HAVVK have released their new single ‘Halfway Out’. ‘Halfway Out’ is the final single to be released from the band’s upcoming album ‘Levelling’. It follows the success of ‘Automatic’, ‘Home’ and ‘No Patience’, which have all received excellent radio play worldwide on stations such as RTÉ 2fm, Today FM, BBC Radio Ulster, NewsTalk, 98fm and Beat 102103 (Ireland), Radio X, Amazing Radio (UK) and KEXP (USA). HAVVK are trio Julie Hough (Vocals, Bass), Matt Harris (Guitar) and Sam Campbell (Drums). Julie and Matt are also the founders of VETA Music – the artist-led record label that is home to Maria Kelly, Sive, DYVR and St. Bishop, as well as HAVVK themselves. Originally based in London, and then Berlin, the label now calls Dublin home.
Filled with whirring guitars and the perfect blend between hazy shoegaze and punk rock, ‘Halfway Out’ is a fantastic teaser for HAVVK’s upcoming album. The track ebbs and flows with lush melodies and ethereal guitar embellishments as Julie Hough’s sweet lulling vocals chime throughout. She croons with awe-inspiring vocal strength while the building instrumentation creates a swarm of chaos in the backdrop. The song travels like a thrilling roller coaster with buzzing instrumental builds and soft swooping releases as the song reaches its dynamic crescendo. HAVVK have created a musically balanced masterpiece that surges with emotion and expressive intricate instrumentation, if ‘Halfway Out’ is anything to go by, ‘Levelling’ will be one spectacular album.
Halfway Out is a song about disengaging from life and from going through the motions. About the track, Julie Hough said: “We wrote the song as a response to the pressure that comparison culture can put particularly on young people and how it can be such a blocker for finding joy and purpose. It’s also so easy to curate your life as if everything is going fine. The song is about connecting with someone and telling them you can see that they’re struggling and offering support.”
HAVVK have also announced that they will play The Workman’s Club, Dublin on Wednesday 29th September. Doors are at 8pm and tickets are €10. Ticketson sale Thursday 19th August at 10am
FRUITZ are set to release their new single ‘Set The Motion’ on 20th August. ‘Set The Motion’ is the second single from the band’s upcoming debut EP ‘The Pits and The Glamour’ following the massively successful indie banger ‘Be Like This’. Recorded in Dublin’s famous Windmill Lane Recording Studios, FRUITZ teamed up with producer Cian Synott and mastering engineer Fergal Davis on this song, as well as Gareth Halliday ( Noel Gallagher) for the artwork. Dubbed as one of the most exciting bands in Ireland right now, FRUITZ launched into the music scene in late 2017, quickly making a name for themselves as an exciting live band. The Dublin trios first release was hard-hitting single ‘KNOTZ’, which was followed up by ‘U & I’ and ‘Girl Around The Corner’. FRUITZ earned themselves an international following, playing their UK debut to a sold-out headline show at Liverpool’s Zanzibar Club and playing Gullivers’ in Manchester for renowned indie label Scruff Of The Neck. FRUITZ carried big hype into 2020, releasing the anthemic ‘DayDream’ early on prior to a sell-out home town show at Whelan’s and a support slot with Louis Berry.
‘Set The Motion’ showcases a smooth, more ethereal facet to FRUITZ’ sound. Dripping in soft keys and atmospheric soundscapes with airy chimes on guitar, the song has a dreamy and ambient atmosphere. FRUITZ coat a sweet, catchy melody in tender vocals and a soft instrumental allowing the band to present a sensitive and moving pop sound for listeners to enjoy. FRUITZ are a talented band who showcase their diversity and mature musicianship with each exciting release, and ‘Set The Motion’ is a magnificent example of this. Filled with a delicate sun-kissed tone and lush harmonies, ‘Set The Motion’ is a sublime slow jam that charms its way into your head leaving you craving to hear more from this talented band.
About the track, frontman James Keegan said: “The song was a product of the first lockdown, I didn’t plan to stray from our sound or anything like that, it just felt right. It is a shot in the dark for us but I feel as a songwriter it’s very refreshing to do a song that’s not what people are going to expect from us.”
Irish Singer/Songwriter Taylor Mas has released her new single, ‘Tonight’.Taylor Mas released her debut single ‘Bad News’ at the end of last year. It has been streamed over five thousand times on Spotify and was added to the RTE Radio 1’s Recommended playlist along with a Q&A feature on RTE entertainment. Mas has had many years of experience in the music scene in Ireland. Having completed a level 8 Degree in Songwriting at BIMM Dublin, she has performed vocals for many different artists and bands across Dublin in multiple different recording studios as well as performing at Electric Picnic, Longitude, Knocken Stocken and many more Irish music events and gigs. Her previous single, ‘Me Again’ got its first play on SPIN 1038 and was added to the RTE Radio 1’s recommendations list in its first week of release.
