Artist: daithi

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10 Irish acts to see @ Electric Picnic this weekend

Being the enormous Irish musical institution that it is, Electric Picnic plays host to the single largest gathering of Irish artists every year. These acts come from across the entirety of the spectrum, in terms of genre, style and recognition. Navigating your way through all the names can be a bit daunting, especially with so many new faces on this year’s lineup and the harrowing prospect of picking priorities among the international acts. As such, we wanted to present 10 Irish acts who get the Nialler9 recommendation. Dig in.

More from EP?
Nialler9 EP DJ mix.
10 new acts to see.
10 Irish acts to see
Experiences to have in Stradbally.

Just a note: there are plenty of acts we chose not to feature below as we have covered them extensively in the past and are ones that we would expect you to know if you’re paying attention to the Irish music scene like Fontaines D.C., Mango x Mathman, Le Boom, AE Mak, David Keenan, The Murder Capital, Sorcha Richardson, Katie Laffan, Paddy Hanna and so on. Consider that list a recommendation. This is a selection of just ten from a very healthy crop.

1.

Elaine Mai

Elaine Mai’s vibrant and melodic electronic music marks her out as one of the standout Irish acts to catch at this year’s Electric Picnic. Her 2017 The Colour Of The Night EP was one of the strongest Irish short-form releases of that year. Focusing on crafting layered instrumentals, Mai’s tracks tend to build toward a centre point in which the dynamics and harmony reach an equilibrium state. Often favoured in the artist’s sound palette are lush string sounds, tinged with the suggestion of heartbreak in the otherwise ecstatic mix.

For all this layering Mai’s music never lacks in dimensional depth, be that sonically or artistically. Repeated listens offer something new to attentive ears. Playing at the Trailer Park, Mai’s set will be a fantastic opportunity to bust a move at one of EP’s most renowned stages.

2.

Kojaque

Softboy Records founder and rapper Kojaque is headlining the Other Voice stage on Saturday night and if the thought of hearing tracks like ‘Last Pint’ and ‘Date Night’ to a rowdy crowd in that tiny tent doesn’t get your heart pumping then maybe you should sit this one out.

Irish hip-hop’s golden boy has a stellar reputation for bringing a physicality and a considered intensity to his live performances. Blending live instrumentation with the typical DJ/MC combination, Kojaque’s Saturday night set has the potential to be something much more than the sum of its parts.

3.

Junior Brother

Ronan Kealy, performing under the name Junior Brother, writes and performs visceral folky takes on the nuances of country life. His most recent release, ‘Hungover At Mass’ is a hybrid of comedy and tragedy and an excellent reminder of how closely related the two are.

Accompanied only by his acoustic guitar and a tambourine, there’s something revitalising in the sharp twang of Junior Brother’s strong accent. His lyrics too embody the old romantic ideal of the Irish storyteller, only with the subject matter hijacked to suit the observations of a writer who suffers no fools pretensions.

4.

Daithí

Looking at the lineup for the Body&Soul main stage the keen eye is drawn toward Daithí’s Sunday late-night headline set. Fresh from the release of his ‘Take The Wheel’ doubling single release, the artists’ best material to date, it’s easy to imagine his performance will draw crowds from tired but eager music fans of all descriptions from across the country, especially as it’s a show that has been recalibrated with a full live band, vocals from Sinead White and other regular collaborators.

Everyone knows the B&S area is the place to be on the Sunday night, to be there celebrating some of the best music the country has to offer is the sort of potential golden moment only a festival like Electric Picnic can provide. Be there.

5.

FYNCH

Signed to District’s label, FYNCH is a Dublin-based hip-hop artist with a distinct underground flavouring. His 2018 MIXVAPE project showcases a lyrical artist with an ear for cadence and a mind filled with idiosyncratic bon-mots. From an instrumental perspective FYNCH’s work is based on a underground lo-fi vibe, full of murky drum loops and wet piano sounds.

Playing the Play The Picnic stage, his performance is bound to offer a slightly more three dimensional alternative to the litany of guitar bands laying siege to that stage over the weekend.

6.

