London three-piece pop-punk band Cuecliché have released their new single ‘The Last Dance’. This dynamic pop-punk tune bursts with the energetic and emotive sound of Cuecliché as they spread a heartfelt melody over a blustering backdrop of punchy drums and shredding guitars. Teaming slick riffs with buoyant basslines, the song is upbeat and travels at a brisk pace and is an exciting glimpse into the band’s musical talents. Filled with a shredding solo, a suspense-filled crescendo and anthemic tones ‘The Last Dance’ boasts a powerful wall of sound throughout.
Hawke The Band have released their new single, ‘Miracles’. Hawke The Band was formed in 2018 by two friends in the shadow of the world-famous Guinness Brewery (in the south of the city) and features Richie Power (vocals/keyboards) and Eoghan MacMahon (vocals/guitar). Irish rock legends Aslan quickly declared themselves major fans, with frontman Christy Dignam proclaiming Hawke The Band “the next big thing” to emerge from a country that consistently punches above its weight in terms of quality music.
Propelling at an exciting pace ‘Miracles’ is a highly charged shot of adrenaline from Hawke The Band. The jubilant tune showcases Hawke The Band’s distinctive melodic prowess and anthemic, infectious sound in all its glory. The song starts off unhurried with just guitar accompaniment and warm vocals before springing into motion with driving rhythms and a vibrant wall of sound that is sure to have listeners dancing and singing along in no time. The charm of this band’s sound is irresistible and ‘Miracles’ is a fine display of this. The track is a joy to listen to and beckons repeat plays. Turn it up loud and enjoy.
Shane Beirne has recently released his new single ‘Anymore’. Beirne is a rising 21-year-old singer/songwriter who is signed to Hasard records in Zürich, Switzerland. ‘Anymore’ is a beautifully emotive and compelling tune that boasts the earnest songwriting and powerful sound of Beirne. This piano-led tune is laced with supple soundscapes and delicate melodies as Beirne uses his warm tender vocals to convey the heartfelt lyrics. He croons “ I’m tired all the time it’s like I don’t even feel what I see. Maybe because it’s not real “ over minimalist arrangements while the sweet melody swoons with bitter-sweet tones. Well-crafted and timeless ‘Anymore’ is an enjoyable new single from Beirne.
On Sunday night Dublin-based band KLDD played their headline show in The Workman’s Cellar with support from TroyOkay and Kathryn Stewart. This band set the bar high with their musically lush tunes and compelling stage presence. They tore the roof off the venue and marked themselves as a band to keep an eye on.
Kathryn Stewart and band set the night of fantastic tunes in motion with a sleek set of soul, R&B-infused originals and covers. From a velvety rendition of Tyrone by Erykah Badu to some classy and emotive originals such as the sombre ‘Weather’, Stewart’s compelling vocal ability was on full display. Her rich depths added power to the choruses while her soft coo’s oozed soulful tones within the verses. Enhanced by the magnificent Grace Jacobs on backing vocals and a tight and polished sound by her band the set exuded an effortless chicness throughout. With an enjoyable set featuring a sing-along rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ Stewart put on a compelling performance and had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand.
After a witty and brave impromptu introduction from Conor Eiffe, indie artist TroyOkay followed. His dreamy guitar-driven indie sound wafted throughout the venue as bopping heads in the crowd became immersed in his sunkissed riffs and buoyant rhythms. His vocals have a nonchalant grunge element that exudes tones of aggression and frustration over the sometimes heavy instrumentation providing an intriguing edge to his tracks. With his first-rate band in tow showcasing catchy riffs, ebullient rhythms and a jazzy injection on keys it was a satisfying and tight set from start to finish. There is no pompousness or fluff with TroyOkay’s performance just good honest indie rock tunes riddled with dark undertones and moody vocal outbursts. Very enjoyable.
