One of our favourite Irish singers Gemma Dunleavy is going to release a six-track debut EP this year entitled Up De Flats on July 10th, celebrating the Sheriff Street community she grew up in.
The title song Up De Flats is a beaut, a track that deftly melds garage, R&B and Four-Tet-style melodic flourishes as a foundation for Gemma’s honeyed voice.
It’s got a memorable chorus commemorating the North inner city area that Gemma’s from with the line “we’ll be shouting ‘up de flats’ from the rooftops.'”
The EP was created in partnership with Dr Martens Presents, a platform which offers support to independent artists, to work on, and present, creative projects otherwise not possible. Gemma’s idea was to put together a body of music inspired by her time working on a documentary in response to plans to regenerate the Sheriff Street area. Notorious in the 90s for crime and violence, Gemma passionately believes the area was unfairly demonised. A working class place where people are proud, say what they mean and value the power of community, Up De Flats, is a project that
pays tribute to that community spirit.
Gemma will perform the EP in full at 7pm GMT on July 16th for a Dr. Martens Presents livestream, which will be available via @Drmartensofficial.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
