Tag Archives: Tommy Cullen

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Tommy Cullen and Amy Ellen ‘In the Winter’

Photo Credit: Joanna O’Malley

Tommy Cullen has released his new single, ‘In the Winter’, a downbeat seasonal love song inviting cosy contemplation when it’s needed most. Featuring guest vocals by fellow singer-songwriter Amy Ellen, the single comes at a transitional moment for both artists. For Tommy, it caps off a series of songs recorded in ‘The Gatehouse’, his old home atop an urban river. These songs were released throughout various lockdowns, and encompass such diverse subjects as scary sharks, imaginary breakups, monochromatic rainbows and really nice trains. Likewise, Amy recently released her eagerly-awaited debut EP ‘Only You Will Know’ to enthusiastic reviews and international fanfare.

Drifting upon a delicate guitar and piano, ‘In the Winter‘ is a melodically lush new single from Tommy Cullen and Amy Ellen. This sweet and wholesome tune glides on a swooning melody while soft pines on guitar create an ethereal quality between supple percussive twinkles. It’s a soothing and emotive tune that highlights the compelling vocal tones within these two very talented artists as their voices ebb and flow, highlighting the emotion and tenderness within the lyrics, “Well love changes everything, You got the sweetest something, Smiling down so wonderful, And I don’t want to run”. ‘In the Winter’ is a warm blanket on a chilly evening – press play and enjoy.  

With both artists preparing for the next phase in their journeys, it seemed like an appropriate time for something slightly different. As Tommy explains:“We met a couple of years ago at a gig we were both playing. Amy had heard the first single I put out and suggested we sing something together, so I had that in mind for a while. When I started writing what became ‘In the Winter’, I thought ‘this is the one’. The prospect of working with Amy made it easy to prioritise getting it finished, and it was such a joy to hear her contribution when the time came. I think we’re both really happy with how it turned out, the vocal blend seems to work nicely.”

Stream ‘In the Winter’ below 


Author: Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Tommy Cullen ‘Violet Rainbow’

Photo Credit: Joanna O’Malley.

Dublin singer-songwriter Tommy Cullen is tearing into the summer with his new single ‘Violet Rainbow’.Like most of his output to date, the track was recorded in lockdown during a turbulent year spent in a tiny house on top of a river.  It is the latest addition to a repertoire spanning such diverse subjects as scary sharks, imaginary breakups and really nice trains. ‘Violet Rainbow’ has its origins in a voice memo captured years ago in a rented bus while Tommy was travelling in the French Alps. Now the song emerges fully formed, expressing the universal desire to shine and giving voice to the many shades of violet that make up our lives. It was mixed by Marcus Jay, who also contributed additional production and drum machine programming, and mastered by Ivan Jackman at Hellfire Studios.

‘Violet Rainbow’ boasts the intricate and catchy musicianship of Tommy Cullen. Riding on a gritty riff, buoyant beat, and lush melodies, the track surges with adrenaline. Cullen’s smooth vocals glide over a dreamy melody filled with funky guitar lines and vibrant soundscapes to create a textured and euphoric tune that is a joy to listen to. There is a subtle sense of mystery within the bright indie backdrop enhanced by shaky percussion and silken electronics that weaves beneath rumbling beats and light guitars. Cullen has a wonderful ability for producing lush and compelling tunes that ooze awe-inspiring musical prowess and ‘Violet Rainbow’ displays this perfectly.

Stream ‘Violet Rainbow’ below 



Author : Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Tommy Cullen ‘Night Moves’

Photo Credit : Joanna O’Malley.

Tommy Cullen has released his new single ‘Night Moves’. Like many of us, Tommy Cullen spent 2020 locked away in his house. Perhaps more unusually, that house is essentially a small house-shaped box and sits on top of a river in the middle of a city. Here, Tommy spent a turbulent year creating songs about scary sharks, imaginary breakups, existential adventures and nice trains. The latest in a series of home-recorded singles, ‘Night Moves’ was written last year during Ireland’s first lockdown. The song has a delicate and plaintive tone, revealing a yearning for contact in a time of universal hurt. It was mixed by Marcus Jay and mastered by Ivan Jackman, while the single’s artwork features photography by Joanna O’Malley.

‘Night Moves’ is a beautifully melancholic and soothing song wrapped in the tender songwriting of Tommy Cullen. This wonderful gem floats upon soft guitar strums and wispy soundscapes, creating a calming, gentle number while Cullen injects a sense of longing through the poignant lyrics. His warm vocals croon, “Breathe deep, draw slow,The city’s putting on a show, No name, two friends, waiting for the world to end,” allowing the bittersweet melody drift through the airy and almost haunting soundscapes. Cullen’s ability to express a range of emotion through minimalist arrangements is mesmerising. He conveys the pain, and numbness of loneliness through warm and calming instrumentation along with innocent twinkles on piano and lush harmonies. ‘Night Moves’ is a remarkable and moving tune from Tommy Cullen. .

Stream ‘Night Moves’ below 


Author : Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Tommy Cullen ‘Put Me Down’

Dublin based singer-songwriter Tommy Cullen has released the latest song, ‘Put Me Down’ in a series of home-recorded singles. The track continues Tommy’s collaboration with Marcus Jay and Ivan Jackman on mixing and mastering duties, respectively, and the single’s artwork features photography by Bobby Zithelo.

 ‘Put It Down’ is a warm, easy listening number. Cullen spreads his wholesome songwriting over intricate beats and sweet melodies to create a mellow emotive track. By blending positive vibes and bright textures with darker rhythms, ‘Put It Down’ provides remarkable contrasts and engaging soundscapes for the listener to indulge in. Using twinkling keys that create moments of innocence between the sullen shuffling drum machine grooves and supple bass, Cullen crafts a song that is immersive, engaging, and soothing all at once.

Cullen’s vocal’s coo over tight backing harmonies as the smooth pop melody flows over the bubbling backdrop with ease. With a bright chorus and soft mellotron flutes, the track maintains a sweet and uplifting tone while the poetic lyrics delve into deep reflection, “are you strong like the trees you tend, will you break or can you bend.”

‘Put It Down’ is a catchy, charming single that displays Cullens tender, rich musicianship and deft songwriting.

Stream ‘Put It Down’ below


Author : Danu