Following the release of their title track ‘Heart Of A Nation’, Columbia Mills return with their new single ‘Addiction’. The track is taken off the band’s upcoming third album and to celebrate the band has announced an Irish and UK headline tour for October / November 2022. The tour includes a headline show at The Academy, Dublin on 25th November 2022. Columbia Mills are regulars at festivals such as Indiependence, Longitude, and Electric Picnic and have supported world-class acts like Ride, Public Service Broadcasting, and Palace. On top of this, they have also toured Ireland & the UK with a string of headline shows at venues such as Whelans, King Tuts, and Sebright Arms.
Doused in a haze of delicate guitar refrains and ethereal soundscapes, ‘Addiction’ is a glorious new single from Colombia Mills. The song pivots around a driving rhythmic pulse that rushes with adrenaline while a chugging bassline groove’s alongside a chiming guitar to create a light and airy atmosphere. Each subsequent listen reveals the deft musical prowess this band possesses – from catchy refrains to psychedelic undertones the track is a musical treat to the ears and becomes more intricate and layered as it progresses. ‘Addiction’ is a beautifully crafted tune that showcases the emotive songwriting and musical talent of Columbia Mills in all its glory. Enjoy.
Speaking about ‘Addiction’ lead singer Fiachra Treacy said: “In society, there seems to be a lack of sympathy towards addicts, particularly those on the margins of society. The song tells the story of the hopeless cyclical nature of addiction. We have framed the song with a euphoric upbeat sound to try and disguise it as a love song. There is an effort to highlight the strength of addiction and compare it with the helpless feeling of falling in love and losing control- something everyone can sympathise with.”
Corner Boy have returned with their highly anticipated new single ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’. It’s an energetic song brimming with vibrant passionate musicianship while boasting the emotive songwriting of the band. I spoke to frontman Mick D’Arcy about the new single, what we can expect from the band’s upcoming debut album and how they found working with producer Gavin Glass.
“Yeah, so the song was written very differently than any previous song we’d done before because it was during the lockdown. We were writing music separately in different counties, in different locations in Ireland. So, automatically, it was a different kind of writing process that we never really explored before and as a result, the song itself is different from any other songs that we’ve written previously. It was exciting to be working in that way. It was the first result of two years of lockdown. So we felt like it was the right song that would represent us as a first single from the album.”
‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’ builds beautifully with freeing soundscapes and evolving instrumentation and D’Arcy explained to me how that captured a sense of freedom in the song.
“Yeah, what we would have done is, when we were working remotely we’d be sending each other back and forth different sound beds relating to the lyrics of the song as well. We wanted to capture the idea of place and different locations of origin that are actually name-dropped as it were, in the song. We wanted to capture that sonically as well. So we would have sent different sound beds, be it either with more kind of rootsy instruments or with different layers of synth and that’s how we explored and how we found our way in the song. Then we wanted to really let the song grow organically as well. So the addition of different instruments on top of it really drove home the message and the feeling behind the song as well. The intent behind the song was to capture an essence of place with that, that’s how the song kind of formed itself, very naturally in that way.”
Though lockdown and the pandemic brought difficult times to many it did aid the band’s sound and gave them the space, time and ability to create the theme of escapism so beautifully captured in the song.
“Yeah, absolutely. I guess when you’re writing in a room together with musicians, there’s six of us in the band, you know, the process in itself can sometimes be very immediate. So something is decided upon and you might tease it out here and there but it’s copper fast and there in the moment. Initially, we were challenged in that way because it was something that we hadn’t done or explored before. But for us, we just became so happy with the song and how it was progressing and the feeling that we were capturing. So yeah, I guess it was really a testament to the times that we were able to write it in that way and as a result write a new piece of work that’s different from anything that we’d released previously. “
Corner Boy have a wonderful knack for emotive melodies. Their songs are laced in sweet earworm melodies and rich intricate refrains that perfectly capture feelings of joy, passion and sadness.
“We wouldn’t be prodigious writers by any means. A lot of the time what wedo is we bring different ideas to the practice room and different pieces of music that we would write would capture various emotions or different range of emotions. So I think melodically with ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’ a lot of it was the combination of a few different musical ideas that we felt were able to capture that feeling that we were trying to get across in the message of the song. So I actually think I’m right by saying that the chorus of the song, the melody for it was written maybe three years ago, the verses were written across 2021/ 2022. So we were taking old ideas, old themes, old feelings and matching them with themes that we were writing there and then in the moment. So it was no real A to Z in the moment writing of the song, we very much are a band that kind of move around. We go back and forth. We revisit different ideas, different soundscapes that we’ve had previously that may have worked in some ways, and then just try to find a marriage between them all. So yeah the song itself, for the most part, about 80% of it would have been written in 2020/2021 but we did revisit old themes that can try to drive home the message and the feeling of the song.”
‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’ is an anthemic track that oozes rich musical tones and lush textures. It is the first single to be released from the band’s upcoming debut album. We discussed how the song provides a taste of what is to come from the album.
“Yeah, I would very much say so. I think we were very blessed, we’re all from Wexford. I guess a very notable Irish producer Gavin Glass recently moveddown to Wexford in the last couple of years and lives quite local to us as well. So we’re getting to know him and the way he works and those interesting synergies between both of us and how we see music and the process of songwriting as well. We would have sat with Gavin on a number of pre-production sessions before we even, recorded the first note of the album and through that, we were able to for once in our lives, really sit in a room, sit in a studio space, get to know every instrument in the place and from that create a record that had this collective identity from start to finish. Blackstairs Winter Snow is definitely something that’s indicative of the next singles that are due to come from the album and the album as a whole as well. So having that opportunity to work with somebody like Gavin as well he’s had so much experience across different genres and he’s a wonderful way of being able to filter all of that for us to arrive at that finish point of what we wanted. So it was a long process, but it was something that was just so beneficial for us to have, that unified sound for the album. So we’re super excited.”
Corner Boy have been around releasing music for nearly 10 years, However only now have the band decided to release their debut album. I wondered if this was due to the band finding the right message, songs or just finding time to craft an album.
“We were actually pretty much ready to record the album in 2019. We were putting everything in place and then of course, you know, an extra two years lapsed. In that time, we were able to find moments where we could get in and work with Gavin, like I said we were working remotely. But at the same time we said look, we can’t wait around any longer but for us, I mean, we were lucky enough to be in a position where we toured extensively in Ireland, UK, Europe and elsewhere. Asia ,North America, I guess it was really just years and years of that experience building it up and being on the road and being more comfortable with this sound that we eventually arrived at, that we felt was completely representative of us as a band. But for us, it was really just finding the right collection of songs and from that process of working with Gavin then as well, being able to solidify your sound as a starting point was really important. I guess now that we all understand that now and we understand the expectation and the intention behind how we want to write and release music and all those years of experience being on the road we’re really confident about the record and we really do love the music that we’re going to be releasing “
The band worked with Producer Gavin Glass in Orphan Studios on the album and D’Arcy explained to me the importance of working with Glass and how his approach helped the band refine their sound.
“Yeah we’d worked with producers previously and every producer is different but the biggest compliment that I could probably pay to somebody like Gavin is that he has this unique ability of being your worst enemy and your best friend at the same time. He will sit with you he will tease through different opinions about sometimes even the slightest of things and it’s something that we’ve learned over the years sometimes it’s those slightest of things that really make a record. Gavin will give you his time, his energy, his thoughts to look at something very specific from a couple of different angles. It was really, really important to us and I guess unlike maybe other producers that we worked with in the past, Gavin’s way of working he essentially becomes a member of your band for the time that you work with him and that’s great. Yeah, he just does it in such a seamless way as well, it really makes you enjoy the entire experience of recording also.”
Corner Boy have also released a video for ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’. The video sees D’Arcy travelling the length and breadth of the country for his loved one and the band use clever camera angles and crisp edited shots to narrate the message of the song in a touching manner.
“It was something that we would have all come together as a band about, the feeling we’re trying to capture with the song. We did sit down and talk about the song, what it means and what it represents. The song itself is about exploring the idea that you would go to any lengths for the people that you love. All of the band are from Wexford. So the Blackstairs mountains are kind of the border of Wexford. It’s where, when you’re entering Wexford, from a lot of different counties it’s once you get there, you’re home and it’s the idea of being with the people that you love in your home in a place that feels natural to you. In the song we’ve just been able to traverse different landscapes and different environments and different challenges overcoming them to really capture the essence of what that feeling is. We shot it over two days earlier this year and we had great fun doing that. So that’s obviously an integral part to capture in the song correctly as well. “
“We’re really happy with it. It was all self-produced by the band as well. So all of the editing, all of the shooting, the storyboarding everything was done by us. It was great to just have that sense of control over it and being able to sometimes execute with a creative vision on something is one of the hardest things that you can do. But when you get there in the end and when you’re happy it’s so rewarding.”
