North London band KAWALA made their triumphant return to Dublin last night in The Academy. There was certainly a celebratory atmosphere in the air as excitable fans trickled into the venue to see the genre-blurring band and soak up the sweet party vibe this band radiated.
But first, support act, singer-songwriter Oscar Blue took to the stage. His warm, heartfelt tunes drifted through the venue and oozed an indie-folk undertone. With little effort, he had the audience in the palm of his hand as they sang back the lyrics to his songs; a particularly memorable moment was when the crowd sang the “Ooh oh ooh oh” lyrics of ‘Sober from You’. It was a tight wholesome performance from Oscar Blue that showcased his emotiveness and passion perfectly. Tunes such as ‘Silhouettes’ and ‘NYC’ were stand out moments last night, each tracks poetic lyrics, textures and tones sounded more rich within the live setting enhanced by Oscar Blue’s mesmerising vocals, Rob Kennedy’s sprightly drum rhythms, and Geoff Warner-Clayton’s hearty guitar melodies and ethereal keys. Oscar Blue’s music is quite special. His passionate earworms are a joy to the ears. Check him out live. You won’t be disappointed.
KAWALA spiralled on stage to a mass of cheers. Jim Higson sprang off the drum platform and leapt into the air for what was to become the first of his dramatic high kicks of the night. The band’s performance was a jubilant, fun-filled spectacle as the sugar rush ‘Funky’ kick-started their set. The crowd erupted as they danced and sang along. A sea of heads bopped in time to Ben Batten’s intricate drumming and Dan Lee’s sleek guitar while Reeve Coulson laid down an irresistible groove on bass. Daniel McCarthy and Jim Higson exuded an infectious and bright persona. Their charming banter, strutting dramatic dances and fiery unyielding energy put a smile on everyone’s face instantly.
These guys are not just a charismatic indie band, they possess impressive musical talent that boasts deft lyrics, glorious melody arrangements and wonderful vocal harmonies (Daniel McCarthy’s velvety tone complements the tenderness of Higson’s croons perfectly, it’s a vocal match made in heaven). Glad to be able to experience the bands vibrant sound live again the crowd enjoyed every minute of KAWALA’s set. They shouted “I love you” to McCarthy and Higson or requested songs. It was an all-inclusive party – at one point everyone sang Happy Birthday to a fan called Holly. “My dancing has not improved a single bit, it’s still awful” Higson announced before breaking into a wiggling dance and high kick extravaganza for ‘Pure Desire’. The stage could barely contain his boundless enthusiasm as he spiralled about, his colourful shirt billowing around him while McCarthy ( sporting white sunglasses ) quipped “I can’t see anything at all, I feel cool, can’t see, I have suffered for fashion” before the “KAWALA classic” ‘Animals’ which sparked fans into a deafening sing-along frenzy.
A run of buoyant heart-on-sleeve indie-pop, a sneaky play of unreleased tracks from their upcoming album and a fantastic rendition of Griff and HONNE’s 1000000 x Better is only broken by a time stopping rendition of ‘Heavy In The Morning’ and ‘Back Of My Hand’ which showcased the full spine-tingling majesty of the duo’s harmonies. KAWALA’s set was euphoric, carefree and a whole lot of fun. The crowd lapped up the performance, singing every song, embracing their friends and dancing without a care in the world. They couldn’t get enough; shouting for “one more tune!” and screaming the “Olé, Olé, Olé” chant to summon the band back on stage for that all-important encore. KAWALA gave their all last night and a joyous mass sing-along of Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ at the end of the set showed just how at one the band is with their fans.
London up and coming three-piece The New Twentys have released their new EP, ‘Power’. After racking up support on their singles from Chris Hawkins, at BBC 6 Music, Radio X’s John Kennedy, Jake Peach at BBC Intro Essex, Melita Dennett BBC The South and XS Manchester, few can lay claim to having such an instant global impact, yet The New Twentys are being heard on a global scale, including heavy rotation at LA’s Idobi Radio, Sirius XM with the Rodney Bingenheimer show and Australia’s Triple J & Banks Radio too. The indie-pop rockers have opened the stage this summer for the likes of Primal Scream, Fat White Family, Scouting for Girls and McFly. They have also just sold out their debut London headline show.
