• 15 For ’15: Goldie Fawn

    January 23, 2015 - By 

    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

    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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 15 For ’15: New Gods

    January 13, 2015 - By 

    Next Wednesday, January 21, we conclude 15 For ’15, our feature looking at fifteen Irish acts we’re certain – convinced, even – are going to make waves in 2015 and beyond. Make sure to check out the full feature in our forthcoming January/February physical magazine. Up today are Dublin punk five-piece New Gods. Photo by Isabel Thomas, words by Will Murphy. When it starts, you can feel it. This invisible touch sliding down your spine like finger of some long forgotten creature. Foot taps and gentle nods turn into body slams and head banging. This is what 1976 must have felt…

  • 15 For ’15: Princess

    January 12, 2015 - By 

    With their track ‘Molly’ (below) coming in at #1 in our Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2014, Dublin duo Princess are our next featured act in our 15 For ’15 feature. Their frankly irresistible brand of dream/noise-pop has had us hooked over the last couple of years, and we are absolutely convinced they’re going to concoct even bigger and better things in 2015 and far beyond. Words by Stevie Lennox. Photo by Isabel Thomas. The duo of Liam Mesbur and Aoife McCarthy – accompanied by various friends – are the core of Dublin experimental indie rock act Princess, who dropped their…

  • 15 For ’15: Speed of Snakes

    January 9, 2015 - By 

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January magazine, we continue 15 for ’15, a feature looking at fifteen Irish acts we’re absolutely convinced are going places in 2015. Over the first two weeks of January, we’ll be previewing each of those acts, accompanied by words from our writers and an original photograph by our wonderful team of photographers. Next up: Dublin duo Speed of Snakes. Photo by Alessio Michelini. 2014 saw the end of a band called Adebisi Shank, but this year the vibrations of the two remaining hatchlings of the snakes whose trails are the cosmos will reverberate along your consciousness like never before.…

  • 15 For ’15: Axis Of

    January 7, 2015 - By 

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January magazine, we continue 15 for ’15, a feature looking at fifteen Irish acts we’re absolutely convinced are going places in 2015. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll going to be previewing each of those acts, accompanied by words from our writers and an original photograph by our wonderful team of photographers. Next up: Belfast-based three-piece Axis Of. Photo by Tom McGeehan. 2015 looks all set for take-off for the North Antrim act dubbed by Rocksound “the most exciting band to come out of Northern Ireland, possibly ever”. Axis Of launch into the New Year…