Beauty Sleep

Belfast natives Beauty Sleep bring their dreamy brand of pop music to Stradbally this weekend. The trio formed over a couple of G&T’s at a house party and still retain a party positivity in their music to this day. Check out ‘The Feeling Back’ and try not to smile. The trio share an easy vocal chemistry, with the fluorescent hook dancing over the upbeat guitar stabs. It’s all a bit glittery and that’s exactly what you need when it drops below three degrees and you can’t feel your legs anymore.

7.

SPICEBAG

SPICEBAG know how to throw . a party. An LGBTQ+ collective that throw nights featuring queer performances and a whole a lot of dancing. Expect drag, spoken word, visual art and to have a whopper time. Everybody loves a good party. Spicebag happens in the Body&Soul area this Saturday night from 10:30pm as part of Fat Puppy, stay tuned for exact times.

8.

Happy Alone

Definitely, one of the most unique sounds finding itself on our list, Happy Alone’s idiosyncratic alternative pop sound is both memorable and expressive. Their track ‘Bodybags’ is punchy and ambitious, channelling a serious trip-hop vibe. The trio certainly has an air of strangeness around them, crediting themselves as Baxter Robot, Slee and Paperclip on social media. Thankfully the music backs up the image with plenty of substance.

Baxter Robot’s vocal performances are airy and evocative, usually accompanied with a healthy dose of auto-tune and reverb. With plenty of welly courtesy of some well-programmed drums and a collective penchant for heavy bass sounds, Happy Alone’s set is one to keep an eye out for.

9.

The Girl Talk

Playing the Play The Picnic stage are Dublin-based indie-rock quartet The Girl Talk. Their most recent single ‘When I Know’ is proof that reinventing the wheel doesn’t always have to be the end goal of every new band’s early material. The track takes elements from dream pop, indie rock and post-punk and combines them together cleverly.

The Girl Talk get all the basics right, smart songwriting and effective hooks, more than most new bands do. Experimentation and evolution will come naturally in time, for now, be excited to go see four talented musicians and songwriters perform in such an intimate setting.

10.

No Place Like Drone

No Place Like Drone curate and perform collections of ambient music ranging from the classic 90s sound to a more modern soundscape. For those of you who’ll be looking to take a break from the more manic installations on offer this weekend in Stradbally, this will be the perfect event for you. Expect heady and intricate sounds layered atop one another in the evening dusk. Take a moment to stop singing the melody from ‘Neutron Dance’ and allow your mind to to wander, courtesy of No Place Like Drone.

Posted on August 28th, 2018

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Watch: Video for Daithí ‘s ‘In My Darkest Moments’ takes a brutal look at male loneliness

It’s no secret that we were huge fans of Daithí’s recent double single release. Both ‘Take The Wheel’ and ‘In My Darkest Moments’ are superb tracks, surely the artist’s best work to date.

Now, we’ve been treated to a video for ‘In My Darkest Moments’, the track which features The Sei.

The video is overwhelmingly sad. Focusing on the theme of male loneliness and set in a seemingly bleak country town. Directed by Lochlainn McKenna, the narrative is centred around two friends who are both individually struggling with isolation.

Due to some fantastic cinematography and editing, it’s heartbreaking to see how both the friends can seem most on their own when they’re together.

Shot in north county Clare, there’s plenty of breathtaking shots throughout the video. However, in the context of the narrative, the Atlantic landscape comes across as brutal and barren.

A truly powerful bit of audiovisual art. Check it out.

Posted on August 16th, 2018

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The 25 best songs of the last month

My favourite songs of the past month – all in one place.

Listen on Spotify

1.

Lizzo

Boys

Lizzo is a Minneapolis-based Detroit artist who has been hovering around my periphal vision ever since she debuted with the 2013 song ‘Batches & Cookies’, a beat rap anthem that outdid the attitude of an Azealia Banks record by imbuing the production with a sense of fun rather than cool. Since then, Lizzo has been on a slow ascendance, releasing a couple of albums, an EP on a major Atlantic and touring with Haim most recently. That sense of adventure has remained in her work, and it comes to the fore on her new single ‘Boys’, a track that does what few dare and even fewer succeed with, channel Prince.

2.

Parquet Courts

Wide Awake (Danny Krivit remix)

Danger Mouse is at the controls for Parquet Court’s newest album Wide Awake! and has given the band a sharpness that wasn’t obvious on previous releases. The title song is a surprising twist for the band into punk-funk and has since been remixed for the dancefloor by vintage NYC DJ Danny Krivit.