‘Tonight’ is a bubbling alternative pop tune that boasts Taylor Mas’ deft musicianship. Mas creates a cinematic and compelling wall of sound to accompany heartfelt lyrics, which deal with the scenario of overcoming mental manipulation from a partner or friend. With buoyant rhythms and heavy electronic beats creating a dance-infused soundscape, Mas maintains an upbeat, uplifting tone throughout while icy keys and ethereal synths create a sense of innocence and provide a refreshing release from the muggy beats. Showcasing a catchy melody and pristine vocals, Mas crafts a shimmering and emotionally impactful song ready for repeat plays.
Noah Elliott has released his new single ‘Who Takes The Prize’. The Oregon native amassed 500k Spotify listens after releasing a string of self-produced singles created in his college dorm room. After graduating from the University of Miami and wandering around Asia for 6 months, Elliott moved to LA. There, he teamed up with Dylan Bauld (Halsey, Bea Miller, flor) to create his debut EP ‘Songs For The Optimist’. ‘Who Takes The Prize’ is the 5th single off the record.
‘Who Takes The Prize’ is a dark alternative pop tune lathered in rich electronics and infectious dance vibes. Elliott’s smooth vocals croon over intricate rhythms and push-pull electronic effects that venture into EDM and house elements at times. With lush synths weaving between bittersweet melodies, Elliott displays his engaging and catchy musicianship through this shadowy yet enticing gem. Elliott has a knack for creating infectious melodies and wrapping them in dense textures and tones to create eargasmic tunes that are sure to have you bopping and dancing in no time, and ‘Who Takes The Prize’ is the perfect example of this.
About the track, Elliott explains: “When I listen to this track, I can’t stop myself from dancing. I hope it has the same effect on you.”
Inspired by the constraints of a routine, ‘Identidad’ is the latest song to come from Peruvian Electro-Rock duo Última Conexión. Fronted by Ana Alvarez (vocalist, composer) and Jim Bravo (bassist, composer), Última Conexión began making music together in 2010. They released their debut album ‘Señal’ in 2013 and have gone on to release a number of singles. Active participants of the live music scene, Última Conexión built up their fanbase performing at concerts and festivals around Lima. Their songs speak of social change and issues that face our modern society.
‘Identidad’ is a vibrant and upbeat tune that explores the rich sonic sound of Última Conexión. With 80’s – esque synths shimmering between a sticky beat and reverb laced vocals, the track has a quirky and energetic sound. The band mix elements of alternative rock with edgy jabs on guitars and slick riffs throughout to create a full-bodied and dense sound. The lyrics explore the contradiction between the exciting life we create for ourselves on social media and the ordinary and often boring reality while bright and dynamic instrumentation provides a sleek and swagger dipped soundscape that will have you bopping along in no time.
Irish artist Luz has released her new single ‘permanent +1’, via global artist services company Platoon. Recorded between Dublin and London with producer JMAC (Haux, Rosie Carney, Matilda Mann), the track is Luz’s fifth release, following previous singles ‘counting houses’, ‘we’ll be fine’, ‘i’m lonely’ and ‘the author,’ the latter of which has recently been featured in this year’s series of Love Island. Since being played on the show the track has doubled its daily streams, hitting Number 11 on Shazam’s charts, as well as re-entering the iTunes chart.
‘permanent +1’ is a beautifully uplifting tune that boasts the emotive and melodic songwriting of Luz. Her smooth vocals glide upon the soothing melody while a delicate piano and ethereal soundscape flesh out the song’s backdrop to create a heartwarming and wholesome tune for listeners to indulge in. Well crafted and filled with heart-fluttering joy ‘permanent +1’ is a sublime and intimate new tune from Luz that is a joy to listen to again and again.
Speaking about ‘permanent +1’, Luz says: “’permanent +1’ is about the person in your life who is always there. Yes, they are the person you take with you to your cousin’s wedding, to a birthday party and to your family’s Sunday dinner. But they are also the person you take grocery shopping, who comes with you to a doctor’s visit and who helps you do your laundry.”
Dublin Producer, Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist, Cabin has released his new single ‘Evil Directions’.The song is the follow-up single to Cabin’s debut, ‘The Parasocialite’. Cabin (aka Adam McCabe) began crafting his songwriting and production skills as part of post-punk outfit Brass Phantoms, and has had his music featured on the likes of BBC Radio 6 with Steve Lamacq, Spotify’s Hot New Bands, and more, along with production credits for the likes of Fangclub.
