• Mixtape Preview: 30th Century Man @ Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast

    June 11, 2019 - By 

    Some things just bear repeating: between Aretha, Bowie, Leonard Cohen and Prince, popular music has lost some towering and boundlessly influential figures in recent years. In March, perhaps the most inimitable of them all passed on, leaving behind a legacy that, above all else, remained impervious to second-guessing. Over six decades, Scott Walker emerged as an auteur effortlessly wielded progression, enigma, and subtlety like no other. From fronting L.A. pop trio The Walker Brothers in the 1960s right up until his sublime score for Brady Corbet’s Vox Lux last year, he steadfastly broke new ground, contorted boundaries and followed one of most remarkable trajectories in popular music.…

  • Mixtape Preview: Bad Reputation @ Oh Yeah Music Centre

    May 31, 2019 - By 

    “A girl can do what she wants to do, and that’s what I’m gonna do.” Not least looking back, these words from Joan Jett’s debut solo single ‘Bad Reputation’ feels something of a mantra for the legendary L.A. musician. Jett — who was born Joan Marie Larkin in Philadelphia in 1958 — has spent the best part of five decades underscoring one indubitable fact: in a male-dominated, prejudice-heavy industry, she stands tall as a feminist rock pioneer whose influence, defiance and autonomy have coalesced to help pave the way for countless other musicians. As Joan Jett saw it, and saw…

  • Naive Ted drops fierce new Magazines mixtape: Stream

    July 9, 2018 - By 

    Naive Ted is nothing if not one of Ireland’s most prolific and criminally underrated artists. Last year, for example, we were blown away by the Limerick-based scratch master and frenetic, experimental hip hop producer’s MuRli featuring The Minute Particulars // Episode I – The death of my trust is sincerely yours album and its subsequent instalments. Now, the masked producer has returned with yet another mixtape. This time, available for free via Soundcloud. It’s, as expected, absolutely buck wild. Wielding a sort of hectic poeticism throughout, Ted’s frenetic beats, sampling and machine bashing make for a chaotic but constantly exhilarating listen. You can also download the release…

  • Preview & Festival Mixtape: Le Guess Who? 2017

    October 25, 2017 - By 

    Laying comfortably in the shadow of Amsterdam is the chilled-out university town of Utrecht, where the red light district is gladly a distant memory, and typically Dutch architecture and culture are in great supply. While this particularly from of citywide festival can be tough to pull off, Le Guess Who? has developed and diversified every year, offering something for everyone. A holiday-planner’s dream, it boasts the artistic ambition with none of the associated pretentiousness. Many of the performances take place in the impressive TivoliVredenburg or multitude of other venues within walking distance. Most music starts after 5pm, offering the chance to visit the Rietveld Schröder House, tour the…

  • Playlist: 20 Acts To Catch at Electric Picnic 2017

    July 24, 2017 - By 

    For all its kaleidoscopic, genre-spanning variety, there’s no denying choosing which acts to catch (and those artists to regrettably miss) at Electric Picnic can be a bit of a headache. Sure, Clashfinder is a big help (seriously, we’d be lost without it) but let us help you out if you’re EP-bound this weekend: from Interpol, Chaka Khan and Parquet Courts to Run The Jewels (above), Soulwax and Car Seat Headrest, here’s 20 acts to catch at this year’s Electric Picnic, returning to Stradbally Estate across September 1-3

  • Stream: Rejjie Snow – Purple Tuesday (feat. Joey Bada$$ & Jesse Boykins III)

    May 9, 2017 - By 

    Rejjie Snow has released the first track off of his forthcoming free mixtape The Moon & You, set for release May 18.  ‘Purple Tuesday’ is a subtly jazzy cut of laid back G-Funk featuring a verse from Joey Bada$$ and a soulful refrain Jesse Boykins III. The track follows from a sold-out homecoming show in Dublin last month as part of his UK and Ireland tour as well as the overcast homage to the capital that was the excellent video for ‘Flexin’. Speaking of The Moon & You to The Fader he has explained that, more so than a mixtape, the release will be “. .…

  • Mixtape: 30 Years of Dinosaur Jr.

    December 7, 2015 - By 

    Currently celebrating their grand 30th anniversary with a seven-night run at the Bowery, Dinosaur Jr. have long laid claim to being bona fide indie rock dignitaries. From their 1985 self-titled debut as Dinosaur and almighty 87-89 heyday to Lou Barlow’s acrimonious departure shortly thereafter and the founding threesome of Barlow, J Mascis and Murph’s Second Coming in 2007, they have time and again re-asserted their peerless status. With every glorious hook, “Come on down/over” and fuzzed out, wailing guitar solo in mind, we’ve compiled a thirty-track Spotify playlist of our very favourite Dinosaur Jr. songs in chronological order. Check it out and keep up…

  • AAA: Turning Pirate Mixtape @ Spiegeltent, Dublin

    September 16, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of AAA, our photographer Tara Thomas goes behind the scenes at the Spiegeltent in Dublin for the Turning Pirate Mixtape gig featuring Richie Egan from Jape, Niamh from Ham Sandwich, Wallis Bird, The Young Folk, Gavin Glass, Anderson and many more. Check out our gallery below for a comprehensive overview of the night.

  • Midweek Mixtape: This Time Ten Years Ago

    July 22, 2015 - By 

    Ahh… 2005. There was something so visceral and pure about the music that we’ll be damned if there’s ever been a stronger year for indie twee pop music ever since. Where the hell have Jens Lekman, Doves and Broken Social Scene gone to? The latter being such gargantuan heavyweights constantly jostling for indie superiority against Arcade Fire. And don’t you dare get us started on Scout Niblett! It was the year of the fey fringe and foppish cardigan combo, when having a beard made you the odd man out since Conor Oberst was the ultimate indie boy de jour. Everyone you met in the smoking area…

  • Monday Mixtape: Doug Martsch (Built to Spill)

    May 4, 2015 - By 

    This week’s Monday Mixtape is brought to you from none other than Doug Martsch, who is a big hero to us here at The Thin Air. Doug is the frontman of Built To Spill and they’ve just released their latest album Untethered Moon. Check out some of his favourite tunes below. Slam Dunk – Dying Breed These guys are from Canada. I think they’re on tour with The Arcades of Fire now.   The Warm Hair – Tell Me What I’m Living For, If I Don’t Want To Live Anymore Sometimes I think The Freebird is talking about me in…