‘Power’ is a vibrant collection of catchy tunes that boasts The New Twentys exuberant and charming musicianship. From the jangly guitar riffs, sunkissed atmosphere and quirky backing vocals of title track ‘Power’ to the bass-driven rush of ‘The Way’, the band pack this EP to the brim with sunkissed radiant tunes. The trio display a knack for melody and rhythms as they entwine intricate grooves between a light guitar display in the carefree, ‘Dancing On A Sunday’ while breezy keys glide through the funk hued ‘Brazilianaire’. Each song surges with earworm melodies that beckon repeat plays (Brazilianaire is a fine example of this).
‘Power’ is a carfree, fun EP that exudes sun-kissed vibes and tight musicianship. The New Twentys’ catchy tunes and dynamic sound is impressive and marks them as a band to keep an eye on.
Limerick’s Laura Duff has released her new single, ‘Easy’.Following ‘Wayside’ and ‘Good Form’, ‘Easy’ is the final single from her upcoming sophomore EP entitled ‘Heavy Summer’. The EP was recorded and produced by Christian Best of Monique Studios, Midleton, Co. Cork, and mastered by Richard Dowling of Wav Mastering, Limerick. The band lineup features Laura Duff (vocals, keys, acoustic guitar), JJ Lee (bass), Christopher O’Sullivan (drums), Finn Fogarty (lead guitar). ‘Heavy Summer’ is due for release before the end of the year.
‘Easy’ oozes mellow melodies, soft instrumentation and the glorious laid back sound of Laura Duff. The band create an exquisite backdrop of supple beats and warm guitar while Duff’s sweet vocals lull the dreamy melody. ’Easy’ creates a pacifying and soothing atmosphere as the band flesh out the backdrop in ethereal velvety soundscapes and tender harmonies before the beautiful guitar solo kicks in to add a slight edge to the track. Filled with oodles of emotion and warm tones ‘Easy’ is a graceful delight to the ears.
Cork native Lyra has recently released her new single ‘Lose My Mind’ via Rubyworks label. I caught up with the singer-songwriter to chat about the new single, the haunting events in the spooky Loftus Hall where she filmed the video and what we can expect from her upcoming, as-yet-untitled new body of work.
Lyra packages a song that is about losing all your inhibitions and being free in the most exhilarating manner. ‘Lose My Mind’ is a cinematic, dark pop dance tune that is sure to get people up to dance.
“I had an idea, a vague picture of sonically how I wanted the song to sound while I was writing it. This song came very simply because it is more of a stripped-back, I suppose, more pop song than I usually write, which is the bigger, hard-hitting, anthemic, quite high choruses. So for this one, the sound was easier to come up with. I knew that I wanted to keep my drums which I always reference Riverdance for because I love that big Celtic feel. But in this one, I wanted to also put the electronic sounds in. So, a lot of drum samples I went through. I don’t know how many, oh my god ! if I heard another drum that day, I think I was gonna drum my own head off. I knew that I wanted to have this pulsing beat and I knew that I wanted to have that intro that, like you said, kind of grabs you. That’s why I decided to put the chorus at the start because then, it kind of gets locked in their minds before they realize that it is the chorus, but without giving it away too much. I said “you know, I think we need to pitch this down a bit and make it sound a bit weird” or I was like “kind of Kanye West vibes”. The producers were like are you referencing Kanye West?. I know it sounds strange coming out of my mouth, but I did I just dropped that bomb. So I always had that vision in my mind when the song was being created that these were the rules, the bass notes of the song was something cool, beating drum, a kind of a weird vocal effect and putting the chorus first. And that’s how I made my baby.”
The singer-songwriter has a knack with catchy melodies, and the chorus in ‘Lose My Mind’ is a glorious earworm that just keeps on giving.
