Irish indie band modernlove. have released their new alt-pop banger ‘Only Ever Only You’ ahead of their debut US Tour in March. modernlove.’s previous single ‘Ruin Your Night’ boosted the Irish alt-rock quartet’s growing fame, adding airplay from Gemma Bradley at BBC Radio 1 Introducing and John Kennedy at Radio X to previous support from Jack Saunders BBC Radio 1.
Boasting a frenetic wall of sound that surges with effervescent synths, bright guitars and pummeling drums ‘Only Ever Only You’ is a vibrant indie, pop-punk track from modernlove. This band are growing their sound superbly while still maintaining the raw indie charm that has always been at the centre of their songs. The lyrics rush with urgency over the bubbling instrumentation while telling the story of realising that “the object of your desire isn’t as infatuated as you are.” The track is an exciting piece of expressive musicianship from the band filled with driving bass lines, pounding rhythms and an irresistible refrain that sparks images of mass sing-alongs at a live show. ‘Only Ever Only You’is simply glorious.
The band commented, “‘Only Ever Only You’ chronicles the breaking down of communication in a relationship. It’s about being in love when it’s too late and trying to communicate with someone who has moved on and simply isn’t there anymore. It’s probably the most sincere and direct we’ve been as a band in a song and the music speaks to that. We’ve taken from our early inspirations and gone straight up pop punk on this track.”
The Assist, one of the UK’s most established underground groups formed of Mikey Stanton (Vocals), Jorge Poole (Bass), Luke Jones (Guitar), Ryan Stanton (Guitar) & Ben Faulkner (Drums), have released their new EP ‘Council Pop Unplugged’. The Assist have sold out venues across Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield as well as shared the stage with The Happy Mondays and Blossoms. They also played in Paris with Black Honey and toured the main rooms of the UK’s O2 Academy’s with local heroes The Twang. ‘Council Pop Unplugged’ EP is a collection of the band’s favourite songs from their debut album ‘Council Pop’ which reached #21 in the Official UK chart and received ‘Best Album’ in the Birmingham Music Awards.
‘Council Pop Unplugged’ highlights the impressive musical prowess and meaningful depth of The Assist’s lyrics. Throughout the EP the violin adds a Pizzicato bounce or graceful stride to the band’s vibrant indie pop sound and is enhanced by gentle warm guitar. The tracks are beautifully evocative and showcase the timeless aspect of the band’s compelling sound. Each track is a joy to listen to and is an exciting musical insight into The Assist’s irresistible musicianship.
Irish Pop/Rock artist Isaac Butler has released his highly anticipated new single ‘Good Enough’. Last week I caught up with Bulter to discuss how he crafted the song, his plans for the coming months and his upcoming headline show in Whelan’s main room on Friday, 31 March.
“I actually wrote it on a piano with a good pal of mine. He plays with me live as well, Jake Richardson. We wrote it together on the piano. Then I wanted to have that big live feel to it so for me electric guitars are just the way forward. I’ve kind of fallen back in love with them and I think everyone’s gonna see that. It’s very obvious in the upcoming tracks and stuff, I’m kind of going for that big live sound vibe. Obviously, the electric guitar lends itself to that, but yeah, exciting stuff, really.”
Within the track, Butler takes a tender stance and highlights it with vibrant indie pop instrumentation. The result is a glorious sing-along anthem that is a joy to listen to.
“Yeah, it’s funny that the song started out quite sad. It’s a sad song if you really break it down. It’s funny when I wrote it, it came from quite a vulnerable place. But we came back to that when we were producing the five or six songs and obviously “Good Enough” was one of them, but we came back to it at a time where I was very much over what had happened and where that song came from. So it turned from this tender, vulnerable side to this kind of more brash, angry thing. Production-wise and even performance-wise that song, it’s angry, you know, there’s a bit of grit there. So yeah, it was an interesting exercise really going from that tender spot to one of I suppose, anger really, is the word.”
Butler has a knack for releasing wonderfully crafted videos to accompany his songs. I asked if he has one planned for ‘Good Enough’.