KLDD wasted no time and got straight into their well-executed dynamic set. The room immediately erupted as the crowd fell under KLDD’s spell. For a young band, their sound is tight, unblemished and full of indie rock goodness. With the efficiency of a well-oiled machine, they went through their original tunes with a suave and chilled bravado that had the audience captivated. The crowd danced, punched the air and even attempted air guitar throughout the frenzied set while the four-piece remained composed on stage ready to execute slick guitar refrains and thrilling bass rumbles with a cool demeanour. Each member of the band Kilian Callegari on bass, Liam Bennati on drums, David Bradford on lead and Davy O’Toole on vocals and rhythm exuded effortless charm and their precise, polished tunes filled the venue with musical ecstasy. The crowd sang every word, cheered and danced without fail, not even a temperamental mic could sour the atmosphere. O’Toole, like a pro, laughed off its resistance to stay at the correct height and stood on his tippy toes to finish ‘Tastes Like Tragedy’ while the crowd shouted the lyrics back to him.
Impressively composed and musically rich, KLDD’s songs sound mature and refined beyond their years. This band have some bangers in their repertoire and they put on an impressive show from start to finish. Judging from the unreleased tracks, the soaring melodies and the energy in the room KLDD are a band to get excited about.
Amoodi has released his debut single ‘Give You My Love’.Amoodi is the new solo project by Irish singer, songwriter and producer Michael Hopkins. Hopkins has spent 20 years writing music and playing in bands including Planet Parade, Too Fools and Tropolis. More recently he has been focusing on writing and producing for fellow Irish singer and actor Slaney. He has spent the last few years hibernating in his home studio working long hours everyday to improve his songwriting and production skills. He has built up a massive collection of work that is now ready to be released.
‘Give You My Love’ is a glorious sultry tune. Hopkins blends bubbling rhythms with dreamy melodies and lush soft vocals to create an easy-listening musical delight. Vapourous electronics wisp atop layered rhythms, R&B tones and indie flirtations while cooing backing vocals chime throughout. ‘Give You My Love’ is a joy to listen to and an exciting glimpse into the musical world of Hopkins. Looking forward to hearing more from this artist.
About the track, Hopkins says: ” I’ve written so much music over the years that I haven’t released and thought it would be such a shame to just leave all these songs on a dusty hardrive forever, so I decided to set up Amoodi and finally get them out to the world. Revisiting these songs has inspired me to rewrite and produce them to a whole new level I never thought possible at the time”
Upcoming indie/pop singer-songwriter RUE has released her new single ‘Call on Me’. This shimmering pop tune displays the invigorating sound of RUE. The track is an absolute gem to listen to as RUE mixes subtle contrasting elements of electronic beats, swirling synths and dark undertones to create a dynamic wall of sound. RUE’s smooth vocals coo a sweet melody as the song bubbles and builds in the background. With clap-along rhythms, spacious electronics and irresistible pop hooks ‘Call on Me’ is a compelling tune from start to finish. Keep an eye on this exciting artist.
Hailing from Co. Kerry, 22-Year Old Singer/Songwriter Nially has released his new single ‘Something So Real’.From the age of 16 Nially has gigged extensively across Kerry, Cork and as far afield as Augsburg, Germany. His debut single, ‘I Want It All’ released in January 2021, amassed over 10,000 streams in it’s first 4 weeks and received support across a number of radio stations in Ireland such as Spin South West, Radio Kerry, Red FM, Dublin City FM and FM104 and also reaching listeners across Europe, the UK and the US.
Filled with heartfelt songwriting and cinematic soundscapes, ‘Something So Real’ is a compelling tune from Nially. Nially pours his heart and soul into this emotional number and the result is an emotive tune that showcases the artist’s passionate vocals, poetic lyrics and immaculate production skills. Beginning with a soft piano-led arrangement the song builds into a sway-along power ballad that boasts steady beats, expressive guitars and soaring soundscapes. Nially has created one hair-rasing tune. ‘Something So Real’ is a sublime display of rich musicianship. Keep an eye on Nially.
The culmination of six months of dedicated work, Joel Camille has released a brand new album ‘Folk Against the Machine IV: Holy River’ featuring brand new songs, along with songs that he has played live over the last decade. A performer and songwriter with over 25 years of experience, Queensland-based Joel Camille made his name playing anything and everything on a six-string Dreadnought acoustic. Picking up the Harmonica in 2011 cemented Camille’s style in a rootsy mix of influences that Camille styles as Folk Against the Machine, also the name of his debut album.
