I was recently asked some questions for an US site around their Irish St. Patrick’s Day coverage and it includes a request for some suggestions for an Irish Paddy’s Day playlist, which got me thinking about the idea of a St. Patrick’s Day playlist for this site too.
I want to do a playlist this week for the site that represents modern Ireland and I have some ideas about what should go on it: Villagers, The Gloaming, I Am The Cosmos, Mmoths, Le Galaxie, James Vincent McMorrow and Lisa O’Neill for example.
BUT, I also want your suggestions for what should be on the playlist too.
What song best represents Modern Ireland to you? What current singer/musician has a strong Irish identity you’d like to share with the globe? If you were sending a song out to the rest of the world and saying – “Listen to this not only is it Irish but it is awesome,” what would one track send? What song best represent what it is to be Irish to you today?
What to do
Leave your song suggestions in the comments below please or use #modernirishplaylist on Twitter. Do say why you picked that song too.
The only restriction is that the song has to have been released in the last five years so there’s no room for ‘Jump Around’ and the likes of Dropkick Murphy’s or The Pogues or Thin Lizzy or Luke Kelly. Soz babes.
We want the sound of a modern Ireland.
On Friday, I’ll curate 25 songs into a Spotify playlist that can be sent out to all the expats, those celebrating St. Patrick’s Day abroad or your friends from other countries so you can send it to them and say – this is Irish music. This is what you’re missing.
Looking for some inspiration? Here’s a list of my favourite Irish songs of 2013. More Best of 2013 lists here including albums and readers’ choices.
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, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
Little Creatures
Going to be huge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOoVFni2Jvw
New Jackson -Night Mail
Adebisi shank – Colin skehan.
Has to be in there.
These guys are going to be huge by the end of the year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Np5R7ShWDo
http://www.breakingtunes.com/silentnoiseparade
The World Began With a Waltz – Hidden Highways
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTpVDBO5mLM
A modern folk take on Dublin…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SAMHhQZotQ
RudyTrixX – Trippin” Exciting dublin/galway based up-comers!! You won’t get this song out of your head.
Raglans – Digging Holes
https://soundcloud.com/ray-suns/andy-knows
A young producer from Dublin. Song hasn’t got the coverage it deserves at all and it was released 5 months ago. Would get a whole room dancing, literally. Kind of like a Frank B ‘Chain of Fools’ song in some sense the way it is just such a tune.
https://soundcloud.com/iamniamh/instead-catmando-remix
Going to be huge… http://soundcloud.com/markonor/innuendos
Biggles Flys Again – Last Song of The Night (Strands Remix)
http://vimeo.com/87001794
Frank B – Chain of Fools
http://youtu.be/V2RjrWCPePY
Shit Robot – We Got A Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fOixJ6Odu4
gocodes – 5 Bad Men……pure Irish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSpjOtS0nLI
Man, I really like this tune, as it sums up my feelings on what it means to be a modern-day Irishman. It’s honesty with a sense of humour!
good stuff, modern ireland !
a Bats track, always perfectly communicated Ireland’s relationship with religion (for some I suppose)
This Club – I Wont Worry
Patterns or History by Anderson
http://andersonsongs.com/category/songs/
The Olllam with John McSherry, especially The Devilll for My Hurt. For the thrill of it Irish trad fusion in 7/8….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IcmC6rgoMo
Dirty old town.Rocky road to Dublin. Not THAT Modern but classics none the less
Eomac – Tunnel
Roc Strong – Go ‘Head https://soundcloud.com/#officialrocstrong/gohead
Choose yer own favourite track but I’d say artists that should be considered are: Lakker (and/or Eeoo/Eomac), Space Dimension Controller, Automatic Tasty, Boxcutter/Barry Lynn, And So I Watch You From Afar.
James Vincent Mc Morrow-Gold
Little xs for eyes, somewhere with a dance floor. Featured in ‘Gold’ which is an amazing Irish film released last month. The track is fun, sounds youthful and optimistic but is far from one dimensional. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR_ga8W3AcI
Great track, definitely deserved to be added
Trophy Boyfriend
https://soundcloud.com/trophyboyfriend/the-walkman-as-urban-strategy
Cathal Coughlan – The Frond Seller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB9wi4KJLPY
We Cut Corners and Slow Skies-Ice Cream
damien dempsey – canadian geese. this has been giving me goosebumps since i first heard it last summer, just a beautiful song. plus any of new jackson/mano le tough/mmoths/young wonder/solar bears/shit robot/tieranniesaur/i am the cosmos/come on live long/windings/villagers/o emperor/the minutes/lisa o’neill!
Meltybrains? ‘Customer Care’ http://www.meltybrains.com/music-videos.html
One of their older songs but dreamy and edgy – like Ireland
Chandelier – Croupier http://croupier.bandcamp.com/track/chandelier