3.

Roisin Murphy

Plaything

Roisin Murphy further cements her position as one of the country’s leading musical talents with ‘Plaything’. The track is an 80s inspired synth-pop tune. Something about the slightly manic refrain offers so much replayability. The track comes from Plaything/Like double single released by the artist earlier last month. Despite what the artist saw as an underwhelming reception, the track is absolutely superb and well worth your listening attention.

4.

Daithi

Take The Wheel

Daithí’s evolution as an artist over the past 5 years has been prolific to say the least. Every release from the producer has felt like the next stage in a journey, beginning with the likes of tracks like ‘Case Closed’ in 2013. Since then, audiences have been lucky enough to bear witness to one of the most creative voices in contemporary dance music expand and develop.

With the release of this brand new double A-side single, ‘Take The Wheel’ & ‘In My Darkest Moments’, it feels as if Daithí has hit a milestone moment in his career. Both tracks showcase the artist’s skill as both a composer and producer. The brooding ‘Take The Wheel’, which features Paul Noonan of Bell X1, uses swirling synthscapes to map the lyrical content of the track. It’s dance music, but instead of pandering to established formulas, the beat is subservient to the words.

5.

Mr. Twin Sister

Echo Arms

Time now for some ultra slick synth pop courtesy of Mr.Twin Sister. ‘Echo Arms’ channels all the best elements of 80s synth pop and classic late 70s funk ala George Benson. Complete with a fantastic wah wah guitar solo and some fantastic gliding synth lines, ‘Echo Arms’ is an absolute summer anthem.

6.

Phantastic Ferniture

Bad Timing

Phantastic Ferniture’s debut album has gone down an absolute treat among indie fans across the world, with good reason too. Julia Jacklin’s lyricism and vocal performances throughout the release seem intrinsically tapped into the live wire. At times cutting and at others reassuring, the lyrical content and subject matter throughout Phantastic Ferniture are always evocative. ‘Bad Timing’ is among the best on the album, a woozy indie rock number, check it out.

7.

AE Mak

Love Flush

Electronic pop outfit AE Mak have released their second single of the year, not including Phare’s remix of ‘I Walk’. ‘Love Flush’ is absolutely superb. The entire track has an infectious sense of self-belief, seemingly detailing the choice to pursue your own ambitions over a romantic interest. The opening refrain of “I’m all I need” establishes the theme of self-determination which dominates the song straight away.

Songwriter Aoife McCann has here teamed up with producer Daniel McIntyre (of Lullahush) to provide a pulsating instrumental, one which bolsters the powerful message behind the lyrics. It’s catchy, clever and an altogether fantastic art-pop song.

8.

The Internet

La Di Da

The Internet’s fourth full studio release Hive Mind is their best work to date. It’s totally refreshing to hear the group finally live up to the potential their previous releases had shown flashes of. Lead singer Syd’s vocal performances feel confident and comfortable and their instrumentals feel focused and fleshed out. ‘La Di Da’ is the kind of laid-back funk number the group have historically excelled at. Late night brain food.

9.

Dorian Concept

Promises

Austrian Oliver Thomas Johnson’s second DC album was a Nialler9 favourite. It’s been four years but the sound of that album is unique enough to be revisited with its warped analogue synths, Wurlitzer piano and exuberant runs bright of melodies. Johnson brings most of that back plus a sense of dizzy sonic adventure that brings some freshness to the table. See also, ‘J Buyers’.

10.

Reykjavíkurdætur

Ekkert Drama

Reykjavíkurdætur, the all-female rap collective from Iceland who slay every stage they step up on, including recently at Body&Soul Festival, have released a new song ‘Ekkert Drama’ which means ‘No Drama’. It was a song that stood out live at B&S as it had an electro-rap swing to it and a memorable hook. It features fellow Icelander Svala. What are they singing about? We don’t know for sure but it’s a too much fun to care.

11.

Saint Sister

You Never Call

‘You Never Call’ is a slow burner. Opening with subdued piano chords and a softly sung vocal harmony. The track then evolves and expands. With a stunning chorus that pits the group’s singing against the boom of the drums. Much like on ‘Twin Peaks’, the single which preceded this one, the group seems to have incorporated elements of electronic production across the board. The sprinkling of programmed drum sounds throughout gives the song a richness of texture. The result is a superb single which offers plenty of hope as to what the album will sound like. Most will be awaiting the release of Shape Of Silence with baited breath.

