Irish DJ and producer Phare has teamed up with AE Mak to release a remix of their recent single ‘I Walk’.
The track combines the already surreal sound design of the original track with a house-infused transcendental instrumental, complete with glittering high-hats and some superb cut up vocal samples. Think Röyksopp meets remix artists like Pogo and Pyschemagik.
AE Mak have become known for their energetic live performances that incorporate visuals and dance, mediums that enhance their bright style of music. ‘Glow’ is influenced by the emotions that surround arguing with those close to you and embodies a powerful energy with emotive synths, tribal beats and soul-stirring vocals from Aoife McCann. – This is the band’s first release since the departure of Ellie McMahon and it’s a dynamic return.
2.
Fontaines D.C – Chequeless Reckless
Fontaines D.C are a band that reflect Dublin city in all its glory and defects through their own unique essence of rock and roll. ‘Chequeless Reckless’ is the first release from their forthcoming double A-side, a lyrically-focused and melodically infectious two-minute track with an underlining pensive mood.
The video was shot by JustGrayce ( that’s me) and edited by Conor Dockery.
3.
Loah – Unveiled
Irish Sierra Leonean singer Sallay Matu Garnett or Loah categorises music as ‘ArtSoul’ which is certainly an accurate description for latest release ‘Unveiled’, as a follow up from her last track ‘Nothing’ this track sees Loah in a much more stripped back setting that shows off her hauntingly beautiful vocals accompanied by soothing acoustic guitar.
The video for Unveiled furthermore enhances the beauty of the track and is by Ellius Grace.
4.
Laoise – Bother
Galway electronic pop artist Laoise’s follow up to ‘Rich’ is a much more upbeat pop track with dance elements that continues to show off her strong vocal abilities. It was produced by Chris Bubenzer of Diffusion Lab.
5.
Old Hannah – Follow
‘Follow’ is the first single from Sligo group Old Hannah’s debut album Borealis which will be released later this year. The track shares a new sound for the band as they take a step away from their folk roots into an upbeat, catchy and harmonious flow.The single launch takes place on Thursday March 15th at The Grand Social. Tickets priced at €10+ are available from Eventbrite.ie.
6.
Brién – Heaven
Multi-instrumentalist Brién’s ‘Heaven’ is the second release from his EP entitled Tandem released on Soft Boy Records. The track has an early Mount Kimbie sound with atmospheric visuals in the video filmed and directed by Clodagh Farrelly.
7.
EOMAC – Resist All Dogma
Dublin-based electronic producer Ian Eomac or EOMAC (one half of Lakker) latest track is from his album Reconnect which will be rreleasedon March 9th. It was mastered and cut by Helmut Erler at Dubplates & Mastering and will be available for purchase on vinyl on Rubadub.co.uk. Disclaimer – this track is not for sensitive ears.
For their new single ‘I Walk’, Æ MAK sound at their most creative on a song about “self-belief and determination,” and the duo worked with photographer Ellius Grace and set designer Ciara O’Donovan to create the cover photo for the single and a video to come.
‘I Walk’ is about feeling alone as we walk our own path in life towards our hopes and dreams, battling between individuality and conformity. The picture presents a group of women displayed as ornaments, placed decoratively in a set. From the onset they appear similar in a white uniform wearing blue masks but their uniformity highlights their differences. They may find comfort in unity but their strength lies within their individuality.
Æ MAK will play an Irish tour including dates at The Chestnut, Birr (22 April); The Sugar Club, Dublin (27 April); The Mac, Belfast (13 May); and Róisin Dubh, Galway (24 May).
Yesterday, I revealed the full lineup of acts for the church at Other Voices, now here’s the full music trail list of acts, which are the events that are free and open to the public throughout the day and after the main gigs.
The previously announced artists are below. New are:
AE MAK
Ailbhe Reddy
Barq
Bernie Pháid
Brass Phantoms
Daoirí Farrell
exmagician
For Foresters
Hoodman Blind
Ivy Nations
Jafaris
Malojian
Meltybrains?
Michele Stodart (The Magic Numbers)
Moon Looks On
New Jackson
Nialler9 DJ set
Óg
Phil Kieran
Planet Parade
Rosie Carney
Search Party Animal
Ships
Síle Denvir
Slow Riot
Stephen James Smith
Susie Blue
Swords
The Fontaines
Thumper
Ultan Conlan
We Were Giants
+ Special guests
Yes, that’s a lot and it adds to the existing acts below. All Free. I’ll be DJing on the Friday night after the main event.
The song’s exuberant pop harmony and rhythm stand out as much for their sound (influenced as they are by Merrill Garbus’ Tune-Yards and jazz singer Anita O’Day) as their theatrical performance style.
McCann and McMahon’s debut 3-track EP establishes those touchstones as their foundations. ‘I Can Feel It In My Bones’ kicks things off on the right path, ‘Sing Hey Love’ is positive pop that takes its lifeforce from the two singers’ alchemic tones and its simple construction of bassline and percussion while ‘Celestial’ and its snaking rhythm and childlike vocal lines shake off with delight.
Æ MAK’s music can be a bright light in a world that feels increasingly dark.
The brilliant new Dublin duo Aoife McCann and Ellie McMahon aka Æ MAK are influenced by tUnE-yArDs and Anita O’Day and perform with an emphasis on rhythmic vocal lines and harmonies.
The joyous ‘I Can Feel It In My Bones’ is their calling card, an exuberant call indeed, and here, for their first proper single release for the track, the pair are joined by dancers for this heartening dance video, directed by Graham Patterson and choreographed by Ryan O’Neill.
The song is from Æ MAK’s upcoming debut EP due in November. Catch the girls live in Dublin:
Æ MAK gig dates
October 27th: The OB’ Live’s Repeal IT gig @ FOAM Cafe November 11th: “Some Kind of Gathering” alongside Beach, Spudgun and Wastefellow @ The Sugar Club December 15th: The 5 Band Bash Xmas Party @ The Academy
On Saturday April 16th, I am putting on a gig as part of Musictown, the festival celebrating music talent and culture in the capital of all genres by Dublin City Council.
It’ll be a part of the Minimum Maximum series of special events in unique spaces and it will take place in the Dublin Food Co-Op in Newmarket Square, Dublin 8 (previous places have included Monster Truck Gallery, Block T and Wood Quay Amphitheatre).
On the night, there will be a lineup Irish emerging talent and established artists featuring:
Following his nationwide solo tour that included a sold out Whelan’s date, David Kitt will be playing songs from his revered albums past along with new ones from his forthcoming seventh album due this year. Patrick O’Laoghaire’s piano-based missives under the I Have A Tribe name brim with emotion, honesty and storytelling. New duo AE Mak, Aoife McCann and Ellie McMahon are influenced by tUnE-yArDs and Anita O’Day and perform with an emphasis on rhythmic vocal lines and harmonies. More artists to be confirmed.
The event is BYOB. Early bird tickets are sold out but late birds are on sale now priced at €20+.
Homebeat’s very tiny festival in Cahirdaniel, Co. Kerry, Fading Light is back at the end of October from the 23rd to the 26th and will feature music from:
Conor Walsh, Margie Lewis, Lasertom (DJ set), Wounded Healer, AE Mak, Anna Mieke Bishop and Colour Canyon.
The whole thing is like a house party/retreat but there’s also talks called Fred Talks, Righteous Verse spoken word, cycling, surfing, yoga and film screenings.
