• Stream: The North Sea – Drinking Alone

    A song “about escape and times of thought and reflection”, Dublin five-piece The North Sea have released arguably their strongest single effort to day, ‘Drinking Alone’. The second single to be taken from their forthcoming debut album the song is a sublimed-composed slice of alt-pop “exploring themes of alienation and separation between a couple, realising there love has waned or changed”. The band have also announced a five-date Irish tour, taking place across February and March: February 22: Crane Lane, Cork February 25: Cobblestone Joes, Limerick March 5: Voodoo, Belfast March 6: Whelans, Dublin March 19: Roisin Dubh, Galway ‘Drinking Alone’ will be released on…

  • First Acts Announced For Longitude 2015

    Headliners Hozier, Alt-J and The Chemical Brothers are amongst the first acts announced to play this year’s Longitude. Set to take place in Dublin’s Marlay Park from July 17-19, the annual festival will also see performances from Caribou, Sbtrkt, Wild Beasts, Jungle, Dublin’s very own Girl Band and several more. Tickets for Longitude – priced at €149.50 (plus fees) for a weekend or €59.50 (plus fees) – are on sale next Friday,January 30 at 9am via Ticketmaster.

  • 15 For ’15: Goldie Fawn

    Over the last three weeks we have been revealing a handpicked selection of Irish acts we’re certain are set to do incredible things in 2015 and beyond. Today, we conclude that feature – 15 For ’15 – with a rejuvenated Belfast-based songstress: Katie Richardson AKA Goldie Fawn. Words by Brian Coney. Photo by Joe Laverty. Having well and truly cut her teeth as the leading lady of kaleidoscopic, tale-telling troupe Katie and the Carnival, Belfast-based singer-songwriter Katie Richardson has recently very convincingly metamorphosed and re-established herself as Goldie Fawn. Retaining the swooning, enchanting quality that made her previous incarnation so potent,…

  • 15 For ’15: Edward F Butler

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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.