12.

Blood Orange

Charcoal Baby

Devonté Hynes has long been one of the most unique voices in modern music. His work under the moniker of Blood Orange has shifted and altered tone and genre wildly throughout the years. His latest single ‘Charcoal Baby’ plays like a homage to the sex-fuelled funk championed by artists like Prince with a personal and political message. Jangly guitars shimmer atop the ultra-tight bassline. Hynes’ vocal delivery is impassioned and powerful.

13.

Maggie Rogers

Give A Little

Maggie Roger’s ‘Give A Little’ is cleverly assembled pop tune. The artist has clearly been working on her songwriting and production skills in the run-up to her new studio release. There’s definitely an 80s vibe in there and the chorus wouldn’t sound out of place on a Haim record. A bright prospect in modern pop music.

14.

Big Red Machine

Forest Green

The National’s Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon first collaborated together on a 2008 charity album Dark Was the Night before they had met in person. Since then, the pair have worked on the project at their various collaboration-heavy festivals under the banner PEOPLE (my interview with Dessner about the next People event in Berlin) at places like Eaux Claires in Wisconsin and Sounds From A Safe Harbour. An album was subsequently recorded and from it, and a trailing EP, is this lush and rolling heartwarmer.

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Posted on August 7th, 2018

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Premiere: Daithí’s new songs featuring Paul Noonan of Bell X1 & The Sei mark a milestone moment in his career

Daithí’s evolution as an artist over the past 5 years has been prolific to say the least.

Every release from the producer has felt like the next stage in a journey, beginning with the likes of tracks like ‘Case Closed’ in 2013. Since then, audiences have been lucky enough to bear witness to one of the most creative voices in contemporary dance music expand and develop.

With the release of this brand new double A-side single, ‘Take The Wheel’ & ‘In My Darkest Moments’, it feels as if Daithí has hit a milestone moment in his career.

Both tracks showcase the artist’s skill as both a composer and producer. The brooding ‘Take The Wheel’, which features Paul Noonan of Bell X1, uses swirling synthscapes to map the lyrical content of the track. It’s dance music, but instead of pandering to established formulas, the beat is subservient to the words.

‘In My Darkest Moments’, which features The Sei, approaches the dance music tradition from the opposite angle. Its relentless bass line and deep kick drums finds Daithi sounding as industrial & focused as ever. A chopped vocal sample sits atop the smattering of piano keys, adding depth and color. It’s a superb track, the artist’s best work to date.

Also including a b-side consisting of a remix of ‘Take The Wheel’, courtesy of Kobina, and an edit of ‘In My Darkest Moments’ this release will delight long time fans of the producer and offer plenty of fantastic material to intice new ones.

Daithí also explained the background of the album in a series of tweets yesterday.

Posted on July 26th, 2018

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Win tickets to the sold out 10° West event on Achill for NYE

Smithwick’s 10° West in Achill is a New Year’s Eve experience offering something different for your NYE.

Spend time on the Mayo island for the turn of the year, with yoga, cycling and hiking in the daytime and music in the evening in the heated Keel tent curated by Homebeat with:

Accommodation on the island is basically gone at this point but there are people who accommodation (sold separately) and no tickets, this is for you.

To enter the competition for two tickets – sign up to the mailing list AND email [email protected] with 10 Degrees West as the headline. You must be a member of the mailing list and have emailed to be eligible. The draw happens on Friday morning and the winner will be contacted then.

Posted on December 19th, 2017

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Fancy NYE on Achill with Lumo, Talos, Daithí, Sing Along Social and others?

In my opinion, the best New Year’s Eve celebrations are the ones that take out to somewhere new, away from the norm and away from huge crowds.

So Smithwick’s 10° West is a perfect opportunity to do just that. Smithwick’s is putting on an alternative celebration for those who are looking for something different to do with their New Year’s Eve and it involves spending time on the beautiful Achill Island in Mayo.

Homebeat has curated a lineup of music that includes our own Lumo Club, Daithi, Talos, Stomptown Brass and Sing Along Social by night in the heated Keel tent. There will also be acoustic and pop-up performances in the pubs too.

By day, there is yoga, cycling and hiking hosted by Pure Magic.

