• In Season: An Interview with The Mad Dalton

    June 7, 2018 - By 

    Ahead of the launch of his debut album, Open Season, at Belfast’s Black Box on Thursday, June 14, Belfast-based musician and songwriter Peter Sumadh AKA The Mad Dalton talks to us about process, influence, the imprint of literature on his work, how his Scots/Canadian heritage frames his craft, the musicians that have helped bring his music to life and more. Go here to buy tickets to the launch of Open Season. Your debut album, Open Season, is set for release on June 15. You’re releasing it via a successful pledge campaign. Were you hesitant to do this and how was…

  • Track Record: Maija Sofia

    June 7, 2018 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record we spend time with Maija Sofia in her home for a look through some of her favourite records, from Nick Cave to CocoRosie. Photos by Zoe Holman  Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Murder Ballads  There are loads of Nick Cave albums I could have put on this list, anyone who knows me personally at all know’s I’m pretty obsessed, so many of his albums are completely incredible, but I think Henry Lee and Where the Wild Roses Grow were the first two Nick Cave songs I ever heard and was like … wow,…

  • Forbidden Fruit 2018: Sunday

    June 6, 2018 - By 

    The atmosphere of Sunday was considerably busier – and a little bit rowdier – than the previous day with a lot of teenagers flocking for dance favourites like DJ Seinfeld, Bicep, DJ Deece, Dennis Sulta. The day started on a slightly messy note, with both Ross from Friends and Earl Sweatshirt announcing last-minute cancellations. Anyone who decided to wander over to the Undergrowth stage for Bicep’s 9.30 set would have been equally as disappointed – the tent was sweaty and overspilling from Dennis Sulta’s set, with no chance of entry or exit; heat emitting from the tent was like someone…

  • Forbidden Fruit 2018: Monday

    June 6, 2018 - By 

    On the last day of the June bank holiday, also one of the hottest days of the year, a modest gathering assembled at Forbidden Fruit. The line-up for day three differed greatly from Saturday and Sunday’s bill, as it catered devotees of guitar-led indie-rock with Philadelphia based The War on Drugs headlining and veteran (and nostalgia inducing) acts like Spoon, Warpaint and Grizzly Bear performing, also. David Kitt, whose set predominantly drew from his most recent record, Yous, eased the early attendees into the day’s marathon of live music. His set-up was minimal; comprised of Kitt switching between acoustic and…

  • Forbidden Fruit 2018: Saturday

    June 6, 2018 - By 

    Now celebrating its 8th birthday, Forbidden Fruit has become a staple in the Irish music festival scene, and with it and last week’s LIFE festival, the summer festival season has officially begun. A celebrator of Irish acts, with a focus on dance, R&B, and hip-hop, this year’s line-up was especially anticipated, with headliners such as Glass Animals, Justice, Bonobo, and EDM favourites like Bicep, Dennis Sulta, and DJ Seinfeld all making appearances over the weekend. It’s never easy to be one of the first acts of the day at a festival, and especially on the first day but this didn’t…

  • Video Premiere: Dott – Bleached Blonde

    May 31, 2018 - By 

    The sun is out and the mighty Dott are back with another summery tune. ‘Bleached Blonde’ is lifted directly from their new album Heart Swell, set for release on Graveface Records next week. The song is a slice of fuzzy-pop written about Anna McCarthy’s love of surfing and her self confessed lack of real talent for it. It’s a treat. Play loud. Pre-order Heart Well here.  

  • Track Record: Just Mustard

    May 31, 2018 - By 

    In this special installment of Track Record all five members of  Just Mustard select two records each to discuss, from Sufjan Stevens to Aphex Twin. Mags Godflesh – Post Self Inspired by the dreary urban landscapes of Birmingham, Godflesh are the band who pioneered the fusion of industrial and heavy metal together into a dsytopian whole. It was upon hearing their 1989 seminal classic masterpiece ‘Streetcleaner’ that enamoured me with their music and though I do not yet own it on record, their 2017 album ‘Post Self’ is arguably just as powerful. Post Self is an outstanding achievement in that…

  • David Kitt shares spellbinding new video for ‘Cling Film’: Watch

    May 30, 2018 - By 

    David Kitt has shared a spellbinding new video for ‘Cling Film’, lifted off his triumphant Yous LP from March this year, released via All City. The video finds Kitt teaming up with visual artists D.A.D.D.Y – Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman – in a hypnotic, floral trip. You may remember the pair for their video for Jape’s ‘Floating’ way back in 2004. “As long time fans of David’s we were excited for the release of his new record Yous and talked to him about making something for the track ‘Cling Film’,” explain Ahern and Loughman. “Although when it finally came about we were in intense pre-production…

  • Inbound: Dreaming of Jupiter

    May 29, 2018 - By 

    Ahead of a busy year that will see the release of their debut EP, we talk to hotly-tipped Dublin trio Dreaming of Jupiter about what defines their sound, milestones to date, their summer festival-conjuring new single, their favourite Irish music, and what the rest of 2018 holds. You’ve just released ‘Right Kind of Love’. It’s a real earworming gem evoking straight-up summer festival vibes. Tell us about the writing and recording of this track. We are really happy to have put this track out into the world. We have a writing process which we have developed over time. We pre-produce…

  • No Fading: An Interview with Duellists

    May 29, 2018 - By 

    As everyone knows (or should know) Northern Ireland’s alt-rock lineage is both proud and incredibly diverse. Comprised of stalwarts of the scene as it looked several years ago, Duellists are a new-fangled three-piece promising aggression, abrasion and intensity. Ahead of their forthcoming debut album, the Belfast-based band talk to us about influence, almost ripping off Fugazi, the John Carpenter-conjuring video for their debut ‘Into the Fade’, the state of NI music and more. You founded in 2015 and comprise ex-members of NI bands Element and Throat. How does Duellists differ from those two acts, and do you think your previous incarnations works to…