• Playing For The Other Team

    Belfast-based musician Dan O’Rawe aka F.R.U.I.T.Y proudly discusses the importance of inclusivity in the GAA Illustration by Isabella Koban Whether it’s watching it or playing it, sport might not be for everybody but there are few places I can think of where a category of sport can divide people like it does in Northern Ireland. Gaelic sports have been played in Ireland for hundreds of years, with the GAA having been founded in 1884, yet some individuals seem to utilise this sport as a cultural battering ram.In recents times in Belfast, there have been security threats to schools, flags torn…

  • Sound of Belfast 2021 Programme Launched

    The programme for this year’s Sound of Belfast has been announced. Returning both live and online for 14 days across 4-18th November, this year’s outing will see 50 events take over 11 venues across the city. Organised by the Oh Yeah Music Centre as a means to turn up the spotlight on the city’s world-class talent, highlights from this year’s programme include Bicep at the Telegraph Building, new night No Photos featuring Marion Hawkes and more, Kneecap, Bangers N’ Mashups live with Mob Wife, F.R.U.I.T.Y., Sasha Samara and more. Go here to check out the full programme and to buy…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – August 6th

    It’s time to take another deep-dive into a Bandcamp Friday and beyond with some phenomenal releases across the board, including big album, and EP announcements and releases from the likes of Arvo Party, F.R.U.I.T.Y., Sorbet, Hannah Peel, Alpha Chrome Yayo, smallmint, God Knows and beyond. Arvo Party – Cyclism Corpus I by Arvo Party F.R.U.I.T.Y. – F.R.U.I.T.Y. EP FRUITY by F.R.U.I.T.Y. Lukewarmdaily96 – Poison Apple Sorbet – Born Purple Let’s Set Sail – Toledo God Knows – Glory [feat. Senita] Teishi-1 – The Outlander EP The Outlander by Teishi-1 Hannah Peel – Unheard Delia EP 1000 Beasts x Toucan – Sugar High…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – July 16th

    Here are the very best Irish tracks of the week, featuring Caoilean Sherlock, Tebi Rex, Cherym, KK Lewis, Pretty Happy, Laytha and more. Caoilean Sherlock – Dream About The Night Dream About The Night by Caoilian Sherlock Cherym – We’re Just Friends Tebi Rex – Deadman II F.R.U.I.T.Y. – U.P.S. U.P.S by F.R.U.I.T.Y. Pretty Happy – Sudocream Tung In Cheek – Psychonaut KK Lewis – Petals Lonesome George – The Lying Devil Laytha – What Will I Gain Odd Morris – The Once Was Enough The Zang – Where Do You Go? The Crayon Set – Rock Star // Dream…

  • Stream: F.R.U.I.T.Y. – U.P.S.

    Arriving on the Belfast scene like a bucket of pink paint into white, Dan O’Rawe, aka F.R.U.I.T.Y. brings a chameleonic, singular blend of woozy, lo-fi electronica, hip-hop and experimental pop, underscored by the ingrained localised perspective of a queer person in Northern Ireland. Following up on his contributions to Bangers N’ Breakups, a darkwave cover of ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’ and debut single ‘Not Quite Exceptional‘, new single ‘U.P.S.’ is the first single taken from F.R.U.I.T.Y.’s self-titled debut EP, out 5th August. It sees Tobacco & Eels-esque hazy, kaleidoscopic synth textures frame off-kilter, identity-exploring pop in the vein of Ezra Furman, Jazmin Bean…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – June 4th

    This week is one of extreme abundance across the board, with the first collaborative release from Joshua Burnside & Lemoncello’s Laura Quirke, SORBET’s debut album, Nerves, Skinner, Tuath, Hex Hue, Jake Wallace, Punching Peaches, Ciaran Lavery, Soda Blonde, VerseChorusVerse, Royal Yellow, and some cuts from a cover compilation to benefit No More Dysphoria including F.R.U.I.T.Y., Problem Patterns, Big Daisy and many more. Joshua Burnside & Laura Quirke – Taking The Wheel Laura Quirke & Joshua Burnside – Taking the Wheel by Joshua Burnside SORBET – This Was Paradise This Was Paradise by SORBET Nerves – Leigue Leigue by NERVES Tuath – That…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – November 20th

    As we creep steadily closer to the end of an… interesting year, things are still very much delivering on the Irish music front. Doubling up as twelve cases in point, here are the very best tracks from the island released this week. Myles Manley – Shiteshow Cometh the Softies by Myles Manley Ryan Vail & Ruth McGinley – Chrysalim Licehead – Perfect Death Forever Perfect Death Forever by Licehead Thumper – Topher Grace (Senu Remix) Dani Larkin – Samson & Goliath Meljoann – Trophy Wife F.R.U.I.T.Y. – Not Quite Exceptional Not Quite Exceptional by F.R.U.I.T.Y. Sal Dulu – B feat.…