“I actually wrote the verses first, because they’re quite conversational kind of talkie you know. It was after this night out that I had and it was very fresh in my mind and I wanted to relay the story as natural as I could for people when they listened to the song, that they really got a sense of what I was talking about. So I started with the, “ I can see you looking,From across the room, you want me”, and it is like I’m talking in a singing voice. So that actually came first and normally I like to, in my choruses go a lot higher than the verses so it’s a bit more impactful. Then I was like, you know what, actually this one, I’m gonna keep it simple and I just randomly started singing “I keep losing my mind”. I kept repeating it and I was like, is this too simple? to have this just repeating in the chorus and then I tried out other things and I just kept going back to it. The chorus just came very naturally after I had sung the verse.”
Lyra’s voice is a recognisable factor in her music. She has impressive control, expressive depth and power in her vocals. Lyra explained to me that finding her voice and being comfortable with it wasn’t easy initially.
“It definitely took a lot of time for me to be confident in my voice. I suppose because – I call it a Marmite voice. You either love it or you hate it kind of vibe. Which I always say is fine by me. I don’t expect to be loved by everyone. It’s not how life naturally goes. But I suppose when I was starting out I was told a lot that my voice was too loud or that it was too brash, or I was told my diction was shocking and you know, I just went through this a lot. Anytime I got my demos back I’d almost be scared pressing play – what’s this gonna sound like now? because they would have as they will call it, polished up my voice a lot or there will be, a lot of autotune on it, a lot of reverbs, a lot of delays. A lot of the diction would have been cut into place and stuff like that so I always felt my voice wasn’t good enough if they had to change it so much. It took me ages to be actually ‘eff this, this is how I sound. I can’t have a CD and then get up on stage and then sing naturally the way [ I ] naturally do. It just doesn’t work. So when I wrote ‘Emerald’ I was very true to myself because I did it very much by myself. I took that time out of the music institute to find myself, I was like, this is who I have to be. Whether it works or not. I just have to be myself because I can’t be anyone else or I’ll be absolutely miserable and I won’t enjoy the time in the music industry anyway. So that was my big changing point where I was like, just sing how you actually sing and if people like it, they like it. If they don’t, then they don’t. And I’m okay with that.”
Anyone who sees Lyra live is blown away by how impressive her performance is and how her songs come to life in the live setting. She takes the passion in her music to new heights while still maintaining a fun and charming stage presence. We discussed the Kilmainham pilot music festival during the summer this year as that was my first time seeing Lyra perform live.
“I loved that. That was so scary. It’s so nice to hear that because you know a lot of people do say to me, “I follow you on Spotify and I came to my first show of yours and, it’s actually better in real life than on Spotify because you go for it” and I’m really singing and I suppose I can really get that passion out of the song, what it means to me and what it means to be in front of an audience. It’s just in that moment factor. So it’s always so nice when people say that because that’s why I want to be in the music industry, for the audience more than anything else. So thank you for saying that.”
The music video for ‘Lose My Mind’ was filmed on location within the infamous haunted corridors of Loftus Hall, situated at Hook peninsula County Wexford. It’s an impressive, fun and powerful video that makes use of the grand venue with rich lighting and multiple wonderful costume changes.
“ I knew with this song that I wanted a simple music video, I didn’t want to overcomplicate this and then I went working with this amazing girl called Debbie Scanlon. We worked together and we went back and forth and you know [to see] how we could develop [it]. Then it was actually my manager Caroline Downey who said “oh my god Loftus Hall would be amazing for this”. It’s a really big grand open space and I wanted somewhere where I could really show off my outfits as well, because originally the music video was going to be in a nightclub. Then we were kind of like, you know this space isn’t letting me artistically express myself and these outfits, I need a bigger space. So it’s actually my manager who came up with Loftus Hall.”
