The New Irish Music Playlist: Orla Gartland, Yenkee, Qbanaa & more

Yenkee

Los Angelus

Cork artist Graham Cooney aka Yenkee’s latest, adds to the vault of songs about the American place shrouded in myth and glamour, with this daydream bedroom pop tune. which Cooney readily admits he has never been to.

“ I always find myself writing about California, even though I’ve never been, and that’s what the song is about. A semi-well-known American artist contacted me on Instagram looking to collaborate. He sent me his number and said to hit him up if I was in LA in the coming weeks…I was working on the vegetable aisle in a supermarket in Cork”.

A Yenkee debut album is set to be released in the autumn.

Local Boy

Pump It Up

Somehow Jake Hurley aka Local Boy has written a fun indie-rock song in which he sounds a bit like Anthony Kiedis and it still slaps.

Qbanaa

Best Time

Heralding the release of a new EP later this year, ‘Best Time’ showcases Qbanaa’s talent for soft melody and harmony, drawing musically on the artist’s Cuban roots.

“I was heartbroken and didn’t know how to be alone, so I ran into another relationship within two months. I was anxiously attached to this new boy who still didn’t know me, but what I was really missing was the closeness I once had – but wasn’t willing to wait. It ended up being really toxic, we didn’t really have that much in common. The only time I felt close to him was when we were both high, which was pretty much all of the time. He wouldn’t even hold my hand sober in public. But I unfortunately loved the chase for affection, because when he gave it to me it was like a huge reward. I ended up in a ‘healthier’ relationship shortly after (again), a boy who really loved me. But all I could think about was this one guy that had me in a chokehold for his attention. I had a lot of healing to do”.

Qbanaa’s gig dates:

7th July – Serendipity Sessions, Hen’s Teeth

2nd Aug – All Together Now

10th August – We’ve Only Just Begun, Whelan’s

24th August – Another Love Story

Orla Gartland

Mine

Every time this song comes on I think it’s Julia Jacklin singing which If you know me, you know this is the highest of compliments to Orla Gartland.

There’s beautiful intimate songwriting here.

“’Mine’ is by far the most vulnerable song I’ve written to date – putting it feels a little scary but also hugely important to me. It tells a fragmented story of an experience that really affected my relationship with intimacy and how that stayed with me throughout relationships that followed. I wanted to give the lyrics on this song space to breathe so we kept the production super minimal on this track; live vocal & guitar and a super beautiful, haunting 4-piece string part. This was my first time recording real strings on a song of mine and for me they bring even more emotional depth to the track. I’m really proud of this song and whilst I hope in a way that no one relates to it, I hope it can bring comfort and hope to anyone who does.”

Sal Dulu

Purple Heaven

Sal Dulu’s new one is giving me Passion Pit remix with early Joy Orbison sound palette feels.

The Irish producer and musician’s forthcoming album, Nafuschia In Fantasy will be released 9th August on Lex Records.

Hear the title track.

cbakl, Leffjante, Finnbarr

Bora Bora

Belfast beatmaker cbakl enlists fellow artists Leffjante and Finnbar which through voice and release is highlighting the scene around them in the city.

“I’ve been listening to a lot of music coming out of the UK recently and been vibing with it heavily. People like Keeya Keys, Glizz and Ayrtn. With these next few singles I want to experiment with that sound more and I think this tune fits the vibe perfectly. I collaborated with LeffJante on my previous single and this time I’ve also recruited Finnbarr, a rapper from my Class Craic collective/record label. There’s a scene bubbling under the surface in Belfast currently and I want to make sure the tunes we’re dropping are at the forefront of it”.

Faxe On Faxe

Misunderstood

A relentlessly fast-paced, Jersey club, 2-step, garage and grime-influenced track from regular visitor to these pages, the Dublin-based producer Josh Allotey aka Faxe On Faxe. (The Shed)

The Mary Wallopers

Home Boys Home

The Wallopers version of the traditional song that warns against letting a sailor into your bed for one-night stand.

“Oh come all of you fair maidens, a warning take by me
And never let a sailor lad an inch above your knee
For I trusted one and he beguiled me
He left me with a pair of twins to dangle on me knee”

The song was first performed by the band for an Other Voices performance, and it features on the three track EP of the same name from the Dundalk trad folk band.