• The Thin Air’s Top 100 Tracks of 2020 (#50-1)

    December 17, 2020 - By 

    Ah, 2020 eh? Unless you were living off the grid in a self-made banana bread house whilst rocking yourself gently to various iterations of ‘Happy Birthday’ as you washed your hands, then you will know that despite collectively living through the pandemic there were plenty of Irish songs to get excited about. 100 to be precise. We’ve listened to them on repeat since we couldn’t attend gigs, raves, or house parties so we’re certain we’ve selected the finest this little locked down island has to offer. It’s safe to say this year epitomised the true meaning of community in this…

  • 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…

  • Other Voices Announce Christmas Gig at Guinness Storehouse

    November 30, 2020 - By 

    Other Voices have announced details of a star-studded Christmas gig at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. Home From the Guinness Storehouse will take place on Wednesday, December 16th and will feature appearances by Denise Chaila, Conor O’Brien of Villagers, MuRli, God Knows, Mango x Mathman, The Mary Wallopers, Sorcha Richardson, Crash Ensemble, Sean Potts and Doireann Glackin. It will be presented by Loah and will also feature a spoken word by Joseph O’Connor. “It is an honour to present an incredibly special evening of Other Voices at the Guinness Storehouse,” Loah said. “It’s been a difficult year for live performance,…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – September 25th

    September 25, 2020 - By 

    Once again, it’s been a ridiculously strong week for Irish music throughout. Here’s the very best, from Post Punk Podge & TPM’s toxic masculinity takedown, wonderfully-constructed modern classic pop from Paddy Hanna, CMAT, Wyvern Lingo, Jackie Beverly, Dark Tropics, twisted Donegal Lynchisms from Shammen Delly, Bitch Falcon’s dreamy post-punk, and the inimitable Myles Manley, and wonderful new EPs from Gadget & the Cloud and Damien Lynch. Denise Chaila, Sorcha Richardson, God Knows, Murli – Out The Gaff Post Punk Podge & The Technohippies feat. TPM – Hard Man Paddy Hanna – Sinatra Cmat – I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby! Myles Manley –…

  • Denise Chaila Announces Mixtape ‘Go Bravely’

    September 11, 2020 - By 

    Limerick rapper and poet – and one of our 10 for ’20 – Denise Chaila has revealed details of a new mixtape. Set for release on October 2nd, the 11-track Go Bravely was announced this morning. Posting online, Chaila said, “I have been waiting to say this for AGES! It’s my pleasure to finally (finally!!) announce that my mixtape, Go Bravely, will be dropping on October 2nd. A bouquet of songs. Not just one. My WHOLE mixtape. I cannot wait. October 2nd.” In a press release, she said, “This mixtape is a series of sonic polaroids; a patchwork collection of snapshots and messages that came to…

  • Preview: Origins is the Appreciative Ode That Irish Hip-hop Deserves

    September 2, 2020 - By 

    Origins: The Story of Irish Hip Hop is a brand new documentary presented by Red Bull and Collective Films charting the development and growth of the Irish hip-hop movement over the last four decades. Multiple years in the works and due for release on RTÉ One this Thursday, Origins takes a deep dive into the stories and mythologies of the scene through key figure interviews, live footage and narrative talking points. With an inimitable soundtrack (surely an official compilation is on the way?) and a familiar, amiable tone, Origins is the appreciative ode that Irish hip-hop deserves. Some of Origins’…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – August 28th

    August 28, 2020 - By 

    From the sledgehammer riffing of Shifting, electronics of Son Zept and Marcus Woods, indie-pop returns by Æ MAK, Catalan and We Cut Corners, to arguably Ireland’s most exciting rising hip-hop star in Denise Chaila, check out this week’s round-up of best new Irish music. Denise Chaila – Holy Grail Son Zept – Lush Lab B by Son Zept Æ MAK – I Dance In The Kitchen (feat. Seba Safe) Shifting – Big Ed It Was Good by Shifting SENU – Jetlag 2 Catalan – Fortune We Cut Corners – Muscle Memory Muscle Memory EP by We Cut Corners Marcus Woods – Repose Tactics Maria Doyle Kennedy – Keeps…

  • Stream: Denise Chaila – Down

    May 1, 2020 - By 

    ‘Leigh anois go curamach / Can’t define who I am with a Trocaire box’ Back in February, we featured Limerick-based Zambian-Irish rapper and poet Denise Chaila as one of a handful of Irish acts we’re convinced are set for huge things in 2020 and beyond. A few weeks and breathtaking set at Other Voices Ballina later, Chaila has knocked it out of the park with new single ‘Down’. Produced by MuRli, it’s a slick and instant classic. Denise’s independent label, narolane records, said, “It may be called ‘Down’ but the energy is all the way up on this one. A…

  • 10 for ’20: Denise Chaila

    February 18, 2020 - By 

    In the latest installment of 10 for ’20, Kelly Doherty tips Limerick-based Zambian-Irish rapper and poet Denise Chaila for huge things in 2020 and beyond. Photo by Tara Thomas Few Irish artists are swimming as smoothly in a wave of excitement and anticipation as Denise Chaila. The rapper and poet, despite having only two solo singles to her name, has been turning heads across live venues and major publications for the last couple of years. Winning herself a cover spot on the Irish Times’ 50 People To Watch in 2020, a celebrity fan in BBC Radio 6’s Cillian Murphy and…