“Debbie was the director of the whole thing and she was amazing. She made me feel so comfortable on set and allowed me to be myself which I think always brings out the best in an artistic person and we went into the room and she was like, “well, we’re just gonna play the song and you, just do you and you know, this can be a test run and it’s fine”. And it’s actually the scene where I’m wearing the black outfit and we literally just put the music on and I just went crazy. I was just living in the moment of the song. It’s about losing your mind, being free, having no inhibitions in life. The song is about just living in that moment and just really enjoying yourself and that’s exactly what I did and she was like, okay, there it is. The music video is done. I just stopped and I was like wow, I just lost myself in that song for that moment”
“I call them my different colour characters in there where you start off with the lady in green, who has been left in the shadows and is this shy person that kind of meek person. Then she starts finding herself through the music video, and then you meet the girl in the blue tulle dress and the tulle dress is pretty but then you have like this diamante bra underneath it. That’s sexiness, like her transition from becoming this kind of meek little person who’s a bit shy and a bit timid and maybe a bit scared to express herself. This is the transition into the black outfit who was this badass b**ch who is like, this is my domain and I’m f**king living life how I want to f**king live it. Then you go into the Red Room, which is the final scene. She is the goddess sprawled across the bed with her diamante eyebrows on and, she’s like, I’ve arrived and you know, this is my domain and its that kind of full circle.”
“It was really good fun because I decided actually to style that myself. So I was literally arriving in Ryanair and there were like Fifteen thousand bags and theywere like, where are you going your flight is for a week and I was like, it’s just clothes. Customs everywhere stopped me and they pulled me aside and tried to open my bags thinking I’m smuggling something. I was like I swear this is just massive tulle dresses in here that’s all. They were like who is this bloody girl?”
Loftus Hall is a famously haunted mansion located along the Hook Peninsula, County Wexford. It is said by locals to have been haunted by the devil and the ghost of a young woman. I wondered whether Lyra had experienced any spooky incidents.
“Sandra [Gillen] on makeup and Katrina [Kelly] on hair said that they heard banging on the wall like somebody was knocking on the other side of the wall, but it wasn’t a wall that was dividing anything and they said they kept hearing stuff. I was like “you need to stop saying this to me because I’m the scarediest scaredy cat ever, you can’t say that to me cuz I’m going to shit myself”. But the thing is, I [ spent ] the whole day concentrating on doing a performance, getting out of the outfits, changing the entire look and going back in. I could have been standing next to a ghost the whole day and I wouldn’t have even noticed. I genuinely wouldn’t have had a clue. I was just – next outfit, next look, next this, next that. The ghosts are there like “who is this spooky b**ch she’s scarier than us” and there’s me with my ass out walking up and down, Jesus Christ, oh mortified.”
‘Lose My Mind’ is the first new single to come from the artist’s as-yet-untitled new body of work due for release later this year. Lyra explained to me that the song teases the sound to come from this collection of work.
“Yes, it definitely is. This is me developing. All my music has been a development from something. l started with ‘Emerald’ which is really Celtic. It was very much inspired by Enya [ and ] it was you know quite Kate Bush. They were all my influences back then when I was writing and I suppose I’ve just developed as a songwriter. I’ve developed my tastes and developed what I’m like singing on stage and you know, how I see the audience interacting with different types of songs. Then, I went on to ‘Falling’, which has that more commercial sound but still being very true to me as an artist with my drums and stuff like that and I feel ‘Lose My Mind’ is a very nice step up from ‘Falling’. So they all have [ been ] stepping stones to where I’m going. ‘Lose My Mind’ very much is a taster of what’s to come. I’m so excited, I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised.”
Lyra is set to perform at this year’s New Year’s Festival, Countdown Concert in Dublin Castle. She told me what else she has planned for the year and how much she is looking forward to the festival.
“ My Christmas EP, that I produced myself in lockdown last year. I’m going to bring that back out for Christmas. Just because everyone loves an old Christmas song and then in New Year’s, I’m playing at Dublin Castle with Picture This and Ryan Sheridan and that’s going to be amazing because I did Dublin Castle last year on my own, literally in the middle of Dublin Castle on a podium by myself singing ‘New Day’ ringing in the new year. So it’s amazing to go back. I’m really looking forward to that it’s going to be quite an emotional event for me, just from comparing it to last year. That’s what I have planned for this year, obviously a lot of mulled wine drinking. I’m going to my very first bingo loco which I’m so excited about because I’ve heard so much about it so I need a Christmas outfit for that.”