“Yeah, actually funny enough we’ve done a live band performance, which I’m going to probably release on Monday, I think. Then I’m actually headed off, so, the opening verse line is “that weekend in Paris”. So myself and Peter are heading off to Paris tomorrow morning, we got some cheap flights so we thought why not? Let’s actually lean into this a little bit and get some authentic vibes in there. But yeah, so we’re off to Paris to film. It’s gonna be a simple, enough video, but yeah, looking forward to that and I’m excited to share.”
Lyrically the song is powerfully emotive, relatable and honest. I wondered if Butler was unsure whether he was going to release this song or if its earnest lyrical content was difficult to put out into the world.
“No. It is definitely my most honest and probably my most personal song I’ve released to date but I knew once it was written that I one hundred percent wanted it to be out. I performed it live a lot and I love performing it live because it is so honest. I connect to it quite strongly and then obviously, in that live setting people understand and connect to it when I’m singing because I am so passionate about it. It’s a true story so it’s easy for me to really get into it and I think people appreciate that. So yeah, it was a no-brainer for me to be honest. I love it.”
Like all of his previous songs, this single has a wonderfully catchy chorus that evokes images of live crowds singing back the lyrics. Butler is set to headline Whelan’s main room with a full band on Friday, 31 March and I wondered what his hopes were for the show.
” Well first of all, thanks so much. That’s a really nice compliment. I hope and pray that they do. But yeah, Whelan’s is coming up soon. This show is definitely going to be for me a complete level up. Not that I don’t always put a huge amount of effort into the shows but this one in particular we’ve really been behind the scenes working hard on getting everything right from the production to different instrumentation and even lighting and stuff like that. So I think people will be excited to see that we’ve really levelled up here. So yeah, I’m really excited to just get out there again. Whelan’s is such an important venue to me. I’ve seen so many people that I love there and I’ve been there probably nearly 100 times. So to actually get on that main stage and headline it is pretty amazing to me. I’m very, very happy.”
Butler recently performed at the Ruby Sessions and we discussed how he found the experience.
“Yeah, I did the Rubies a couple of weeks ago. I love the Rubies to be honest and everyone there is so passionate about playing music, hearing music, listening to it so you really get that attention from everyone which is great. I think as an up-and-comer you get used to not being heard quite a lot in different shows and different gigs. So that’s one that really is close to my heart and I love the guys in there as well. They’re great.”
Butler is no stranger to the stage or the airwaves amassing over 2.5 million Spotify streams and selling out shows in The Grand Social, The Soundhouse and Whelan’s while also playing festivals across the country including Electric Picnic. Two of his previous singles have also been chosen as the ‘Select Irish’ Single of the Month across the Wireless Group and Butler told me how important that support is to him.
” Yeah, it’s amazing, it’s really amazing. To be perfectly honest, I was quite nervous to put myself out there and announce the Whelan’s headline, I was kind of like maybe I should test the waters a little bit more. So yeah, I do feel honored people are listening to me. I’m really hoping to get a whole host of new kind of listeners over the next couple of weeks and months. I think the summer is gonna be really, really important for me to get out there and I’m just looking forward to playing live again and meeting people as well. That’s such an important aspect to me. I love chatting to people after shows and hearing about different stories they have and all that kind of stuff. It is probably my favorite part. “
The first time I interviewed Butler, he was gearing up for a big summer of festivals and then COVID put a halt to his plans. We discussed the impact of COVID and how he overcame the shock of all those plans being pushed down the line.
” It was honestly, lots of people had awful times but yeah, it was heart wrenching to be honest. Everybody had to cancel shows. I had a clear plan and then for that to be taken away was difficult. But I suppose the other side of that is I got to write a lot of songs. I got to meet a lot of different writers, different musicians even and that really has developed me quite a lot. I think I’m much more mature now in my sound, and in the way I’m writing even the way I’m performing. I think I’m in a much better place to hopefully get in front of some more people and get more people listening and connecting. I think the songs are at a place where people will start hopefully connecting to them like I do.”
Isaac Butler is an ambitious and talented artist. His catchy indie pop songs showcase his depth, honesty and maturity. ‘Good Enough’ is a fantastic example of his earworm magic and diverse musical range. I’m looking forward to hearing the tunes Butler releases next.
