• Watch: Ryan Vail – Grow

    The latest in a string of wonderful visual accompaniments by the duo, Derry electronic act Ryan Vail have unveiled the surf-inspired video for ‘Grow’. Released as part of the forthcoming EP of the same name – released via May 5 via Champion Sound – the video for the track was created by the interestingly-named Spiceburger. Watch the video below.

  • Stream: Ryan Vail – Grow

    Derry electronic duo Ryan Vail (Vail and his other half in Katie Cosgrove) have long been one of our favourite acts for summoning a very particular sense of nocturnalism in their music. With a string of quietly brooding tracks under their belt, their latest offering, ‘Grow’, delves even further into the night. The lead track for the forthcoming EP of the same – set for release via the excellent Champion Sound in early May – the track is imbued with Vail’s ever-impressive analog renderings of self-doubt and enlightenment; a dual subject that he and Cosgrove have been revealing over the…

  • Gig of the week: Solar Bears, Ryan Vail, Blue Whale @ Voodoo

    We hope we’re not accused of too much bias with this one but… our gig of the week for March 17-24 is our next showcase at Belfast’s Voodoo Bar on Saturday, March 22. Supported by Belfast jazz-punk masters Blue Whale and fast-rising Derry electronic duo Ryan Vail, Dublin electronic pair Solar Bears – currently in the process of writing their third studio album – will make their long-awaited return to Belfast with a headlining DJ set. Doors are at 8.30pm, door tax is £8 (pay at the door) and the first 10 people through the door get a poster from the…

  • The Thin Air Presents: Solar Bears, Ryan Vail and Blue Whale @ Voodoo

    Oh boy, are we excited for this one! Currently writing material for their third album, Dublin electronic duo Solar Bears will headline our next showcase at Belfast’s Voodoo Bar on Saturday, March 22. Having released the exquisite Supermigration last year and recently signed a published deal with Warp, the two-piece’s DJ set will follow sets from Derry electronic twosome Ryan Vail and Belfast-based jazz-punk quartet Blue Whale – two of the finest acts of their respective genres currently based in Northern Ireland. Doors at 8.30pm, door tax is £8.00 (pay at the door). Go here for the Facebook event page…

  • The Thin Air’s Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2013 (35-1)

    Sixty-five increasingly exceptional songs in, we’re pleased to round up our first ever countdown of the Top 100 Irish Tracks of the year. Truth be told, this list could have been much, much longesear – such was the extent and quality of the output from our homegrown musical talent over the last twelve months. From unassuming bedroom artists treading the often very thin line between absolute anonymity and mass recognition to genre-defining, decades-spanning bands that fall comfortably under “legendary” status, we’ve been very happily bombarded with some truly extraordinary Irish music over the last year. Until next time… listen, enjoy…

  • Watch: Ryan Vail – Free

    Derry electronic duo Ryan Vail (comprised of Katie Cosgrove and Vail himself) have unveiled the video to their new single, ‘Free’. Directed by Giles Labarbe, the typically shadowy and nocturnal video is, in the director’s own words, “about the freedom that one might experience while losing a connection with someone close. Its aesthetics reflect the various styles blended in Ryan Vail’s track.” Watch the video for the song – released via Champion Sound Records – below.

  • Gig of the week: Champion Sound Showcase

    Our gig of the week this week is set to be an outright highlight of this year’s CultureTECH in Derry/Londonderry: a showcase by Belfast-based label Champion Sound at the most excellent Sandinos on Friday September 13 featuring performances two of the label’s most exciting names. Fast-rising Derry electronic artist Ryan Vail (above) and decidedly anonymous producer Unknown lead the way on the night. Visuals coming courtesy of award-winning Belfast collective DSNT, the labels bosses of both Planet Mu (Tom Quaye) and Champion Sound (Lyndon Stephens) will also perform DJ sets on the night Tickets are five pound at the door. Check out ‘Fade’ by Ryan Vail below.

  • CultureTECH: Champion Sound Showcase @ Sandinos

    One of the more enticing prospects of this year’s CultureTECH in Derry, Belfast-based label Champion Sound will hold a showcase at the wonderfully inimitable Sandinos on Friday September 13. The line-up is comprised of two of the label’s most exciting names: fast-rising Derry electronic artist Ryan Vail and decidedly anonymous producer Unknown (above – sort of). With visuals coming courtesy of award-winning Belfast collective DSNT, the labels bosses of both Planet Mu (Tom Quaye) and Champion Sound (Lyndon Stephens) will also perform DJ sets. Tickets are five pound at the door.

  • Ebrington Square set for free concert

    Having proved itself to be one of the country’s best outdoor urban festival sites at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Derry’s Ebrington Square will host a free concert as part of the Music City celebrations on Friday June 21. Taking place between 4pm and 11pm, Sounds from this City vs. Sounds from Cities on the Edge Festival will stage to two arenas. Whereas The Sound from this City arena will host some of the most promising emerging and established bands and musicians from the city including Little Bear, Ryan Vail (pictured), Best Boy Grip, Wyldling, The Clameens, Wonder Villains, The Wood Burning…