“Then next year I’m going bloody nuts you will find me everywhere. I’m going to be touring, releasing loads of new music and new stage setup. I’m just ready to take that extra step towards where my dream goals are so big bloody year. There’s no bloody stopping me. Nobody will be able to stop me next year. I’m working my ass off as we speak just to make sure that everything’s ready for next year. I missed out on a year and a half already. I’m making up for lost time and I can’t wait. I just can’t wait.”
‘Lose My Mind’ surges forward with an effervescent sonic wall of sound that is filled with elements of dark electronic and pulsing Celtic drums. Lyra’s incomparable vocals remain at the helm, strong and evocative as always. It’s a tantalising and exciting glimpse into what the singer-songwriter has planned for her next collection of work. Fuelled by ambitious vision, Lyra is an artist forging her own path and the result is engaging and exhilarating tunes that exude passion, lyrical depth and impressive musicianship.
Irish electro/pop duo Elephant in The Room has released their new single ‘Hollywood Hills’. Hollywood Hills is a personal account of how Elephant in the Room struggled with expectation versus reality, moving from Ireland to New York. Elephant in the Room is an electronic/soul/pop duo comprised of Ireland natives Marty Mullally and Keenan Copas. The group has worked with a number of artists as ghostwriters and producers, most notably Josh Gray, co-writing and producing his track ‘Come Home’, which has reached over 370,000 streams on Spotify. After college they moved to New York City, where they have honed and refined their sound.
Filled with bittersweet melodies and an ethereal synth-driven backdrop, ‘Hollywood Hills’ is a sublime example of suspenseful electronic pop. Deft lyrics express themes of doubt and loneliness that is enhanced by a lamenting piano feature and mournful undertone. The track is irresistibly catchy and a passionate display of musicianship from Elephant in The Room. Boasting smooth vocals, catchy pop hooks and pepperings of R&B ‘Hollywood Hills’ is a compelling new single that marks Elephant in The Room ones to keep an eye on.
London-based multi-faceted creative Salvador Navarrete, a.k.a Sega Bodega, has released his new album ‘Romeo’. Romeo tells the story of a joyous relationship between Bodega and a mythical girlfriend, “Luci”, made entirely of light. The project channels the whirlwind of emotions in early love.’Romeo’ will mark the second full-length album from Sega Bodega and includes features from Arca and Charlotte Gainsbourg among the project’s ten songs. The project encompasses the new song “I Need Nothing From You” and previously released singles “Angel On My Shoulder” and “Only Seeing God When I Come’. Following the release of ‘Romeo’, Sega Bodega will head out on a European tour in January 2022. The eleven-date run will begin in Dublin and includes stops in Amsterdam, Paris and London before wrapping up in Moscow in early February.
‘Romeo’ is an intriguing album filled with expressive electronics and crisp production. Bodega immerses the listener in beautiful melodies and rich sounds throughout. He coats pulsing beats, sparkling synths and lush textures in warm vocal harmonies to create songs that surge with heartfelt emotion. From the dark and intense ‘Effeminacy’, with R&B flirtations, muggy beats and reverb vocals to the sugar rush of title track ‘Romeo’, each song oozes luxuriant soundscapes and passionate songwriting while layered vocals and experimental electronics aptly capture the feeling of falling in love.
Bodega’s masterful musicianship is on full display within ‘Romeo’. His experimental approach leaves much to be admired; each mesmerising note, synth embellishment, and beat is deliberate and has a purpose within the arrangement as he blends dance, electronic, indie and R&B to create a unique and exciting collection of tracks. The frantic rush of ’Luci’ is a fine example of this. The brisk tempo, distorted vocals and sweet-toned guitar blends between dance beats to make the track a thrilling rush to close the album on.
Showcasing riveting soundscapes, insatiable grooves and mesmerising vocal arrangements ‘Romeo’ is a fascinating album to listen to again and again.