Tickets are priced from €45 which includes two daytime activities, access to the Keel tent and a complimentary pint of Smithwick’s. Accommodation is separate to the ticket fee but B&Bs, holiday homes, guesthouses and hotels are available.

Posted on November 16th, 2017

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Some of the cream of the Irish music scene come together on this remix

Bantum’s mini-album Move from last year has spawned a series of solid remixes from Mix & Fairbanks and Phare and now, Daithí is the latest producer to tackle the Cork man’s track ‘Feel Your Rhythm’ with a fresh perspective.

The Clareman takes the original’s feature guests Rusangano Family and Senita (Lakerama, Shookrah) and brings some fresh energy to the original. This tune slayed at Body & Soul so catch Bantum and Another Love Story and Electric Picnic in the next month.

The song is on Spotify and added to the Nialler9 New Irish music playlist.

Posted on August 1st, 2017

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Le Galaxie, Daithí, Denney, Bitch Falcon, Bedlam, Abstract & more join bill for Castlepalooza

Castlepalooza is one of the nicest little music festival in Ireland and this year’s festival has just added a load of acts for Tullamore Castle from Friday August 4th to Sunday August 6th.

Joining the lineup are:

  • Le Galaxie
  • Denney
  • Hiva Oa
  • Liza Flume
  • Oddsocks,
  • Bad Sea
  • Bitch Falcon
  • Daithí
  • Dublin Ukulele Collective
  • Dreaming of Jupiter
  • Floor Staff
  • Hot Cops
  • Ivy Nations
  • Mywoollyhat
  • Prymary Colours
  • Dip Djs
  • RSAG
  • Third Smoke
  • Tiz McNamara
  • Wastefellow
  • Elaine Mai
  • Seo Linn

DJ additions on the Friday and Saturday night in the Courtyard courtesy of Bedlam and Abstract are:

  • Al Murphy
  • Arman Giorgio
  • Bruno Grecchi
  • Beat Division
  • Bedlam DJs
  • Betty Jiminez
  • Boots & Kats
  • Charlie Garrett B2B AJ
  • Chasing Abbey
  • Daser B2B Mark Gill
  • Deadwax
  • Denney
  • Dylan Higgins
  • Fio’n’Jio
  • Fintan Lalor
  • Heroes in Hiding DJ Set
  • Killthedjs
  • Karl Guest B2B Aiden Thompson
  • Mark Byrne
  • Minisoul
  • Pat Hyland
  • Sarah Mooney
  • Sally Cinnamon

Day tickets from €59 + fees, weekend from €129 + fees.

Posted on June 6th, 2017

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Listen to Daithí’s new Holiday Home EP

Daithí’s new EP Holiday Home features 5 tracks of electronic pop constructed with elements drawn from the real world. Recorded sounds of the west of Ireland, the songs of motion and colour were made in the far flung parts of the country. Hooking up with Sinead White on two tracks and Elaine Mai on another, Holiday Home makes a case for a rural Irish dance pop that stands tall on the world stage. Uundeniably Irish, but modern at the same time,” as Daithí puts it, via the track-by-track below.

Daithi:

At the start of 2016 I bought a field recorder and started recording the sounds of the west of Ireland in an attempt to build a library of samples completely unique to me. I started renting out houses along the coast for weeks at a time, bringing a make-shift studio with me to islands like Achill and Valentia. Once I had some music together, I brought some of my favourite vocalists out to the west, away from the pressure of the normal recording studio environment. The result is Holiday Home, a 5 track EP built completely in the west, using sounds from the west. Every sample has a backstory, every sound has meaning.

Falling For You

Falling For You was one of the first tracks I wrote using my own natural samples. The sea sound is from Inch beach in Cork, the bell sounds are cut up samples from a wind chime I found in an Airbnb in Achill. Sinead recorded these vocals on Valentia with me, and I think it’s my favourite vocal I’ve ever worked on. It’s so undeniably Irish, but feels modern at the same time, which is kind of my buzz.

Aeroplane

Sinead and I wrote this song inspired by old Irish TV dramas from the 80s and 90s. True to the people of Ireland at the time, the characters in these shows all seem to have a hard time expressing their feelings, and we wanted to write a song that imagined what was going on in their heads, while they stumbled through talking to their love interest.

