• 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…

  • 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…

  • Watch: Documenta – Silverwood

    May 11, 2021 - By 

    Running until May 16th, this year’s NI Mental Health Arts Fest has brought together a programme of varied, vivid arts events that aim to create a platform for high-quality artwork that deals compassionately and intelligently with mental health. Among the highlights so far is new music from Belfast drone pop septet Documenta. Taken from the Joe Greene-fronted band’s forthcoming double LP, Drone Pop #3, ‘Silverwood’ captures the band’s craft at its most carefully woven. D eft and darkly in all the right places, the seven-minute track is accompanied with a stellar video by Belfast filmmaker, photographer and occasional TTA contributor Colm…

  • 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…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – April 30th

    April 30, 2021 - By 

    This week’s refreshingly eclectic releases include Loah’s incredible National Poetry Day release, Irish Refugee Council fundraising compilation European Endless – featuring Arvo Party, The Bonk, Fixity, Whozyerman? and more – Ghostking Is Dead, Soda Blonde, and many more. Loah – The Body to the Soul The Body to the Soul by Loah Ghostking is Dead – Biceps Biceps by Ghostking Is Dead Various Artists – European Endless European Endless: 12 by European Endless Bedrooms – Afterglow EP Afterglow by Bedrooms Ódú – Men Like Me Soda Blonde – In The Heat of the Night Small Talk by Soda Blonde Dani Larkin –…

  • Video Premiere: Pretty Happy – Sea Sea Sea

    April 22, 2021 - By 

    Just a couple of months on from their hugely successful ‘Salami’, Cork art-punk trio Pretty Happy are back with the video for new single ‘Sea Sea Sea’. While the dischordant rattles of NYC no-wave-inspired guitar drive things song along, tension is cranked between shrieked vocals of bassist Arann Blake – recalling Black Francis and David Byrne at their most effervescent – and a spoken word passage from guitarist/vocalist Abbey Blake. Positively owning its Irishness, ‘Sea Sea Sea’ is an at-times dadaist exploration of the nation’s chronic self-loathing and perpetual issues of queer identity and gender stereotyping. Its video – debuted in November’s Spilt Milk Festival – was…

  • Watch: Cat – Slipping (Acoustic)

    April 22, 2021 - By 

    Having featured countless Irish artists of every conceivable mode over the years, we feel we’re pretty on the ball when recognising when a new act is destined for seismic things in the future. Dublin alt-pop artist Cat is one of those artists. Released last month, her debut single ‘Slipping’ is a feat of subtlety and pure, melodic poise. Taking centre stage is an extraordinary voice that we can’t wait to hear more of. Speaking about her approach to songwriting, Cat said: “I want to normalise the right to being emotional and unapologetic in your art and represent anyone out there who has ever felt judged for doing…

  • Watch: piglet – mill

    April 21, 2021 - By 

    Belfast-raised, London-based songwriter & producer Charlie Loane emerged as a compelling voice fronting his past project, the DIY electronics duo Great Dad. Continuing to explore themes of queer/trans experience, further filtered through personal experience, the arrival of his debut solo EP as Piglet, alex’s birthday, last year revealed an artist fully forging their own path. Off the back of two collaborative tracks with Porridge Radio, which received coverage from Pitchfork among others in February, Loane returns today with their most emphatic single to date. Bridging woozy lo-fi solipsism in the vein (Sandy) Alex G with the swarming brass of Bowie circa Blackstar, it’s a triumphant, homespun…

  • Stream: The Altered Hours – All Amnesia

    April 21, 2021 - By 

    Over the last ten years, Cork’s The Altered Hours have repeatedly underscored their reputation as one of the country’s most singular bands. A force to be reckoned with live, and always a fiercely distinctive proposition in the studio, they have flown the flag for psych-leaning experimental rock here like no other. Last week, the Elaine Howley-fronted band announced their return with the news that they’ve signed with Dundalk imprint Pizza Pizza Records, home to Just Mustard, Larry and others. Having released via Art For Blind, Penske and A Recording over the years, it cues the next chapter in the band’s…