The latest in Rocstrong’s monthly singles drops is here.
‘Be Cool’ is a breezy track of funk-pop and R&B tones, inspired by Anderson Paak and Lupe Fiasco about the ups and downs of a relationship.
Previous singles include ‘Vibes’ and ‘I Gotcha’:
Posted on July 6th, 2017
This is only a selection of new music – dig into more or follow the Spotify playlists.
Axel Boman’s Studio Barnhaus label rising star Baba Stiltz draws together intimate sentiments and melodic dancefloor electronics.
The latest single in his run of monthly tracks. After ‘ I Gotcha’, Rocstrong expands his template with the dynamic dance-pop tinged ‘Vibes’.
A highlight from the latest release on Soulwax’s DeeWee label (have you heard their new Essential mix?)
Dublin singer Gemma Dunleavy continues her collaboration with UK producer Murlo on two songs on his Club Coil EP. She’s a nice foil for his clubby electronic productions.
Lamar adds his first post-DAMN. verse on Future’s floating flute loop single.
Dublin band The Fontaines‘s ‘Liberty Belle’ is a retro rock’n’roll jam fitted with a Dublin accent. It’s short, sharp and stands out.
Whatever the snobs at Boomkat think, ‘Face To Face’ is a serious banger.
3 New Music flavours:
All song added in the past week: Nialler9 Weekly.
The larger three-month New Music Playlist.
Check out the regularly updated Spotify playlists.
Posted on May 25th, 2017
Andre J.P Bangala’s nascent career has quickly ascended from radio play to TV ads to Hollywood trailer placements.
For his newest release, the followup to ‘Block Party’ the Show Off What You Got (SOWYG) EP out on Friday, Rocstrong has dropped the title track and a video shot in LA and Vegas earlier this year.
The song, produced by The Pharmacist, leans more on the rockier end of things yet Bangala’s earworm vocals are always at the centre of his sound.
Rocstrong said “I wanted to create a song that has the ability to make an elderly lady walking down a street in slow motion with black Ray Bans and look ‘badass’ and truly, I feel I have done that with this one”.
Rocstrong plays a headline gig in the Grand Social, Dublin on August 12th.
30th July 2016 The Beatyard Festival
12th August 2016 Headline Gig – The Grand Social, Dublin
20th August 2016 Canal Quarter Festival in Tullamore
2nd September 2016 Electric Picnic
23rd September 2016 Canalphonic
Posted on July 26th, 2016
Canalaphonic will return to Rathmines later this year on on 23rd and 24th September this year.
The festival will take place in the venues and shops of Rathmines, along the canal in Dublin city and this year, it will include an outdoor venue at the 5,000 capacity Leinster Cricket Club. Whelan’s,The National Concert Hall Quarter’s “Vaults” and Opium Rooms will also be used as venues.
Music wise, the full lineup of 120 acts is yet to be revealed but the following will be featuring:
Rocstrong, The Eskies, Zaska, Mongrel State, Barq, Mongoose, White_Mice, The Word Up Collective, Mother Mooch, Late City Edition, Fox E and the Good Hands, Travis Oaks, Homebeat Events, T.A.S.T.E and many more to be announced.
The festival is the result of a collaboration between Dublin City Council’s South East Area Office and Abner Browns Barbershop, supported by Fáilte Ireland, Clancourt Group, WaterwaysIreland, Dublin City Council Arts Office, IMRO, Heineken, McGarrell Reilly Group and Rohan Holdings.
A launch happens in Copan Rathmines this Thursday with with live music from Barq and Word Up Collectives’ Damola.
Posted on May 3rd, 2016
Rocstrong arrived on the Irish scene with a swaggering funk rock sound that soon bagged his songs placements in ads for Lidl and trailers for the Coen Brothers movie Hail, Caesar!.
Now, Congolese-born Dubliner Andre J.P Bangala is back with some new music.
‘Block Party (Kaiser)’ is a song that on the surface sounds like it takes inspiration from Uptown Funk and plays like a funk-rock take on that sound, co-produced alongside producer Pharmasist.
The lyrics though concern a genuinely sad event, the passing of Andre’s friend John Ojo two years ago. Bangala introduces the song with a celebatory sound in honour of his friend.
Back where I’m from, when someone close passes away, instead of mourning their departure, we gather to a party that celebrates their life. This upbeat, fresh and funky song depicts John’s outlook to life and the type of person he was. John, you will always be missed but never forgotten.
‘Block Party (Kaiser)’ is from a new EP out next month, May 20th, called Show Off What You Got. The single is released on Thursday.
Rocstrong plays The Bernard Shaw, Dublin on the 2nd of May.
Posted on April 5th, 2016
Andre J.P Bangala is back with another slice of funky rock music from his Rocstrong music project. This one harks back to the Congo-born Dubliner’s debut ‘Go Head’. ‘Hold Ya’ is further proof of a developing new Irish talent.
Hear also: Limits.
You can catch Rocstrong at Forbidden Fruit.