Holiday Home

I do a lot of driving late at night after playing shows, and driving home to Co. Clare feels very solitary. There’s something interesting about playing to a room full of people, and then suddenly being completely alone in the middle of nowhere, with only your thoughts and some tunes to keep you company. This track is inspired by that feeling. The main rhythm is a recording of an 11 year old bodhran player who won the all Ireland feadh in the 90s.

Coral

I have been playing versions of the Coral Sean Nos vocal sample in my live show for years now, but was never happy with how it sounded with normal modern dance samples. All of the bell sounds in this track come from a steel lamp that has been in my studios since I started writing music, so it seemed fitting to use it in this track.

Wrap Up Tight

Elaine and I have written music together for years now, she’s one of my all time favourite people. We wrote the song about the Irish way of dealing with something upsetting; Joking about it, hiding our feelings, and avoiding the confrontation. A friend of ours had a brother who was leaving for a tour abroad in the army, and that featured heavily as part of the inspiration. The song was written in Valentia, and at the start you can hear an old recording of whale song I found, recorded off the coast of the island.

Posted on April 28th, 2017

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Daithí illuminates the link between techno & the humble bodhrán on ‘Holiday Home’

Daithí is back with a new tune rom his upcoming Holiday Home EP, a release which has given us the grade A electronic pop banger ‘Falling For You’ with Sinead White.

The EP was recorded in houses and holiday homes in islands like Achill and Valentia and the last track had some bells and sea sounds from this island in its production.

This title track is an instrumental song that had a tough percussive streak that somehow manages to illuminate the link between techno and the bodhrán (as the main rhythm is a recording of an 11 year-old player of the instrument who won the all Ireland Fleadh in the ’90s.)

“I do a lot of driving late at night after playing shows, and driving home to Co. Clare feels very solitary. There’s something interesting about playing to a room full of people, and then suddenly being completely alone in the middle of nowhere, with only your thoughts and some tunes to keep you company”

The five track EP is out on at end of April but you can get the track on Bandcamp before it’s added to Spotify on March 31st.

Daithí Irish tour

◦ Sat 15 April: Nellie Freds, Dingle
◦ Thurs 21 April: FourtyOne, Navan
◦ Fri 28 April: Roisin Dubh, Galway
◦ Sat 29 April: Abstract (Opium Rooms), Dublin
◦ Sun 30 April: Cyprus Avenue, Cork
◦ Sat 20 May: Levi’s, Ballydehob, Cork
◦ Sun 19 June: Lukers, Athlone
Plus more to be announced…

Posted on March 22nd, 2017

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7 new songs you need to hear this week

Follow the Nialler9 New Music playlist on Spotify. This week’s additions include new music from Dark0, The Chemical Brothers, Ciaran Lavery, Ekkah, Alyss and more. Follow the playlist here.

This is only a selection of new music – dig into more.

Check out the Songs of the week Soundcloud & Spotify playlists.

1.

Daithí – ‘Falling For You’ feat. Sinead White

Galway electronic pop producer Daithí teamed up twice last year with Sinead White on ‘Love’s On Top’ and ‘April’.

It proved a fruitful partnership so the pair are at it again on the lead song from Daithí’s forthcoming EP Holiday Home, due in March. Holiday Home came about when Daithí bought a field recorded and began recording the sounds of the west of Ireland in an attempt to build a unique library of sounds.

‘Falling For You’, his collaboration with White, uses sea sounds from Inch beach in Cork and bell sounds from a wind chime I found in an Air Bnb in Achill. White recorded the vocals on Valentia Island.

Watch the video, also suitably set in the West of Ireland by Feel Good Lost.

First posted.

2.

Toofools – ‘Touch’

In a short time, TooFools, a band brought to us by Lorcan O’Dwyer, Steven McCann and their big gang of friends have made a splash on the Dublin music landscape.

They introduced themselves with a live video by Christian Tierney of Insanity.

Now, nearly a year later and with much live experience under their belts, ‘Touch’ is an indication of what comes next – a disco-funking electronic soul stomper that recalls Jungle in its backdrop and falsetto.

The band play a headline show on November 24th in Button Factory and an EP is forthcoming.

3.

Saint Sister – ‘Tin Man’

The atmosfolk duo Saint Sister, Morgan MacIntyre and Gemma Doherty have established themselves as one of the best new Irish bands of the last year and a bit.