Ste Kelly is set to release his new single, ‘SIMPATICO’. The track will be on Spotify on November 20th preceded by a live-action lyric video available now. ‘SIMPATICO’ is the latest track from Kelly’s new album ‘Bad News Best Forgotten’ which is set for release in March 2022. Ste Kelly is an IMRO award-nominated songwriter hailing from Dublin, Ireland – known for his previous work as founder and lead vocalist of Irish Indie Rock favourites RAGLANS whose self-titled album debuted at no. 5 on the Irish album charts. Stephen has toured alongside; The Libertines, Haim, The Fray and Twin Atlantic and The Pogues, to name a few. Ste’s songs have been used in partnership with major brands including Mitsubishi, Coors Light, BBC, Subotica Entertainment and Irish Ferries.
‘SIMPATICO’ showcases Kelly’s dynamic brand of indie rock in all its glory. With his notoriously catchy melodies in tow, Kelly presents a swaggered new single laced in tight grooves and rich instrumentation. The track glides upon intricate guitar lines and punchy drums that create a vibrant foundation for Kelly’s expressive vocals to bounce off. His fast delivery of the lyrics creates a sense of suspense and intrigue and complements the undertones within the lyrics perfectly, “been robbed by omnipotent’s, sullied by rings of power in the midst of enlightenment. Why do new things frighten us”. Boasting tight production and expressive musicianship ‘SIMPATICO’ is a proper bop to indulge in.
Jack Hughes has released his new single ‘Wasn’t Built That Way’.The track follows the release of his hit single ‘Crossed The Line’ which garnered support from RTÉ 2FM’s Track of the Week with Jenny Greene, Track of the Week on Spin South West and huge support throughout Spin 103.8, Today FM, Cork’s 96FM, WLR, 8 Radio and many more.
Wrapping delicate, tender melodies in dark washes of electronics and intricate rhythms, ‘Wasn’t Built That Way’ fleshes out Hughes’ engaging and passionate sound. Light percussion twinkles over an emotive melody while cinematic soundscapes ebb and flow throughout. Warm vocals move from brisk croons to sing-along outbursts that are destined for arena crowds to bellow back. With dark heavy rhythms creating an eerie tone between twinkling keys and layered backing vocals, ‘Wasn’t Built That Way’ surges with emotion and hair-raising musicianship. Hughes is a musical talent, he balances moving tenderness with refined and, at times, explosive arrangements alongside polished production to create an impressive and compelling listening experience.
Speaking about the single ‘Wasn’t Built That Way’, Jack said: “It’s a song title that speaks for itself but the song alone hinders a story that is worth searching for.”
Bullet Girl have released their new single ‘The Hunt’ ahead of their debut EP which is due for release in 2022. ‘The Hunt’ is the lead single from North Dublin post-punk outfit Bullet Girl. The band will embark on a nationwide tour of the UK from November 14 – 22 with dates in London, Glasgow, Sheffield and Manchester.
Driving on a dynamic sound that pivots around sharp guitars, pounding drums and a bloodthirsty bass, ‘The Hunt’ is an impressive display of Bullet Girl’s intense and exhilarating post-punk sound. The track has a hypnotic rhythm that is enhanced by acute guitar shrills, distressed vocal exclaims and yelps. Bullet Girl are known for their abrasive, raw sound that evokes a sense of controlled chaos, and ‘The Hunt’ is a glorious example of this. The band use the relentless bass to loosely rein in the track’s ferocity while Aaron Doyle spits out the lyrics ( which tackles the housing crisis in Ireland ) with fiery angst. The instrumental glitches, dissonant piano and unsettled texture of the song creates a frantic wall of sound that is a joy to listen to and is a wonderful assault on the senses. ‘The Hunt’ is an absolutely fantastic tune from Bullet Girl.
Following on from his acclaimed debut single, ‘Loving You’, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Neil Dexter returns with his second offering, ‘I’ll Be With You’. This exquisite tune showcases Dexter’s luxuriant flair with textures, space and melodies. He drifts shimmering synths through an expansive soundscape of intricate percussion and soft electronics that exude a 70’s- esque psychedelic undertone throughout. Warm french horn embellishments and biting moments on guitar weave between the catchy melody as Dexter subtly layers the song meticulously to create an immersive, heavenly listening experience for listeners to indulge in.
Stream ‘I’ll Be With You’ below.
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