Posted on May 11th, 2015
Forbidden Fruit announced acts for a live stage for the festival in The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin on the Bank Holiday weekend of riday 29th to Sunday 31st May
The Live Live (Workshop stage) is from a new collective Live Live and will feature
Fatima & The Eglo Band (great album from last year)
Floating Points
Sleep Thieves
Whilk and Misky
Rusangano Family
Mc Melodee
Blooms
Rocstrong
Trinity Orchestra presents Gorillaz
Heroes In Hiding
Weekend tickets are €119+. Friday – €39.50. Saturday – €49.50. Sunday – €49.50.
Previous announcements
Forbidden Fruit 2015: Wu Tang Clan, Fatboy Slim, Run The Jewels, Booka Shade, Joey Bada$$
Forbidden Fruit added Nicolas Jaar, Maya Janes Coles, Tensnake, Hot Since 82 & more
Jamie xx, Mount Kimbie, Kelela, Richie Hawtin, Groove Armada & more added to Forbidden Fruit
Posted on March 27th, 2015
Rocstrong is one of the most promising Irish artist to emerge from 2014’s crop of artists. The Congo-born Dublin musician’s track ‘Go Head’ kicked it all off and he followed that up with ‘Limits’, a playful African funk track which now has a playful video animated and Directed by John Peter Meiring.
Buy the track here.
Posted on January 19th, 2015
The annual Faces magazine from State which features 20 of Ireland’s best new bands as picked by the site’s writers is here and it might be their best yet.
20 acts including Bitch Falcon, Profound, Dear Desert, Booka Brass Band, Wyvern Lingo, Loah, Pockets, Rocstrong, Buffalo Woman and more are featured. Check out the mag edited by Phil Udell, designed by Simon Roche with great photography by Olga Kuzmenko, Ste Murray, Debbie Hickey, Sean Clarke and Mark McGuinness.
There’s also a mixtape featuring a track from each. Check both out below or on their site. 4 of the bands featured: Bitch Falcon, Loah, Dah Jevu and Robocobra Quartet are playing a free gig in The Mercantile Friday night to launch it.
Posted on January 15th, 2015
See this page for a Soundcloud playlist of all the tracks.
New Zealand synth trio have been supporting Lorde and Chet Faker this year but ‘Alena’, their new single is their first real moment in the spotlight. ’80s electro piano, spacious production and siren singing combine in beguiling fashion. Out now on Cascine.
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Posted on October 10th, 2014
Earlier this year, Andre J.P Bangala aka Rocstrong picked up some fans with his debut track ‘Go’Head’, a poppy funky blues cut which had its own spin to it.
The Congo-born Dublin musician has now followed that up with something different, which suggests that his studying of funk and rock music “to find his own sound” is paying off with a song that has African roots in its highlife-style arrangement and a sparkling swagger all its own. Not too far away from the sound of the recent Sinkane album too.
You can catch Rocstrong at the Guinness Amplify gig in 4 Dame Lane this Friday night. ‘Limits’ is released Friday for download.
Posted on October 6th, 2014
A new site with an emphasis on photography portraits of upcoming musicians, Unmade in Ireland is the work of photographer Gregory Nolan, writer Katie Dwyer and music blogger Amelia Conophy.
Unmade in Ireland, in their own words: “tells the story of the bands who haven’t made it yet,” focusing on artists who have been largely self-released. Included so far are the likes of Carriages, Liza Flume, Bantum, Sive, Rocstrong, Biggles Flys Again and more. More of this please. Here’s a preview but hit the site to see all the photos and interviews:
Posted on August 21st, 2014
The Nialler9 TXFM show airs every Thursday night at 10pm for two hours. You can listen on FM, online, the TXFM app or if you missed it, on the listen back function on the site. Here’s last night’s show…
Posted on July 4th, 2014
Andre J.P Bangala is the brains behind Rocstrong a band so new that there’s only one song online at the moment. But that song has already turned heads with State and Phantom picking it up.
Bangala is a Congo-born Dublin musician who says he’s studied funk and rock music in trying to find his own sound which means listening to the likes of Pharrell, Prince, Elvis and Jesse Johnson.
‘Go’Head’ has a multi-faceted effervescent spark that is simply not present in much of Irish music – the song has some pop swing, some funk, some doomy blues and is a bit of fresh air. Not perfect but an exciting first step.
Rocstrong plays State’s Faces of 2014 gig on Saturday in The Mercantile with The Clameens and Carriages. Free in. Live, he’s joined by a three-piece band with members who have roots in Congo, Poland and Angola.
Get the track from Bandcamp.
Posted on March 3rd, 2014
Florence + The Machine for 3Arena Dublin show
22 gigs and clubs to see in Cork this weekend
Ejeca announced as first guest for new Secret Thursday’s at Pyg series which happens today
8 gigs and clubs to see in Limerick city this week
10 must-see acts at Bulmers Forbidden Fruit Festival 2018
Gig roundup: Dermot Kennedy, Darwin Deez, Eden, Her’s, Ozomatli and more
Lauryn Hill announces Dublin show on The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill 20th anniversary tour
Forbidden Fruit stage times & night parties are here
The Chemical Brothers announce Dublin show
BC Camplight for Dublin show