The pair have now released two new songs to keep us sated.  ‘Tin Man’ and ‘Corpses’ are two songs recorded with Alex Ryan which are released through Communion Music’s Singles Club.

Communion have a habit of illuminating breaking folk artists and these two songs by the band, while they very much fit their harmony-folk aesthetic, there’s more atmosphere at play in the arrangements than before.

[First Posted]

4.

Bonobo – ‘Kerala’

Bonobo has a new album called Migration and a Dublin date as part of a European tour.

Migration is Simon Green’s sixth album and he says it’s “the study of people and spaces.”

“It’s interesting how one person will take an influence from one part of the world and move with that influence and effect another part of the world. Over time, the identities of places evolve.”

‘Kerala’ from it features a sample of Brandy. The video was directed by Bison and features Gemma Arterton.

[First posted]

5.

DJ Shadow – ‘Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt’ (Salva remix)

DJ Shadow touched down in Dublin on Thursday for a rare live set at Metropolis. A producer with such a revered first album often struggles to stay modern in what follows (Shadow addresses that weight here). Luckily, his latest album The Mountain Shall Fall has some peaks on it (most notably Run The Jewels) but it’s a recent remix album of Entroducing featuring remixes by contemporaries like Hudson Mohawke, Teklife, Lee Bannon, Prince Paul and Clams Casino that attempts a reimagining of the seminal first album. Most successful of the lot is Salva’s footwork remix of ‘Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt’, which Shadow incorporated into his set at Metropolis.

6.

Funeral Suits – ‘Chariot’

It’s hard out here for bands, particularly alternative rock bands. With the closure of TXFM, there’s barely any outlet for such music in Ireland. Last week Fight Like Apes called it a day. The same week, Dublin band Funeral Suits announced that their forthcoming album would be their last.

Which is a pity when they are knocking out songs like ‘Chariot’.

7.

Roosevelt – ‘Teardrops’

Recent album of the week beneficiary Roosevelt delivers a fresh take on dancefloor classic Womack and Womack’s ‘Teardrops’. He’s on a European tour, though no Irish date.

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Posted on November 7th, 2016

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Premiere: Daithí – ‘Falling For You’ feat. Sinead White

Galway electronic pop producer Daithí teamed up twice last year with Sinead White on ‘Love’s On Top’ and ‘April’.

It proved a fruitful partnership so the pair are at it again on the lead song from Daithí’s forthcoming EP Holiday Home, due in March.

Holiday Home came about when Daithí bought a field recorded and began recording the sounds of the west of Ireland in an attempt to build a unique library of sounds.

I started renting out houses along the coast for weeks at a time, bringing a make-shift studio with me to islands like Achill and Valentia. Once I had some music together, I brought some of my favourite vocalists out to the west, away from the pressure of the normal recording studio environment. The result is Holiday Home, a five- track EP built completely in the west, using sounds from the west.”

‘Falling For You’, his collaboration with White, uses sea sounds from Inch beach in Cork and bell sounds from a wind chime I found in an Air Bnb in Achill. White recorded the vocals on Valentia Island.

“I think it’s my favourite vocal I’ve ever worked on. It’s so undeniably Irish, but feels modern at the same time, which is kind of my buzz.”

Watch the video, also suitably set in the West of Ireland by Feel Good Lost.

Holiday Home Tracklist

  1. Falling For You (feat. Sinead White)
  2. Aeroplane (feat. Sinead White)
  3. Holiday Home
  4. Coral
  5. Wrap Up Tight (feat. Elaine Mai)

Tour Dates

Thursday 8th December – Brubakers, Dundalk
Friday 23rd December – Opium Rooms, Dublin
Tuesday 27th December – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Sat 31st December – Róisín Dubh, Galway

Posted on November 2nd, 2016

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Nialler9 @ Interlude Festival: Sunday stage details

As part of the upcoming Interlude Festival in the RHA Gallery, off Stephen’s Green from the 24 – 26th of June in Dublin city, I have curated a room on the Sunday of the festival of live electronic & DJ sets for the Tony Ryan Room.

