragons, that’d be a f*cking hit.”
Though the songs take a different slant on the Moncrieff style, Breheny maintains the velvety soul tone of his voice, especially in ‘AMERICA’. The satirical side is quirky and very witty but his vocals never compromise on quality and richness.
” It was a weird one, because you want it to sound laid back and kind of, weird and cool but you don’t want to rap at the same time, you’re still a singer, you know. At first, I’m using auto tune as a kind of effect like an artistic thing. Auto tune is kind of the done thing in pop now.”
With Covid and lack of shows the whole promotion of a new EP is different but Breheny is getting the hang of it and creating mesmerising content, although understandably he is missing gigging terribly.
“Yeah, not ideal. I miss gigging. The songs are designed for when you’re allowed back into a venue without a mask without social distancing and you just want to let loose, having been deprived of a gig. When I do the songs live for the first time properly I’m just gonna go mad, just run down the venue for no reason. Promoting has been weird because, the fact the promoter can’t tour, can’t go into a radio station and then the fact that you can’t make any money from touring. All the videos I’ve done this year have been like 500 pounds ( Sterling ) or less. That is insanely cheap and they’re all independent, indie, low budget music videos. People haven’t gigged, all my money comes from gigs. People think ‘Moncrieff is getting radio play and stuff in Ireland” – that’s all cool – but at the end of the day, it’s me and my manager, no buffer, no label, no nothing, just music that people connect to and my own wallet.”
Breheny has suffered literal pain for his art creating videos where he is hanging upside down in ‘PLAYLOUD’ and hanging from a clothes rail in ‘AMERICA’
“Clothes rail was way worse than hanging upside down. I thought it was gonna be super chill, I had to do the photo shoot and video shoot in one day.The video shoot was done in like an hour, whereas last year it was like three days and by the end of that hanging upside down, I felt really unwell.Then I had to do another shoot and my face is all pale and s**t. But the America one I didn’t think was gonna be that bad. It was just gonna be – get some rope, make a loop at the end of it, put myself into the loop and cut a hole at the back of my jacket and have the rope out through the back. I was going to get some towels or some sponges and wrap it around the rope so that when I hang out of it, it wouldn’t be that painful. But, oh my god ! – it was so f***ing painful. We couldn’t even do a full take of the song. We actually did it in 30 second stretches and put a box underneath me to stand on, in between. It was just so bad, so yeah no more hanging. Next time I’m just gonna sit down with a cup of tea.”
I wondered what Breheny had planned for the coming months.
” I am back in Ireland right now so I’ll be at home writing. I’m looking forward to January to be honest because I have a writing camp scheduled. I’m going to be writing with Pat ( Walking on Cars ) and Conor O’Donohoe ( Wild Youth ), I’ve been writing some stuff with him lately and that’s been really cool. I want to get as many cool writers in Ireland as possible and then rent a house in Dingle for a week, and just go there, set up a camp and write during the day. Then just like, I don’t know, play Xbox at night. I’ve got a couple of live stream recording things. Then, I’m planning a load of tracks for release next year. I’ve got a bunch of tracks coming next year that I’m really excited about. I’m trying to save up my money to release those as well. I’m like, I gotta do a video for that song. I can’t get takeaway this weekend.”
Breheny is a talented songwriter and musician. It’s exciting to see him push boundaries to create music that is universal, fun and honest. His deft melodic prowess and witty character make each track a joy to listen to. Moncrieff is one of the most exciting artists to watch as he develops his sound. Each release is more compelling than the last. ‘The Class Of 2020’ is set for release on 11th December but until then check out his recent single ‘AMERICA’ below
Moncrieff has released his hotly anticipated new single ‘AMERICA’ as well as announcing the release of his second EP ‘The Class of 2020’, which is set for release on the 27 November. Moncrieff’s debut body of work ‘The Early Hurts’ EP featured lead track ‘Like I Do’, this debut radio single (released in Sept 2019) received extensive airplay across national radio racking up nearly 12 million audience impressions and 5 million streams. The success of the single and EP led to Moncrieff selling out his first headline show in Dublin in less than 3 hours. His growing reputation also landed support slots touring with headline Irish acts Picture This and Walking on Cars.
Catchy and dynamic, ‘AMERICA’ is another passionate pop anthem doused in Moncrieff’s deft melodic prowess. Anyone familiar with Moncrieff might find this gem a shock; his brooding ballads and soul bearing banger days appear to be behind him. ‘AMERICA’ gives us a glimpse into the more upbeat, urban pop side to this artist’s ever evolving sound. The track is vibrant, rich and laced with satirical commentary. With buoyant beats, choir backing vocals, jangly percussion and sing along refrains this song is an instant floor filler.
Moncrieff’s warm vocals are as versatile as his sound, oozing velvety tones to deliver witty lyrics and clever turn of phrase with sweetness and playful cheekiness. Under the surface of the upbeat production the song’s lyrics hit a deeper note that comments on some of the absurdities of American culture, centred around consumerism and materialism. “We spend money we don’t have on things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.” This irresistible track is catchy as hell as Moncrieff takes Fun Boy Three’s ‘It Ain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That You Do It)’ and twists in his clever lyrics to create the ultimate bop. Moncrieff is one of a kind and an artist that brings something new and exciting to listeners with each release.
Speaking about the EP, Moncrieff says: “I had planned to release my second EP earlier this year but I felt after all the world kind of came to a standstill that maybe I should hold off. Nobody had a clue what was happening and the music didn’t feel fully right for the time. Then I realised these are the times that I had actually always dreamt about writing songs for and being able to make music that had a voice in this bizarre time we’re in.”
Stream ‘AMERICA’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