Rowlette has released her new single “Dreamer”. 2022 was a busy year for the artist who hosted a packed-out headliner in the British capital with fellow musician Faraway Martin, supported CMAT, Rofi James and Junior Brother, and released a string of new tracks.
‘Dreamer’ is a song that displays Rowlette’s ability to capture the heart of listeners with her wonderful storytelling and warm musicianship. The song twinkles with soft guitar and folk tones over supple orchestral arrangements, and elegant piano creating a soothing backdrop for her sweet vocals. In the unusual setting of a discount store, the song captures the beauty in the everyday moment, and the feeling of knowing someone truly believes in you. Rowlette tells this story through charming melodies and comforting soundscapes making ‘Dreamer’ a delight to listen to.
About the track Rowlette said: “I love this song because of its simplicity. I wrote it about a day a friend of mine came to visit me in my hometown. It was a wintery Sunday evening during the pandemic and there was really nowhere to go. We ended up going to Mr. Price and having a great time – it’s one of those places you always find things you didn’t know you needed! I got a lovely journal to write down what I wanted for the year, and I assumed he would think I was a bit silly, but instead he was just really supportive. Obviously big gestures and that are nice, but I think there’s nothing better than when you can tell someone really believes in you and has your back.”
Irish singer-songwriter Isaac Butler has released his highly anticipated new single ‘Good Enough’. ‘Good Enough’ marks the start of a new musical journey for Isaac Butler as he embarks on what promises to be a very exciting 2023 – with the first quarter of the year seeing him set to headline Whelan’s main room with a full band on Friday, 31 March. Isaac Butler is no stranger to the stage or the airwaves amassing over 2.5 million Spotify streams and selling out shows in The Grand Social, The Soundhouse and Whelan’s while also playing festivals across the country including Electric Picnic. Two of Isaac Butler’s previous singles have also been chosen for as the ‘Select Irish’ Single of the Month across the Wireless Group.
Within ‘Good Enough’ Butler fleshes out his earnest songwriting over an intense backdrop of driving instrumentation and powerful melodic surges. The song boasts warm guitar refrains, driving beats and ethereal soundscapes that lift the track into an anthemic sing-along chorus. Butler’s soulful vocals create an emotive yet, warm atmosphere that carries the story along as he questions himself after a breakup, “maybe I did something wrong… maybe I just was not good enough”. Filled with lamenting keys, a hair-raising crescendo and an irresistible melody that will revolve in your head for days, ‘Good Enough’ is a compelling new single.
Speaking of the single Isaac Butler said: “Good Enough is the result of some post-relationship self-doubt. I think it’s only human nature to question yourself pretty intensely after something doesn’t work out. I love this one because there is what feels like a good balance of nostalgia and anger in there. The verses have a softness that describe those happy memories while the choruses are pretty gritty”
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 Five-piece indie rock band, Kill ‘Em Charlie have released their new single ‘Local High Roller’. The band consists of Eoghan McGuigan (Vocals/Guitar), Alex Sheehan (Backing vocals, Guitar), Patrick Kirwan (Guitar), George Broadbank (backing vocals, Guitar) and Damon Walsh (Drums). Since forming, the band have played shows in Cyprus Avenue in Cork, Dublin’s Whelans and Valley of Arts Festival in Tipperary.
‘Local High Roller’ is a fun energetic track that showcases Kill ‘Em Charlie’s youthful indie sound. The song steamrolls in on frantic guitar riffs, rampant bass lines and powerful drumming to create a frenzied wall of sound that is sure to be epic live. With a catchy melody, shredding guitar outbursts and hyper instrumentation ‘Local High Roller’ is an impressive banger. This band are developing their sound superbly as they blend their impressive musicianship with oodles of swagger and rock n roll panache.
On the background of the song, the band state: “The track came about one evening while we were practising. Eoghan started playing the main guitar line and everyone joined in what they felt was right for the song. We knew from the get-go that it would be an energetic song so we tried to stick to that vibe. By the end of practice, we had the first draft of the music for the song which has not changed much since. Eoghan then went away and wrote the lyrics and vocal melodies, getting inspiration from our own experiences as we mentioned above. Once the lyrics were done it was just a case of melding both together and the outcome was the song ‘Local High Roller’ as you hear it now.”
