• Wall of Sound: Marion Hawkes of Sound Advice

    April 7, 2022 - By 

    Belfast’s newest record store is far from your usual fare. With DJ Marion Hawkes at the helm, Sound Advice is helping set the pace for a city brimming with fresh possibility Photos by Darren Hill It’s only a few short years since Belfast was hit with a succession of independent record shop closures that left something of a wilderness unbefitting a city of its stature. Thankfully, with city centre joint Starr Records making strides, recovery has been swift. The latest store to open its doors is east Belfast’s Sound Advice, owned and run by Marion Hawkes, DJ and co-founder of…

  • Son of the Session: An Interview with John Francis Flynn

    April 7, 2022 - By 

    “There were people that shouldn’t know who I am coming to see me.” If there’s one thing you quickly learn when speaking to John Francis Flynn it’s that he’s not exactly prone to entitlement. Speaking over Zoom from his home in Dublin, the singer and multi-instrumentalist is reflecting on his recent debut UK headline tour. It was a run of 15 shows that, if a few glowing reports are anything to go by, were more than a bit special. Not that Flynn would tell you as much himself. “It was kind of mind-blowing,” he tells me. “After two years of…

  • Inbound: Ricky Chong

    April 7, 2022 - By 

    There’s something genuinely refreshing about Ricky Chong. The Sligo-based DJ and producer mixes house and disco records with a deft hand, digging deep for radiant cuts that stomp and soar with NRG, funk and soul. A resident at Sligo’s Faint club night as well as Dublin’s The Big Romance, he’s been building his profile for a couple of years now, but his love for music that kicks and swings stretches back to his childhood. Growing up, his dad’s collection was a treasure trove of jazz, funk, disco and sounds from around the world such as Oscar Peterson’s We Get Requests,…

  • Irish Tracks of The Week: 25th March

    March 25, 2022 - By 

    Here’s the very best Irish tracks to drop this week, featuring Ciaran Lavery, Axis Of, Niamh Regan, Buí, EFÉ, Fontaines D.C, April, The Wicc, Stomptown Brass, Laytha and more Ciaran Lavery – I Am Old Enough To Know What Love Is Axis Of – Blackcomber EFÉ – KIWI ​​ Buí – Walls Stomptown Brass – Let Me Stay The Wicc – Wolf Fontaines D.C – Skinty Fia Niamh Regan – Late Nights Zaska w/ Jess Kav – Calm Down Laytha – Wavey Gamey Fizzy Orange – Oh Carling! Zapho – Tell Your Mother April – When It Comes To You…

  • Monday Mixtape: Emmy Shigeta

    March 21, 2022 - By 

    Emmy Shigeta is a Japanese DJ whose love for music developed while working in a Record Store in Tokyo. Now based in Dublin, she loves to play ambient (環境音楽) city pop & the latest underground j-pop in various venues and on her monthly Dublin Digital Radio show. Here’s some of her all-time favourites, including Yoshio Suzuki, Midori Takada & more. Chari Chari – Esfera de Água Kaoru Inoue has been active as a DJ/producer in the dance music scene such as house and techno for many years. Chari Chari is his own project. This tune is spectacular deep house. AUS –…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 4th March

    March 4, 2022 - By 

    Rejoice, it’s Bandcamp Friday once again. Here’s the best Irish tracks and releases of the week, from Acid Granny, Post Punk Podge & The Technohippies, MuRli, Lighght, Natalia Beylis, Wild Rocket, Arthur Itis and more. Acid Granny – Urban Hurling Urban Hurling by Acid Granny Post Punk Podge & The Technohippies – Gentrification Nation MuRli – The Sky Has Windows The Sky Has Windows by MuRli Seodra by Lighght Natalia Beylis – Fortuna: Installation Works 2013 Fortuna: Installation Works 2013 by Natalia Beylis SSMMUUTT – Pissed Up In Поділ / Magick Bridge ft Gareth Quinn Redmond Pissed Up In Поділ…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 25th February

    February 25, 2022 - By 

    Here’s our round-up of the best Irish music to drop in the past seven days, featuring Robocobra Quartet, Ragerra, Daniel Walsh, Just Mustard, Clara Tracey, CMAT and more. Robocobra Quartet – Heaven Ragerra – Runaway ​​ Daniel Walsh – BANG BANG BANG BANG Clara Tracey – Harry Clarke Deaf Joe – Shadow Work Just Mustard – Still Niamh Regan & Ciaran Lavery – Winter In Eden In the Meantime (EP) by Niamh Regan CMAT – Every Bottle (Is My Boyfriend) Wallis Bird – Pretty Lies Ye Vagabonds – Blue Is The Eye Aonair – Millennial Bug Aonair · Millennial Bug…

  • Ciaran Lavery on the Inaugural Soft Gut Song Camp

    February 24, 2022 - By 

    Across 14-16th April, Co. Down analog recording studio Analog Catalog will host the inaugural Soft Gut Song Camp. Founded by acclaimed NI artist Ciaran Lavery, alongside music industry professionals Nikki MacRae and Jo Wright, it was created to encourage and cultivate a community of creative collaboration and support within the NI music industry by delivering an immersive, multi-day song camp for regional artists. As an opportunity for music creators from all backgrounds to work alongside new creative partners, and to forge new relationships, the camp – which was successfully trialed last October – is set to cater for something sorely missed with the…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – February 19th

    February 18, 2022 - By 

    This week has seen new music, and long-awaited albums from some of Ireland’s finest acts, including David Holmes, Paddy Hanna, Wallis Bird, Clara Tracey, Fontaines D.C., Sinead O’Brien, Ye Vagabonds, Paper Tigers, Dirty Dreamer, Junk Drawer & more. Paddy Hanna – New York Sidewalk New York Sidewalk by Paddy Hanna David Holmes – It’s Over if we Run out of Love It’s Over, If We Run Out Of Love by David Holmes feat. Raven Violet Clara Tracey – Harry Clarke Harry Clarke by Clara Tracey Fontaines D.C. – I Love You Sinead O’Brien – Holy Country Dirty Dreamer – Piano 39…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – February 11th

    February 11, 2022 - By 

    It’s been another great week for new releases in every corner of the island. Delve into the best of the lot, featuring NewDad, Junior Brother, Pillow Queens, Frank and Beans, Axis Of, Melts and more. NewDad – Banshee Pillow Queens – Hearts & Minds Junior Brother – No Country For Young Men Frank and Beans – Slán Axis Of – Beach Light Melts – Outlier Qwerty Mick – Google Your Symptoms Pauline Scanlon – The Bird In The Bush Cat Dowling – All That I Can Do