• Her Heart and Her Voice: Remembering Sinéad O’Connor

    September 6, 2023 - By 

    Galway-based folk artist Brigid Mae Power fondly remembers Sinéad O’Connor’s incomparable influence and authenticity Illustration by Loreana Rushe  When people ask me in interviews, “Who are your musical influences?” I usually respond with the same people who come to mind. “Aretha Franklin, Duke Ellington, Joni Mitchell, Tim Buckley’ etc. Recently I wondered, why don’t I ever say “Sinéad O’ Connor”?  I have realised that Sinéad has been far more of an influence and inspiration to me than the above artists and for a much longer time. I feel like her music, singing, songwriting and personality is embedded in me so…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 30th June

    June 30, 2023 - By 

    On what’s been yet another stacked week for Irish music, delve into new tracks and releases by Rachael Lavelle, ØXN, Brigid Mae Power, Neil Brogan, Jafaris, Kelley and more. Rachel Lavelle – Let Me Unlock Your Full Potential ØXN – Love Henry Brigid Mae Power – Dream From The Deep Well Dream from the Deep Well by Brigid Mae Power Neil Brogan – Yrs Truly Yrs Truly, by Neil Brogan Jafaris – Breaking Bread Keeley – Floating Above Everything Else Floating Above Everything Else by Keeley Rory Nellis and Philip Watts d’Alton – The Evening Light Caoi De Barra –…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 28th April

    April 28, 2023 - By 

    It’s been another top-tier week for Irish music. Here’s the best singles and albums released over the last seven days, featuring The Mary Wallopers, Gash Collective, Brigid Mae Power and more The Mary Wallopers – The Holy Ground Gash Collective – Gash Trax Vol. 2 GASH TRAX VOL​.​2 by GASH COLLECTIVEa Brigid Mae Power – Counting Down Badhands – Head in the Clouds Nealo & Morgana – Forest Thom Southern – Love Hz Derek Ellard & The Future Business Model – The Future Business Model EP Loop Heavy & Daryl Bengo – Won’t Stop Keeley – Sees Everything Amy Ellen…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 10th March

    March 10, 2023 - By 

    It’s been another stacked seven days on the new Irish music front. Here’s the best tracks of the week, from Lunch Machine, Problem Patterns, Brigid Mae Power, girlfriend., The Mary Wallopers and more Lunch Machine – Pipedream Graveyard Problem Patterns – Who Do We Not Save? Chubby Cat – Big Dog Barking Brigid Mae Power – Dream From The Deep Well girlfriend. – Trust Trust by girlfriend. The Mary Wallopers – Building Up and Tearing England Down New Jackson – Sanyo Shinkansen New Jackson – Sanyo Shinkansen (+ ELLLL & Lumigraph Rmxs) by Apartment Records Kneecap – It’s Been Ages Michael…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – October 15th

    October 15, 2021 - By 

    The good and the great just keep on coming. Here’s the very best Irish releases of the week, featuring Group Zero, Maria Kelly, Fixity, Brigid Mae Power, Thumper, Dani Larkin, Sprints and more. Group Zero – We Need Water Fixity – Homeworld Brigid Mae Power – Mother In the Sky Maria Kelly – The Sum of the In-between The Sum of the In-between by Maria Kelly Dani Larkin – Bloodthirsty Anthony Byrne – Chasing Sprints – Modern Job smallmint – where we all end up in the end where we all end up in the end by smallmint THUMPER –…

  • Line-Up Announced For Cork’s Quiet Lights Festival

    October 6, 2021 - By 

    Islander have announced details of the fourth outing for Cork winter festival, Quiet Lights. Set to return to various venues in the city across 18th-21st November, this year’s bill is another brilliantly curated affair featuring Lisa O’Neill, Junior Brother, Maija Sofia, Joshua Burnside, Trá Pháidín, Brigid Mae Power, Niamh Regan and more. Check out the full line-up below. “After losing out on hosting Quiet Lights by mere days due to renewed restrictions last year, we are excited (and a little nervous) to be bringing our little festival back to Cork this year,” said festival director Jonathan Pearson. “We’re very proud…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – September 24th

    September 24, 2021 - By 

    Another banner week for Irish music sees releases spanning the full breadth and scope of the island, with major releases, collaborations and singles from the likes of Brigid Mae Power, A Ritual Sea, Gemma Dunleavy, M(h)aol, David Holmes, K I T C H E N, Erica Cody, Villagers, Invaderband, windings, Gaze Is Ghost, and many more. Gemma Dunleavy – Up De Flats! [Sharda Remix] Brigid Mae Power – Burning Your Light EP Burning Your Light by Brigid Mae Power M(h)aol – Gender Studies Gender Studies EP by M(h)aol David Holmes – Hope Is The Last Thing To Die K I…

  • Download: Brigid Mae Power – I Had To Keep My Circle Small (Alternate Version)

    March 16, 2021 - By 

    A few months on from releasing one of the albums of 2020, Head Above The Water, Galway singer-songwriter and TTA favourite Brigid Mae Power is back with a new charity single. An alternate version of the subtly majestic ‘I Had To Keep My Circle’, the song has been released to raise money for Cope Domestic Abuse Services in Galway. Posting on Twitter, Power said, “This song was written reflecting on how important it is to support women in situations of abuse and assault. It was written in the heat of experiencing a lack of support, understanding and even implications of…

  • Monday Mixtape: Niall Jackson

    February 22, 2021 - By 

    London-based Dublin musician and broadcaster Niall Jackson aka Swimmers Jackson selects some of the songs featured on his excellent new radio show/podcast Pears For Lunch. I’m doing a new radio show/podcast on Islington Radio talking to Irish Musicians for an hour. A deep dive, breaking down songs, talking about influences and approach and getting some funny tour stories. The first seven have already been recorded with three episodes out so far. It’s called ‘Pears For Lunch’ and goes out on Mixcloud every Thursday on @IslingtonRadio so far here I’m delighted to give you an exclusive on songs looked at so…

  • The Thin Air’s Top 50 Irish Releases of 2020

    December 20, 2020 - By 

    In years to come, when someone asks me what The Thin Air was and represented, I’ll likely direct them to features like the one you have just opened. Much like other publications of our ilk – Nialler9, The Last Mixed Tape, Goldenplec and others – we spend 52 weeks of the year relentlessly championing what truly makes Irish music special and, very occasionally, genuinely world-beating. We all do it in different ways, and to slightly different audiences, but the impetus and desire to shine a light on what we have is one and the very same. Although they’re almost never…