• 15 For ’15: Edward F Butler

    January 21, 2015 - By 

    Thirteen varyingly exceptional acts down, the penultimate Irish artist in our 15 For ’15 feature is Edward F Butler. Currently based in Belfast, Butler is a wonderfully forward-thinking musician who we reckon is set for very special things over the coming months. Words by Aaron Drain. Photo by Alan Maguire. Multi-talented music man Edward F Butler has had a fairly tremendous run of things so far. Not only has he had a foothold in the cinematic arts, having directed videos for Oh Volcano, as well as the video for his own debut single, 2014’s ‘Running From Fears’, ehas seen his music reach…

  • 15 For ’15: Dear Desert

    January 20, 2015 - By 

    With two acts left to go, Dublin trio Dear Desert are next up in our 15 For ’15 feature, looking at fifteen Irish acts we’ve extremely high hopes for in 2015 and beyond. Make sure to check out the January/February issue of our magazine to read the whole feature in full-blown technicolour physicality. Words by David Turpin. Photo by Loreana Rushe. Dear Desert’s debut single ‘Give It Up’, released last June, intrigued with an alluring combination of suave melody and lo-fi production. The Dublin-based three-piece – made up of Richie Fenton, James O’Donnell and Brendan Miller – followed the track…

  • Watch: Jape – Seance of Light

    January 19, 2015 - By 

    Having suitably blown us away with the video to ‘The Heart’s Desire‘, Jape has returned with the video (or should we say, short film) for ‘Seance of Light’. Chronicling one man’s colourful occupational escapism (that is to say: getting off his face following a failed job interview) the video was directed by Dave Tynan and produced by Dave Leahy and Liam Ryan. The concept of the video was based on ‘Bleached’, a short story by Dave Rudden. Check out our live session with Jape here and make sure to check out Jape’s column on the recording of The Chemical Sea…

  • Stream: Myles Manley – Pay Me What I’m Worth

    January 19, 2015 - By 

    Having debuted on BBC Radio 1 last week, ‘Pay Me What I’m Worth’ by Sligo singer-songwriter Myles Manley is a terse and terrific little tale of self-worth. The first song to be taken from his forthcoming EP – set for release via Trout Records – the track, despite being rather slight at 1.52, perfectly encapsulates what makes Manley so comprehensively endearing as an artist: the abject chords, the wry wording and Manley’s remarkable, instantly recognisable vocals. Read our feature on Trout Records, featuring Manley, in the second issue of our physical magazine here.

  • Monday Mixtape: Ciaran Lavery

    January 19, 2015 - By 

    Tipped by many – including yours truly – to do incredible things in 2015, Aghagallon singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery selects and talks about ten of his all-time favourite songs for this week’s Monday Mixtape. Missed last week’s with And So I Watch You From Afar guitarist/A Bad Cavalier main man Niall Kennedy? Check that out here. “I had a lot of fun compiling this list.  Growing up I was a huge hip-hop enthusiast, which isn’t easy for a scrawny ginger kid from the country. Aghagallon was never a hot bed of gangsterism (that’s a word, right?) but I’ve been drawn to and always have…

  • 15 For ’15: God Knows + mynameisjOhn

    January 19, 2015 - By 

    Having already featured Alana Henderson, Elastic Sleep, Oh Boland, Sissy, Axis Of, Boyfights, Princess, New Gods, Robocobra Quartet and Night Trap, the next Irish act in our 15 For ’15 feature is God Knows + mynameisjOhn. Make sure to check this and all the rest of the featured acts out in the physical version of our January/February magazine, out soon. Words by Dean Van Nguyen. Photo by Colm Moore. Eric B and Rakim, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg; the history of hip-hop is loaded with producer and rapper collaborations that have seen both artists elevate the other in the same way great actor-director team ups punctuate the history of…

  • Stream: Myronik – String Tension

    January 15, 2015 - By 

    Based in Celbridge, just outside, producer Liam Myers AKA Myronik has just unveiled his latest track, ‘String Tension’. Having impressed on earlier efforts including ‘You Me You’ and ‘Joyless’, ‘String Tension’ is a nicely simmering, minimalist synth affair, featuring an acapella recording by one Courtney Odom found on Soundcloud. Keep an eye out for Colm Moore’s forthcoming Track Record feature with Myers. In the meantime, stream ‘String Tension’ below.

  • Stream: Inni-K – Come With Me

    January 15, 2015 - By 

    A joyous, wonderfully vibrant taste of what to expect from her forthcoming debut album, The King Has Two Horse’s Ears, Kildare singer-songwriter Inni-K is streaming her new single, ‘Come With Me’. Check out the artwork for the album – released on February 27 – forthcoming tour dates and ‘Come With Me’ below. March 6: Coughlan’s, Cork March 7: An Lab, Dingle March 19: Riverbank, Newbridge March 27: The Grand Social, Dublin March 28: The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon April 9: Solstice, Navan April 18: Cafe Kino, Bristol, UK April 25: The Model, Sligo 

  • 15 For ’15: Night Trap

    January 15, 2015 - By 

    Having already featured Alana Henderson, Elastic Sleep, Oh Boland, Sissy, Axis Of, Boyfights, Princess, New Gods and Robocobra Quartet, the next Irish act in our 15 For ’15 feature is Dublin synth-pop duo Night Trap. Make sure to check this and all the rest of the featured acts out in the physical version of our January/February magazine, out soon! Words by Aaron Drain. Photo by Loreana Rushe. Dublin synth-pop duo Night Trap (Ciaran Smith and Jill Daly) are very much doing things their own way. Eschewing the kind of mainstream/house crossover guff that has seen far too many acts regrettably become…

  • 15 For ’15: Robocobra Quartet

    January 14, 2015 - By 

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January/February magazine, we continue our 15 For ’15 feature today with Belfast band Robocobra Quartet. Playing both our forthcoming Independent Venue Week and Girl Band shows, the Chris Ryan-fronted foursome are easily one of the country’s most forward-thinking and exciting acts of a generation. Check out our live session with Robocobra Quartet here. Words by Laura Carland, photo by Colm Laverty. The unique spectacle offered by the Belfast based four-piece is energetic, menacing, fast and loose. With influences as varied as 90s era hip hop, ska, jazz, DC Hardcore, rap and…