• Her Heart and Her Voice: Remembering Sinéad O’Connor

    Galway-based folk artist Brigid Mae Power fondly remembers Sinéad O’Connor’s incomparable influence and authenticity Illustration by Loreana Rushe  When people ask me in interviews, “Who are your musical influences?” I usually respond with the same people who come to mind. “Aretha Franklin, Duke Ellington, Joni Mitchell, Tim Buckley’ etc. Recently I wondered, why don’t I ever say “Sinéad O’ Connor”?  I have realised that Sinéad has been far more of an influence and inspiration to me than the above artists and for a much longer time. I feel like her music, singing, songwriting and personality is embedded in me so…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 1st September

    It’s an insanely abundant Bandcamp Friday here in Ireland. Delve into essential LPs by Natalia Beylis, Maija Sofia and Crying Loser, and new stellar releases by Problem Patterns, The Mary Wallopers, Moot Tapes’ latest and much more Natalia Beylis – Mermaids Mermaids by Natalia Beylis Maija Sofia – True Love True Love by Maija Sofia Crying Loser – Oaf Milk Oaf Milk by Crying Loser Problem Patterns – Lesbo 3000 / Poverty Tourist Lesbo 3000 / Poverty Tourist by Problem Patterns Elaine Howley/Linda Buckley – Moot Tapes: Signs of Life Part 6 Signs of Life: Part 6 by Elaine Howley/Linda…

  • … And Breathe: An Interview with Reeta Cherie

    The Dublin-based DJ talks to Cíara Byrne about Irish club culture, the power of wellness, and the vitality of community and collaboration in the scene Photo by Kate Lawlor Reeta Cherie has spent the last decade playing in clubs, festivals and bars around Dublin and Ireland, bringing her passion and joy to the dancefloor and sharing it with anyone who turns up looking to embrace the same. From hauling vinyl across muddy festival grounds to embracing a switch to DJing with USBs for the sake of preservation, she embraces the flow of her career with passion and feeling. A qualified…

  • Playing For The Other Team

    Belfast-based musician Dan O’Rawe aka F.R.U.I.T.Y proudly discusses the importance of inclusivity in the GAA Illustration by Isabella Koban Whether it’s watching it or playing it, sport might not be for everybody but there are few places I can think of where a category of sport can divide people like it does in Northern Ireland. Gaelic sports have been played in Ireland for hundreds of years, with the GAA having been founded in 1884, yet some individuals seem to utilise this sport as a cultural battering ram.In recents times in Belfast, there have been security threats to schools, flags torn…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 25th August

    From every corner of the island, here’s the very best new music of the week from Aoife Nessa Frances, Meljoann, Joel Jarkin, Akrobat, Touch Excellent, Autre Monde and more Aoife Nessa Frances – Fantasy Meljoann – Broke Joel Harkin – Is Iomaí Lá Sa Chill Orainn Is Iomaí Lá Sa Chill Orainn by Joel Harkin Jape – Lashing Through The Minutes Niamh Bury – Who Am I To Tell Him? Akrobat – Are You Listening Middler – Home Port (Preference Remix) Middler – Home Port (Matheson Remix) Touch Excellent – Couch Song Aby Coulibaly – DYWS? Autre Monde – Strictly…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 18th August

    It’s been another stacked week for Irish music. Delve into the very best releases of the last seven days, from HAVVK, Slomatics, Tandem Felix and more Tandem Felix – Message of the Afternoon Slomatics – Voidians Strontium Fields by Slomatics Lucy Gaffney – Make Me Smile Amerik feat. Sasha Samara – The Real Thing HAVVK – Expiry Beauty Pageant – A Bank Holiday Miracle Kojaque – Cabra Drive Jordan Adetunji – Things You Do Lucy Blue – Love Hate Soda Blonde – Midnight Show Boyfrens – Soft & Mindless

  • Inbound: Stratford Rise

    Photo by David McEneaney You might have noticed in these pages over the past year the refreshing air of a heteroglot of brand new, guitar bands. One such act that’s grabbed – and proceeded to mercilessly pulverise – our attention is Bangor quartet Stratford Rise. They’ve been together since early 2020, but it’s still early days, playing live for over a year, but having only just performed their first date outside Northern Ireland in May.  “Gilla Band and a number of no-wave bands inspired our interest in incorporating noise into our songs,” they tell us. Indeed, their debut single ‘Water…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 4th August

    This Bandcamp Friday, delve into the very best Irish releases of the week, from Natalia Beylis, Soda Blonde, Heliopause, iSad2 and more Natalia Beylis – Afloat In Fog And Feathers <a href=”https://touchsensitiverecords.bandcamp.com/album/mermaids”>Mermaids by Natalia Beylis</a> Heliopause – Runaway <a href=”https://heliopause.bandcamp.com/track/runaway-single-version”>Runaway (single version) by Heliopause</a> Soda Blonde – Bad Machine Mark Waldron-Hyden & Peadar Tom Mercier – Bruach na Laoi: Fidil & Drumaí improvisations Vol. I ​​<a href=”https://blindheadrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/bruach-na-laoi-fidil-druma-improvisations-vol-i”>Bruach na Laoi: Fidil & Drumaí improvisations Vol. I by Mark Waldron-Hyden & Peadar Tom Mercier</a> Orla Gartland – Kiss Your Face Forever iSad2 – Money Back

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 28th July

    As we try to come to terms with the collective sucker punch that is Sinéad O’Connor’s passing, we also band together and celebrate the very best Irish music of the week from Naoise Roo, Alpha Chrome Yayo, Cruel Sister, Aislinn Logan and more. Naoise Roo – Sacred Cow Elaine Malone – Eat Out of Your Hand Alpha Chrome Yayo – Baby Steps Baby Steps by Alpha Chrome Yayo Cruel Sister – Hands Infinite Left – Infinite Bliss Infinite Bliss by Infinite Left Aislinn Logan – Tír na nÓg Nara – Scarlet Moncrieff – Love Somebody

  • Inbound: Chubby Cat

    The last year has been markedly transitional for Cat Doran aka Chubby Cat; a new name, new city, and new vibe to contextualise the alt-pop artist’s emergence as she builds on the hype that’s followed her 2021 debut ‘slipping’.  The Cork-born artist made her Belfast debut at Output in 2022, showcasing to an impressively-sized crowd of listeners left reeling by her vocal riffs. A year on, having made the move up from Dublin at the start of this spring to work on new music, what’s to come is certainly Belfast’s gain. The BIMM graduate’s artistic ethic and approach are both…