“The song was recorded at Claycastle, Youghal by producer Triss. It was our first time recording in this studio and Triss’ energy matched us incredibly well and he knew exactly what our vision for the song/EP was. Our old band member, Gavin Murray, was the mixing maestro for this song and EP. We previously worked with Gavin on our previous single ‘Hazey’ and, as Gavin used to be a former member, he really understands how we wanted the songs to sound. We could not be happier with the result of both the recording and mixing. Finally, the songs were mastered by Fergal Davis who has mastered most of our previous material so we also have a good trusting relationship with him.”
Irish Dublin DJ Sleepless Beauty has released her new mix ‘Sleepless Up Late Causing A Racket’. Having studied under the watchful eye of techno legend Sunil Sharpe at BIFE, Sleepless Beauty has developed a passion for all things electronic. She has played at The Button Factory (now Centre Point), Pygmalion, Tramline & Bowlane Social Club, Workman’s Club Dublin and is a member of The Gash Collective and Houseflow Events, a regular at Riot, and held residencies at Slane Castle and Lost Lane. She has performed at Body and Soul, KnockanStockan and All Together Now festival ’19 & ’22 as well as closing out The Pagoda Stage on Friday night 12-2AM at The Electric Picnic festival.
Within ‘Sleepless Up Late Causing A Racket’ Sleepless Beauty packs in all the techno, electro, house, 90’s, ambient, and flurries of pop and soul you can handle to create a fresh and fun collection that is a joy to listen to. This mix sees Sleepless Beauty flesh out bright melodies with gradual blends of intensifying beats, propulsive percussion and radiant melodies to maintain a feel-good vibe throughout each cut. The tracks are fun and playful as she drops psychedelic tones into fizzing acid elements and dynamic electro blasts while a tech-house element grooves throughout. Sleepless Beauty’s selections are electrifying and full of irresistible tempos and syncopated drum programming making for a wild and exhilarating listening experience. ‘Sleepless Up Late Causing A Racket’ is the perfect example of this.
Belfast singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Owen Denvir has released his new single ‘Best Of Me’. With 400,000 streams on Spotify, Denvir has featured on BBC NI’s “The Nolan Show”, Dublin TV3’s “6 O’Clock Show” and previously supported Dodie, Ryan McMullan and JC Stewart in concert. His split-screen covers and mashups have amassed almost 800,000 views on Youtube, while also garnering attention from Coldplay.
Overflowing with heartfelt emotion and exquisite songwriting, ‘Best Of Me’ is a passionate new single from Denvir. The artist takes a minimalist approach to his new single by using just piano accompaniment to express heartbreaking emotion while passionate vocals express his regrets and fears after a breakup. ‘Best Of Me’ is moving and beautifully presented and is a fine display of the natural talent of this singer-songwriter. He doesn’t need large-scale production and fluff. His pure vocals fill the song with a tsunami of emotion while the simple piano accompaniment adds elegance and tenderness. ‘Best Of Me’ is a wonderful listen.
GLU has announced his solo EP along with the official video for the title track ‘My Demons’ ft. Sarah Barthel of Phantogram. GLU is GRAMMY-nominated musician and multi-instrumentalist Michael Shuman. The frontman of Mini Mansions and member of Queens of the Stone Age is showing another side of himself with his independent debut EP, ‘MY DEMONS’, out February 24th. The title track release features Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel and explores how childhood traumas continue to seep into adult life. The coinciding video turns heads with a steamy, latex-laden Barthel symbolizing the demons that dominate GLU’s thoughts as he raps satirically through a leather ball gag.
‘My Demons’ is an honest and exciting glimpse into the many facets of Shuman as an artist. Stacking lo-fi- hip-hop alongside pop-hued melodies ‘My Demons’ is upbeat and endearing with cynical undertones. With a catchy melody interweaved between jangly keys, punchy beats and fuzzed bass the track is an exciting listening experience. Showcasing Shuman’s knack for creating musical melodies filled with rich rhythms ‘My Demons’ is a thrilling new tune.
Watch the video for ‘My Demons’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