‘Evil Directions’ is an intricate tapestry of psychedelic pop weaved together with lush melodies and rich textures throughout. Cabin presents a laid back tune that boasts elegant key refrains, swaying rhythms and mosaic guitar chimes to create a vibrant backdrop for listeners to indulge in. The artists’ knack with earworm melodies shines brightly in this song as he spreads a dreamy melody over the prismatic soundscapes to create a soothing yet enjoyable listening experience. There is a darker undertone within the track represented on keys, however, Cabin maintains a bright and bubbly retro tone throughout. ‘Evil Directions’ is a fantastic and tantalizing new tune that marks Cabin as an artist to keep an eye on.
On the track, Cabin says, “I’ve always adored the sounds and styles that this track draws from, but often found that those bright melodies hid darker sentiments. I see this track as my homage to that classic style of pop writing”
Lurgan based indie alternative artist BECAH has released a stunning single ‘Reminders’ and accompanying video. The song is the second single from her upcoming debut EP ‘Freak’, due out later this year. Having cultivated her art playing the local scene over the last number of years, BECAH has in that time secured support slots for renowned acts including that of Aslan, The Four of Us, and Brian Kennedy, most recently playing on the same bill as Brian Houston, Sam Wickens and Amy Montgomery.
‘Reminders’ presents BECAH’s emotive and utterly captivating songwriting through moving soundscapes and awe-inspiring musicianship. The song is filled with rippling basslines, punctuated beats and subtle whirls of electronics that swoop with cinematic tendencies between lamenting guitar refrains. BECAH’s slightly rasped voice drifts between captivating tones and breathtaking melodies as she discusses the aftermath of a toxic relationship through tender and heartbreaking lyrics, “I’m trying hard to be myself See I got torn up by somebody else”. BECAH is a talented musician. The artist’s ability to aptly express emotion through well crafted and beautiful musicianship is admirable. ‘Reminders’ is a spectacular example of this.
About the song, BECAH says “I wrote ‘Reminders’ in the aftermath of a very toxic relationship with a past girlfriend. The coinciding music video, filmed by Chris McCann and directed by John Dynes and Chris McCann, presents a glimpse into that story – the good times I had with her in the beginning, to its violent turn. The lyrics speak of the struggle I had to feel like myself again, and how all my attempts to push away all the little details and memories of that time felt futile.”
Metal band Munro have recently released their new single ‘Demonic Headcase’. With throat-ripping howls from Jake Munro kicking the track into motion this searing tune is a roaring delve into the thrilling and menacing sound of Munro. Not for the faint-hearted, the track pivots around heavy electronic beats and mammoth drums while acute guitars lacerate throughout. The verses brood with a wall of thick asphyxiating soundscapes from which there is no escape until the melodic chorus softens the tune by exploring a more punk rock aesthetic. Dripping in eerie, haunting tones the band use a sinister key refrain to create a spine-chilling sense of innocence while drawing on tension from the relentless drum assault and agitated bass. Well crafted and tightly layered, Munro display their powerful, immersive sound in all its glory within ‘Demonic Headcase’ and boy it’s magnificent.
N.O.A.H have returned with their new summer anthem, ‘Hands Up’. The track presents a very different sound from the band as they venture into a more summer pop style rather than the raw indie rock we experienced in their previous single ‘Darkest Hour’. I caught up with Adam Rooney to chat about the new single, N.O.A.H’s return to live shows and what we can expect from their upcoming debut EP.
“Well, we were always big fans of pop music in general and dance music to an extent. So, it was fairly natural. It wasn’t a conscious decision to change sound. We started working with a producer called Ruadhri Cushnan and he’s won a Grammy he’s worked with Ed Sheeran, Mumford and Sons, The Maccabees, and so many other amazing artists. His influence on our sound obviously is coming through too. He knows how to balance a song, and he brings the best out of all of us. We’re so lucky to work with him. We’re working on our EP at the moment with him, we have a few more tracks to finish up, and we’re ready to go.”
‘Hands Up’ is a sonically rich and well-balanced tune that boasts sweet pop sensibilities, refreshing instrumentation and a driving bassline.
“That song itself, started with a chord progression and a sample that we made. Basically, I was just messing around with Ableton on a sampler, and I had a vocal chop that Ryan did. So then I just heavily effected it, that became the lead melody line. Then it was a case of figuring out nice chord groups on top of that, figuring out a baseline, and once we had them three elements, the chord progression the baseline and the top melody, the rest of it was fairly fine. Lyrically, we all write our own lyrics, so we just put our general ideas together, and that came together in about a day as well, so fairly a quick process”
When N.O.A.H released their debut single ‘Shine’, they told me they had to record everything remotely due to the pandemic. Adam explained how the band have been working on the track since then.