‘Folk Against the Machine IV: Holy River’ is a wholesome and moving collection of folk-infused tunes that showcases the emotive songwriting of Joel Camille. This guitar-focused album takes a minimalist approach instrumentally as Camille focuses on melody and intricate guitar manoeuvres to create a warm atmosphere within the album. With buoyant passionate ditties like ‘Plans of Oblivion’ and lamenting harmonica pines on tracks like ‘The Beauty That He Gave’, the album oozes soft supple soundscapes and delicate melodies making for a satisfying listening experience.
‘Folk Against the Machine IV: Holy River’ is fused together as a cohesive album with the river motif. The river motif represents love, sorrow, spirituality and power. “During the writing and recording process, my community was devastated by a dramatic flood event,” explains Camille who feels that joy and horror mingle together on the album as a reflection of this tragic event. Camille hopes that this album conveys the message of extending familial relationships out towards communities, to repair, maintain, and create relationships.
Stream ‘Folk Against the Machine IV: Holy River’ below
Dublin’s postmodern, post-punk indie outfit TV People have released their new single ‘Circle’.‘Circle’ was recorded and mixed at Battery Studios London by Grammy award-winning Caesar Edmunds (QOTSA, ST Vincent, Foals) and assistant engineer Joshua Rumble. The track was mastered by Christian Wright (Radiohead, FONTAINES D.C) at Abbey Road Studios. Since forming in 2019, the band have honed their craft across the live scene, playing in some of Ireland and the U.K’s most iconic venues.
Filled with expressive soundscapes and immersive tones ‘Circle’ is a striking new single from TV People. Within the track, there are many contrasting elements at play that contort and blend throughout. A fine example of this is the ethereal guitar flurries and haunting vocals that interplay with dark bass rumbles and pounding drum progressions – the result is a compelling and evocative atmosphere for the listener’s imagination to indulge in. ‘Circle’ is an exciting musical marvel, a thrilling listening experience, and an excellent example of TV People’s ever-evolving sound.
Of their new single, singer Paul Donohoe says, “We wrote ‘Circle’ as a tribute to our loved ones and friends and to the countless times that we have relied on each other in times of difficulty. It explores the feeling of being lost within yourself and how you can find identity and meaning in the shared experiences and compassion of those around you.”
Neil Dexter has released his new single,’I’ll Be Ready’, the final single from his forthcoming debut album due October 14th 2022. Along with the album announcement and single release, Dexter shares details for his debut headline show in Dublin’s Workman’s Cellar on October 20th. Tickets are available through Singular Artists.
‘I’ll Be Ready‘ is a rich and compelling tune from start to finish. The track is a fine display of musicianship as Dexter deftly blends contrasting elements together to create a mesmerising listening experience. Dark propulsive beats create a push-pull effect that draws the listener into the track’s immersive soundscapes while flashing synths, dynamic bass and indie rock guitar moments inject a gritty/edgy element to the track.
‘I’ll Be Ready’ is truly a magnificent piece of music. It’s lushly textured and meticulously layered to create a constantly evolving soundscape that is an exciting rush to the senses. A fine example of this is Dexter’s sweet vocals coupled with the track’s pop-speckled melody that subtly contrasts the fuzzing soundscapes and bubbling rhythms allowing the song to take on a dreamy almost psychedelic state before it progresses to its intoxicating crescendo – simply divine. ‘I’ll Be Ready’ is a wonderful example of Neil Dexter’s exquisite musicianship.
Dexter describes ‘I’ll Be Ready’ as a “Frankenstein composition comprised of three different ideas saved in one project file” that he’d been working on in his Dublin-based home studio. Expanding upon the demo with David A. Tapley (Tandem Felix) and recording engineer Stephen Dunne, Dexter notes that their guidance allowed him to approach the arrangement without artistic boundaries; layering textures and taking the song in different directions. Lyrically, ‘I’ll Be Ready’ confronts feelings of apprehension. Neil says, “I wrote the song when I was in my mid-to-late 20s, it’s about jumping into the next stage of your life and the fear of not knowing whether or not you’re ready to take those steps. In those moments, you try to reassure yourself by saying, ‘Ok, I’m ready. I’ll be able to do this,’ whilst simultaneously having a sense of uncertainty. I think at one point or another, everyone goes through this feeling of overcoming self-doubt.”
Stream ‘I’ll Be Ready’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
