Off the back of his sublime debut album, Loner, Donegal alt-folk artist Declan McClafferty aka Ramper talks us through some of his all-time favourite songs – from Kate Bush and the Bothy Band, to Dylan, Villagers and beyond. Photo by Joe Doherty Bob Dylan – Girl From The North Country I think this was the first song that pulled me out of listening to music through the prism of what the guitars were doing. I got a bit obsessed with the simplicity of it – acoustic, vocal, harmonica. Dylan is like a big hole. If you get stuck in there…

Off the back of their stellar new single ‘Under The Moodlight,’ cult Dublin psych-pop duo Liam Mulvaney and John Butler aka Tigers of Tin Pan riff on some of their favourite tracks, featuring Cocteau Twins, Rollerskate Skinny, Sly & The Family Stone, The Association and more. Liam Mulvaney: Cocteau Twins – Heaven or Las Vegas Could be anything on that album, really. It’s like a warm rinse for the brain; musically unique, exotic and intoxicating. Oft copied: never bettered. Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower A threefer this one. Grade A Dylan lyrics, Hendrix at his most fluid and…

Fresh off the release of their debut EP This Is How I Sleep at Night via Blowtorch, rising Kildare’s quartet Blue Slate take us on a guided tour of their all-time favourite tracks—from Elliott Smith and Nine Inch Nails to Death Grips, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and beyond. James: The Brian Jonestown Massacre – The Devil May Care (Mom & Dad Don’t) It’s a sad song. Stripped back and raw. That’s probably why I like it so much. It evokes a strong sense of do it yourself – where all you need is a guitar and a microphone. But there’s…

This week’s Monday Mixtape comes courtesy of Cork maestro Cian Sweeney, the mind behind 1000 Beasts. Known for his collaborative ethos – bringing together a rotating cast of vocalists and musicians to craft genre-blurring electronic pop – Sweeney has racked up over 13 million streams, proving that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. With the release of his new single ‘Twin 47’ last Friday, it marks a first for 1000 Beasts – featuring his own (heavily manipulated) vocals and closing the chapter on last year’s Burning Flower project. Dive into his handpicked selections – from Men…

Ahead of the release of The World That I Knew – their highly anticipated new album featuring members of Lankum, John Francis Flynn, Junior Brother, Lemoncello and more – Dublin-based trad duo Lucie Azconaga and Consuelo Nerea Breschi, aka VARO, share the songs that have shaped them. From the hypnotic Les Filles de Illighadad to the rich textures of Lá Lugh and the old-time swagger of C.W. Stoneking, they explore the music that moves them. The World That I Knew is out on 9th May. Pre-order it here. The World that I knew – pre order – out on May…

In a special Imbolg edition of Monday Mixtape, featuring his reflections on tracks by the likes of Sinéad O’Connor, Domhan, Alice Coltrane, Mariee Sioux and more, Dublin psych-folk master Seán Mulrooney marks the festival’s cosmic turning point. Speaking about his selection, Mulrooney said: “As Monday marks the cosmological alignment of Imbolg, and we are in the time of Bríd, the Goddess of poetry, art, fire, and water, I thought I would dedicate it to some of my favourite female artists.” Mulrooney’s highly-anticipated debut solo album This Is My Prayer is set for release on Friday 14th February 2025. Domhan –…

Aaron Corcoran, aka Skinner, kicks off the first Monday Mixtape of the year with favourites from The Fall, Problem Patterns, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Leonard Cohen, Beat Happening and beyond. Beat Happening – Bad Seeds One of the best bands of all time Beat Happening still encourage me not to take music too seriously and just have fun. Everything to do with K records is really carefree and what the true essence of music is all about. Calvin Johnson’s baritone vocals and the stark space created between the drums and surf guitar with no bass is so striking. This song always…