“We had the demo for ‘Hands Up’ over a year ago. So we’ve been working on that. When we brought it to the studio with Ruadhri we probably had like fouror five days on that track, just finding the balance, bringing what needs to be up up, what needs to be down down, and slight tempo changes and that sort of thing.”
‘Hands Up’ marks a brighter and more upbeat shift in the bands sound. Even vocally, Ryan Hill takes a softer approach rather than his usual powerful delivery.
“Yeah, I think it was more to suit the song. It’s not really like a ballad-y song so we’re taking inspiration from bands like MGMT and even Irish bands at the moment like Wild Youth or even The Weeknd. So, singing in that nearly falsetto range for a period of the song I suppose that helps create suspense. It’s also not getting in the way of what’s going on musically either, I suppose yeah, it helps build the idea of suspense and release or tension and release. So the chorus is a bit more full-bodied and full-voiced vocally, and then the verses are a bit more restrained and pulled back.”
N.O.A.H are very much a modern band. They fuse elements of indie rock, pop, electronic and whatever else they feel to create their own incomparable style. With each release, fans eagerly wait to see what the band will do next as they are constantly evolving their sound.
“Yeah, thanks so much. We talk about this a lot you know are we a guitar band? I don’t know, we like electronics and synths and pop music as you’re saying as well so it’s a bit of a blend between a lot of things.”
The band have released a lyric video for ‘Hands Up’. The animation for the video was constructed from individual elements of artwork made by Rionagh McNamara, and it’s an impressive visual for sure.
“The artist who created the artwork for ‘Hands Up’, she’s doing the artwork for the EP, which is amazing. Her name is Rionagh McNamara. What she does is create art but the way she does it is she hand detailed the pieces, and she’ll work in a layer type fashion. So, when you look at the art for ‘Hands Up’ in minute detail, they’re all individual hand-cut little pieces that she then goesand layers on top. So once we had the digital render of each individual layer, we were able to get it animated. It brings a bit of continuity across from the artwork to the lyric video. It turned out really well.I was delighted with it. Even her description of the actual meaning within each individual part of the artwork is, it’s amazing. She brought her own unique perspective to that piece of work, you know”
To mark the release of ‘Hands Up’, N.O.A.H performed one of Ireland’s first indoor shows on July 24th at Solstice Arts Centre in Navan, which was also streamed live. Seen as the band’s debut was released during the pandemic, they hadn’t been able to perform these songs to a live in-person audience. Adam explained how exciting it is to finally be able to do gigs as N.O.A.H.
“Yeah, we had a gig in Navan in The Solstice Theatre. Since that’s a theatre we were allowed a reduced capacity of 50 people. So to be fair that felt like our first gig back. You could see people slightly, we had feedback, we heard people clap or cheer or sing along and things like that, so that was lovely and yeah we played in Mike The Pies, which was an outdoor gig, it was on the rooftop of Mike The Pies, which is such an iconic venue. It was amazing to play. We were supporting Josh McClorey, and he used to be in The Strypes, and that was an amazing night it was 25 people, but it was nice and intimate. It was great to actually get to see people and share experiences of live music.“
It’s an exciting time for N.O.A.H. The band have signed with Natasha Bents’ newly founded Mother Artists Live Agency (Foster The People, Idles, CMAT) and made their first TV appearance on RTÉ Six One News to talk about their story and quick rise within the industry.
“Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. We’re very lucky to have all them experiences over the past year. It doesn’t fit the narrative of a lot of other musicians. We know we are quite lucky. Mother Artists, when we got that sort of lined up, that was a shock to all of us. We’re just happy that they saw something in us. We have a few announcements coming at the end of the summer too in line with them for 2022. But it’s pretty amazing even to be on television, it was great.”
N.O.A.H’s debut EP is set for release this October, and Adam told me what we could expect from the eagerly anticipated EP.
“There’s gonna be a few collaborations on it. Few more than what people have heard. It’s gonna be a long enough EP it’s not a short one. You can get it on vinyl. We’re delighted with it. We’re just in the last few finishing stages of it now. So it should be ready to go in the next week.”
N.O.A.H are an extremely talented band that strive to create diverse, richly textured and energetic tunes. They are crafting their sound superbly, providing a new and tantalizing listening experience with each release, ‘Hands Up’ is the perfect example of this. The song’s soundscape is filled with intricate guitar embellishments and lush electronics while the drum grooves and pulsing bass lines create a heart-fluttering sun-kissed element throughout. ‘Hands Up’ is an exciting teaser for the band’s upcoming EP.
Stream ‘Hands Up’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