While the likes of Grandmaster Flash, Booka Brass Band, Interskalactic play the Block party outdoors and Kelly-Anne Byrne and Dmitri In Paris have a disco ball upstairs, the Tony Ryan room on Sunday June 26th will feature:

DJ Cian Ó Cíobháin (Midnight – 1:30pm)

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A stalwart of Irish radio for the last 17 years through his show on RnaG An Taobh Tuathail, Cian is one of Ireland’s finest DJs (110th Street in Galway) and selectors and he doesn’t play Dublin enough.

Solar Bears (live A/V set) – (10:30pm – 11:30pm)

After three albums of on Warp Records, Planet Mu and Sunday Best, Solar Bears have confirmed themselves as Ireland’s most cinematically-driven act taking in wistful Boards Of Canada-style electronic ambience, krautrock, library music, psychedelia and tough synthesizers. The Interlude show will be a live A/V set. Check out their recent Boiler Room mix for an idea of what to expect.

Bantum: Prince A/V set (9pm – 10pm)

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Ruairi Lynch is a huge Prince fan who has played his own unique take on Prince tracks live in the past. At Interlude, Lynch will air his specially remixed and mashed up tribute to the Purple One with visuals by LeTissier.

Bantum with some Prince jams #noadvance

A video posted by Nialler9 (@nialler9) on

Daithí (8pm – 8;45pm)

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The Galway electronic pop producer with the fiddle in tow recently followed up his debut album with this smash featuring Sinead White – ‘Love’s On Top’.

Adultrock (7pm – 7.45pm)

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With a new release on Bodytonic this week, Gavin Elsted is pushing the analogue buttons of electronica with his hazy widescreen dancefloor productions which take inspiration from John Talabot and a hardware-heavy recording ethos.

https://soundcloud.com/adultrock/push-and-pull-master

Bad Bones (6pm – 6:45pm)

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Sal Stapleton has been releasing a tune and video a month of dark-gilded electronic R&B that recalls FKA Twigs and Maya Jane Coles. Live, she’ll be flanked by dancers.

Tickets

Tickets are €29 per day. Weekend tickets are sold out.

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Posted on June 23rd, 2016

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Premiere: Daithí & Sinead White – ‘Love On Top’

I first heard ‘Love On Top’ at Daithí’s incendiary Body&Soul Electric Picnic set last year. At that time, Dublin singer-songwriter Sinead White was known for a pleasant debut album of bright songs.

Paired with Daithí’s electronic pop sensibilities though, White’s voice became a powerhouse on that day, in a dance music context. I’m delighted that the recorded version of that track is finally here.

“I came across Sinead White last year, and really loved how her voice had a unique ‘Irish’ quality to it, but at the same time felt very contemporary. It was a perfect match for Love’s on Top, which was a track inspired by Galway City at night, especially the west end and around the Spanish Arch. This track could be considered the lead single to the Tribes E.P, and it’s a good snapshot of what the rest of the record is like”.

“The first single, Mary Keanes Introduction, was a real game changer for me, because it was the first track I released inspired by a new direction. I want to write dance music that’s not just inspired by traditional music, but by the culture, the scenery and atmosphere of the west of Ireland. Tribes is the start of me going in that direction, it’s full of nature sounds and samples from this part of the country. Even for that simple reason, this EP means way more to me than anything I’ve released so far. ”

The song is taken from the Tribes EP which is out on February 26th and also features the Choice Music Prize Song of the Year nominee ‘Mary Keane’s Introduction’. The release is available digitally and on 12″ vinyl (pre-order that)

Daithí tour dates

Feb 19th: Generator Hostel, Dublin – Free
Feb 24th: HMV Sound Garden, Sligo
Feb 26th: Roisin Dubh, Galway (Tribes launch)
March 16th: Connolly’s of Leap, Cork
March 19th: Cyprus Avenue, Cork

Posted on February 11th, 2016

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Generator Live features a great lineup of Irish acts including Daithí, Katie Laffan, Beach and more

After hosting the latest edition of Boiler Room on its premises, the Generator Hostel in Smithfield is introducing Generator Live, a new showcase of emerging Irish music live at the Generator.

The first one takes place next Friday February 19th and features a whopper lineup of new Irish talent, that’s all been featured here before, Daithí, Beach, Katie Laffan and Cut Once.

Pick up your free tickets on yPlan for the show.

Daithí:

Beach:

Cut Once:

Katie Laffan:

Facebook Event

Posted on February 10th, 2016

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