• Premiere: Jake Wallace – Empyrean

    June 3, 2021 - By 

    As one-fifth of Belfast doom merchants Elder Druid, Jake Wallace knows a thing or two about the power of heft. Today, he offers a new vantage point to view his craft Taken from his debut solo EP, Lacuna – which is officially released via Black Tragick Records tomorrow – two-minute instrumental ‘Empyrean’ is a masterfully restrained effort that shines a light on the many hues of Wallace’s full-spectrum sound, Speaking about the EP, Wallace said, ‘The project came about as a result of lockdown and a few rainy afternoons in Belfast. I had never recorded any acoustic music at all, although I had…

  • Video Premiere: Skinner – Beer Me, Jim

    June 4, 2021 - By 

    Dublin musician and producer Aaron Corcoran aka Skinner has swiftly carved out a niche for himself in the Irish indie scene. Today, he underscores that promise with Gunge, a five-track EP melding slouching punk with a lo-fi jazz bent. A highlight is closer ‘Beer Me, Jim’. Written from the “perspective of a young Irish person in lieu of finding a path in a country facing high rents, growing social inequality and a future that is worse off than the generations that have come before,” it’s a sax-laced and decidedly earworming effort from the 23-year-old. Zoning in on the escapist ritualism…

  • Irish Tracks of The Week – May 28th

    May 28, 2021 - By 

    It’s safe to say it’s been another stacked week for world-beating Irish music. Here’s the very best of the lot, featuring Eimear Reidy & Natalia Beylis, Saint Sister, Tolü Makay, A. Smyth, Hazey Haze, Wyvern Lingo, NCW and more. Eimear Reidy & Natalia Beylis – Whose Woods These Are Whose Woods These Are by Eimear Reidy & Natalia Beylis Saint Sister – Manchester Air (Live) Tolü Makay – Aye A. Smyth – Tempt Hazey Haze – Thugger Vibes New Mud -Void Void by New Mud NCW – NCW On NCW NCW – NCW On NCW by Apartment Records Dani Larkin…

  • Watch: Colm Warren – Just Me

    May 28, 2021 - By 

    Belfast-based singer-songwriter Colm Warren has unveiled the video for his new single, ‘Just Me’. Directed by musician, videographer and filmmaker Matthew Killen, it’s a striking accompaniment to a song that delicately explores the solace that can be gained in one’s own company. Off the back of singles including ‘Choked’ and ‘Shame’, Warren – who is the former frontman of NI punk band The Twenty – further carves out a niche for himself as an artist wielding carefully considered songwriting with real candour. Have a first look below.

  • Premiere: Niall McDowell – Do You Think I’m Pretty?

    May 18, 2021 - By 

    In the summer of 2019, Belfast artist Niall McDowell marked his arrival via ‘Valentine’, a candid and homespun five-minute statement of intent. Following a string of equally promising releases including ‘You Have My Heart’, new single ‘Do You Think I’m Pretty?’ is a vivid snapshot of an artist swiftly on the rise. A self-proclaimed “chaotic ode to the moments within a relationship that are too specific to call out, in fear of seeming too much,” the song – his first song to be played with a full band – is a wonderfully wistful that bears the imprint of artists including…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – May 14

    May 14, 2021 - By 

    It’s been another stellar week for new releases in every corner of the island. Delve into the best of the lot, featuring Whozyerman?, Documenta, AILSHA, The Altered Hours, Dani Larkin and more. Whozyerman? – All The Time To Kill Documenta – Silverwood The Altered Hours – All Amnesia AILSHA – FBOY Dani Larkin – The Red (Maca’s Return) Carrie Baxter w/ Jack T Charles – I Wasn’t Looking For You All Tvvins – Something Special Four Nights – Not This Time Clare Sands, Steve Cooney & Tommy Sands – Abair Liom Do Rúin Scattered Ashes – Parallel Lines EP

  • Riding The Wave: An Interview with Æ MAK

    May 12, 2021 - By 

    Over the last few months, Dublin-based artist Aoife McCann aka Æ MAK has well & truly ramped up her perfectly unpredictable brand of future pop. Off the back of her class Class Exercises EP, and the euphoric visuals for ‘New Friend,’ Brian Coney talks to her about the cyclical nature of pop, winning the praises of Jamie XX, her upcoming debut album & more. Photo by Anastasia Metluka Hey Aoife. Congratulations on ‘New Friend’. For our money, it’s easily one of the Irish tracks of the years so far. How was the writing and recording of this track for you?…

  • Watch: The Altered Hours – All Amnesia

    May 12, 2021 - By 

    If you are in any way au fait with TTA, you’ll know our time for Cork psych heroes The Altered Hours is pretty much untold. Whether consistently pushing forward in the studio or killing it live, the band has been a vital presence in Irish music over the last few years. Indeed, if this Inbound piece from eight (!) years ago is anything to go by, we’ve been smitten with the band for a while now. Last month brought the news that the band are once more setting out their stall as stalwarts of the scene, both in Cork and further…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – May 7th

    May 7, 2021 - By 

    On this glorious Bandcamp no-fee Friday, here are the very best Irish tracks and releases of the week, including Arvo Party, Fears, Stella, Art of Algebra, Joshua Burnside, Cryan x Uladh, Hex Hue, Loner Deluxe, Exhalers, Bantam, Alpha Chrome Yayo, Jordan Nocturne and more. Arvo Party – Devotions IV Devotions IV by Arvo Party Stella – you are here Art of Algebra – The Next Super-CME Under A Different Light by Art of Algebra Conor McCafferty – Bizwoozi EP Bizwoozi EP by Conor McCafferty Robocobra Quartet – Live Tape 1 Live Tape #1 by Robocobra Quartet Hex Hue – Aquiver…

  • Premiere: Ódu – Men Like Me

    April 29, 2021 - By 

    Two years ago, Irish singer-songwriter Ódu marked her arrival with the sublime noir-pop of ‘The Feeling‘. Two years on, the Bray-based artist has returned with a track that fully underscores her promise as one of the country’s most distinctive pop propositions. Conjuring La Roux and inspired by the vulnerability of Mitski’s ‘Nobody’, it has Irish pop track of the summer all over it. In fact, if there’s any justice in the world, expect to hear this in Centras and bank queues up and down the country next month. Speaking about the track, she said, “I really wanted that style of rhythm guitar that…