• Monday Mixtape: Glass Wings

    September 2, 2018 - By 

    Ahead of its release in October Belfast-based singer-songwriter Stephen Jones AKA Glass Wings reveals the artists and tracks that made an imprint on his forthcoming debut album, Everything and Nothing. I’m under no obligation to be cool in these choices right? Sit back and relax as I take you on a tour of some of the greatest melodicists who inspired me in the making of this album. Hiatus Kaiyote – By Fire I’m always a little suspect of people who say they have a favourite band. But if pressed, Hiatus Kaiyote might have it for me. I’ve been lucky enough…

  • Monday Mixtape: Athens of the North

    May 21, 2018 - By 

    Athens of the North is a mighty reissue label that specialises in rare soul, funk, disco, Brazilian and boogie. Their releases consistently charm and surprise us at The Thin Air, and we love how they make sense on modern dancefloors. For this edition of Monday Mixtape, Gareth Sommerville from the label selects a few things you might hear this Friday 25 May, when he and his pal Lel Palfrey DJ at Bullitt’s sunny courtyard. Get to know. Ethel Beatty ‘I Know You Care’ Arranged and produced by the genius that is Roy Ayers. This is a great early doors tune/scene…

  • Monday Mixtape: Jeffrey Lewis

    April 30, 2018 - By 

    Ahead of a solo acoustic Irish tour from May 5-11 (full details here) New York musician and illustrator Jeffrey Lewis selects some of his all-time favourite tracks, including The Fall, Focus and Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers. Ish Marquez – Gin is Not My Friend Ish Marquez, best underground soul singer from the Bronx streets! Sam Cooke meets Kurt Cobain on NYC subway at 3am in 1976 and they make up songs till dawn and sing to the sunrise on a tenement rooftop until the cops shut them down, and it just might sound like Ish Marquez. I used…

  • Monday Mixtape: The Hot Sprockets

    April 9, 2018 - By 

    We asked Dublin indie-soul maestros The Hot Sprockets to share some tunes that inspired them during the making and recording of their latest album ‘Dream Mover’ which was released last week. As a band lately, we’ve really opened our horizons as to where we can go as musicians these batch of songs and artists had a huge influence on our sound and mindset for Dream Mover. Some are direct production references and others for their stylistic and instrumental approach. Enjoy! DREAM MOVER by The Hot Sprockets

  • Monday Mixtape: Rian Trench

    February 26, 2018 - By 

    In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, Dublin-based musician and producer Rian Trench reveals some of his favourite tracks. These are songs which, in his words, reflects his tendency to listen to music either on the aggressive or the subdued side of the fence. Photo by SCAN Current Value – Running German D&B legend. The first track from his 2008 EP – “Revealing the Concealed”. All four tracks on this play out like variations on the same idea, but this is somehow the most distilled. “Fear” is a close second. Scratches an itch I didn’t know I had. Brutal genius. Kyle…

  • Monday Mixtape: Joshua Burnside

    September 4, 2017 - By 

    Having come good on years of promise with his long-awaited debut album, Ephrata, back in May, Comber experimental folk musician Joshua Burnside reveals a selection of his all-time favourite tracks, including Luke Kelly, The Microphones, Sam Amidon, The Books. The Microphones – I Want The Wind To Blow I love the production on this track – the way the guitars are panned, the heavy compression, the distant drums, and how Phil Elverum holds some words for so long that they become sort of suspended in time. The Books – Free Translator This is a great track by The Books and it’s interesting…

  • Monday Mixtape: Alana Henderson

    January 16, 2017 - By 

    In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, fast-rising, Belfast-based cellist and songwriter Alana Henderson selects some of her all-time favourite songs from the likes of Nick Drake, Crooked Still and Ani DiFranco. Ane Brun – Big in Japan I love her reworking of this 80s hit. Her voice is so pure, it gives me chills. Nick Drake – Cello Song Had me at ‘cello’, but there’s more to it than just that. I don’t think anyone can match Nick Drake for gorgeous melancholy. The intimacy of the lyrics in ‘Cello Song’ is what really floors me. Arthur Russell – Wild Combination Arthur Russell,…

  • Monday Mixtape: Ruadhan O’Meara (Magic Pockets, No Spill Blood)

    November 28, 2016 - By 

    In the latest instalment of Monday Mixtape, Ruadhan O’Meara of Dublin’s Magic Pockets and No Spill Blood handpicks ten “extremely smelly synth/prog moments”, including Hawkwind and Harald Grosskoph. Magic Pockets launch their debut album, Volcano of the Bleeding Skies, at Tivoli Backstage in Dublin on Friday night (December 2). Hawkwind –  The Forge of Vulcan A hidden gem from Quark, Strangeness and Charm”. Basically it’s just Simon House, thumping an Anvil over a busy sequence and organ progression. Totally badass. Bobby Beausoleil – Lucifer Rising Part II From the soundtrack to Kenneth Anger’s film. He was in the Manson family, and…

  • Monday Mixtape: White Collar Boy

    November 21, 2016 - By 

    One of our all-time favourite Irish acts, Dublin electronic-garage group White Collar Boy have emerged from hibernation with a new, four-track EP, Priory Hall, which is set for release via This Greedy Pig on Friday. So we thought: what better time to pry into Mark Cummins from the duo’s current favourite tracks? Featuring the likes of Denis Sultra, Stimming, Neil Flynn and more, delve into that and stream a preview of Priory Hall. Priory Hall is launched at Dublin’s Wah Wah Club on Friday, December 2. Denis Sultra – It’s Only Real https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= Tim Sweeney finished off a recent Beats in Space…

  • Monday Mixtape: Jack O’Rourke

    November 14, 2016 - By 

    In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, Cork artist Jack O’Rourke guides us through some of his all-time favourite songs, including Iggy Pop, O Emperor, Beach House and Randy Newman. O’Rourke plays Mike The Pies in Listowel, Kerry and Belfast’s Duncairn Arts Centre on Thursday and Friday respectively. O Emperor – Po Everything O Emperor have put out is fucking incredible. They are edgy and push the boundaries sonically but there’s so many melodic hooks and genuine musicianship, so you’re never left thinking, is this Emperor’s new clothes? Inventive melodies and the sentiment about running from The Man with the trippiest video makes it compulsive…