Like all musicians, Corner Boy have had to become familiar with social media and do live streams, TikTok videos etc to help promote themselves and reach their fans. We discussed the challenges and advantages of using social media.
“Yeah, as a band we’ve been around for 10 years. So we’ve seen the full spectrum. When we first started out it was very much the occasional, online posts here and there across a few different channels and now it’s a case where most artists really have to be this kind of provider of content, this kind of entertainment channel. So we’re trying to embrace it as much as we can like we’ve done with the video. It’s just trying to have really strong and evocative visuals as well that represent the music well but also showing off the character of the band, we have the bit of craic that you would have on the road and the fun. We’re all really, really close. We’re all really really good friends. So it’s just trying to capture that feeling in the band as well. Camaraderie is a large part of why we’re in a band together and why we pursue it. So you can look at it one or two ways I guess, you can look at it [ social media ] as a challenge or something that takes up a lot of your time or you can also look at it, as a way to explain the narrative and the story of the band and more than anything demonstrate who you are as people because at the end of the day people are really going to connect to your music that bit more when they understand you as people and who you are.“
Corner Boy’s sound surges with hearty melodies and a rich array of instruments that subtly build to create an immense soundscape that rushes with passion. They are a band who have been cultivating their sound to its purest most invigorating form. ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’ is a fine example of this and an exciting glimpse of what we can expect from their upcoming debut album. Corner Boy have some exciting announcements coming up so keep an eye on their social media to keep up to date with new music and live dates.
“Yeah, so we do have some dates booked in for later in the year. Nothing that we can announce officially yet but we will be announcing details on the release of our album later this year so we definitely have a few Irish dates in mind and some dates abroad as well. I would say details of that will definitely be released sometime before the summer in the next month or two so we’re really looking forward to getting back out on the road. We’ve been in the rehearsal room for the last couple of weeks. I guess like many acts we’re just excited to get back into a venue, into a live setting and just feel the buzz off the crowd. It’s going to be a great moment for us. So we’re really excited for it”
Watch the video for ‘Blackstairs Winter Snow’ below
London singer/songwriter AJ Wander has released his new single ‘When You Say I Love You’. I caught up with him to discuss the new single, what we can expect from his upcoming EP as well as the anxiety that comes with releasing new music.
“I don’t think I do. There’s a little bit of nervous excitement, I’d say, more of a relief to finally get them out in the world because I’ve heard them so many times. By the time they get released it’s a relief to finally not be the only one that’s listening to them. Because I have to listen to them so much in the process of creating them and getting them to the point where I feel I’m happy for them to be released and shown to the world that I’m mildly sick of them by the time they come out. So it’s definitely a bit of selfish relief, in that sense. ButI mean, in terms of nervousness, in terms of how they’re going to be received, it’s so hard to put yourself in other people’s minds and work out what other people are gonna like.So I just find what’s right for myself and if it clicks with people, great if it doesn’t, then Que Será, Será, I’ll move on to the next one [song] .”
‘When You Say I Love You’ is an honest song with a heartfelt melody at it’s core. Wander explained to me how he crafted the song and what sparked him to write it.
“It was witnessing a friend’s relationship and them confiding in me about what’s going on in their situation that his girlfriend had fallen for him too fast. He’s like, Oh, shit, what’s going on? I didn’t quite expect things to move so quickly. He’d been pretending to sort of have the same level of feelings towards her as she did to him and that went on for a little while. Ultimately, he realized it wasn’t healthy. So then its him realizing that he has to be honest about his reservations and wanting to slow things down and speculating about how things are gonna go when he does actually tell her that he in fact, isn’t in love with her yet, but just wants to put the brakes on a little bit.”
At times the lyrics of the song are quite harsh “I could try to pretend but it hurts me to use you/ I’m having a ball and your having a blast I didn’t expect you to fall”. Wander’s warm vocal delivery shelters the listener from the full impact of these lyrics, perfectly highlighting the confusion and oftentimes panic that can occur when someone is honest in how they feel. I wondered if he found it difficult to decide how he would deliver this message in order to be respectful and tender lyrically.
“I didn’t really consider it to be honest. I guess it is a bit harsh. I wrote it pretty late at night and we were just sort of selfish about my friend’s perspective and not considering how she might have actually felt about fessing up that he’d been sort of pretending to feel something when he hadn’t, which obviously, it’s not a very good thing to do. So it wasn’t a conscious consideration, but I’m relieved to hear that you don’t think it’s too harsh. I think it’s a cliche, but the truth hurts sometimes, and I guess sometimes you just got to rip the band-aid off and say it. That’s the whole sentiment of the song, that even though it’s hard for you personally, you can’t just hide the truth from someone because you selfishly are going to find the conversation hard to have. So the song wears its heart on its sleeve and it doesn’t want to hide what it’s trying to say behind anything, that’s the whole point of the song is finally being completely transparent and honest.”
The song is one of several tracks recorded in London and Barcelona with producer Brad Mair (Dean Lewis, Jamie Cullum, Kygo). Mair is such a diverse producer and seems to bring out the best in the artists he works with and Wander explained to me how important working with a producer is for an artist.
“100% and it goes the same with writing as well. It’s always good to haveoutside influence. It jogs your mind into thinking in a different way or looking at things with a different perspective. I think it’s very much a collaborative process and we bounce off of each other to be honest in the room, and we also had Gethin [Williams] the guy that I wrote it with, sort of weighed in on the prod as well. So it was a three-way creative process. We will bounce off of each other and add our own little flavours to the track.”
Wander released a live video of him performing his previous single ‘Take It All’ in an old paper mill in Wembley. It’s a passionate performance that highlights the range and warmth of Wander’s voice while also giving a glimpse into the live full-band style of Wander.
“It’s great fun. There are lots of creepy mannequins dotted around, a few of them had some pretty tasty looking outfits, to be fair, I was a bit jealous. It was like walking through a horror-themed vintage store. It was great fun. It’s was just a quick sort of in and out. Those days go so quickly, filming days are just pretty relentless. People prodding you and seeing if your hair looks the least crap it could be. The band were great. I was very lucky to work with a bunch of great friends that happen to be great musicians. Yeah, it’s all good fun. I just recorded a live stripped version for ‘When You Say I Love You’ and there’s more video graphic content being made as well for some upcoming singles which is very exciting and I feel very lucky to be able to do because it’s expensive. It is crazy how much money you can spend on lights and stuff and smoke machines”
‘When You Say I Love You’ is a taster of Wander’s first EP due in late 2022 and the singer told me what we can expect from the upcoming EP.
“That is a very good question. If I was to sum up the lyrical topics of the EP it’s ‘intoxicated love’. Not necessarily all self-reflective but yeah, that seems to be the theme and it’s definitely a stepping stone from the sound that I have now into what’s coming next. I mean, the EP, beyond the next EP that’s coming out is already ready to go. So it definitely feels like a stepping stone towards where I’m headed sonically as an artist.”
Wander has an ability to write songs about other people’s life experiences giving him more scope to venture into themes and topics that are not necessarily about him and his life. This limitless songwriting inspiration gives Wander’s writing more diversity and relatability.
“Yeah, well, the thing is, my life is just a bit too boring to only write about my own life. I wish it wasn’t. I ran out of things to write about my own life when I was about 22. So I’ve been forced to improvise since then sort of seeking out other people’s drama. I’ve just been a massive gossip. Basically. I just hang out in hair salons, reading OK Magazine, Hello. OK, you know, all the classics, just seeking out song topics.”
Wander has been back performing live shows and we discussed how thrilling it feels to perform on stage. I also asked if there is the potential for a show in Ireland.
“It feels bloody good. I just wish I was doing more. I really want to go on the road that’s why I do it I think. I just want to be out in front of people, connecting with strangers through the songs I’ve written and seeing how people react in real-time. Touring the world, not even the world just touring the UK, touring London, touring even just my street. Just pop into my neighbour’s houses would suffice, but yeah, just to get on the road of some description would be great.
“There aren’t yet, there are conversations happening is what I’ll say. I’ve had Irish sort of touring slash Irish trips, planned a few times over the past few years, and they’ve all been cancelled because of COVID. So I’m really hoping to get over there as soon as possible. Fingers crossed it happens before the years out. That’s my aim.”
AJ Wander is an artist who is developing and refining his sound beautifully and his new single ‘When You Say I Love You’ is a delight to the ears. His piano anchored sound is flourishing as he adds catchy pop elements and cinematic undertones into the mix to create a compelling and moving listening experience. Each of his releases have been vibrant earworms and his knack for sweet melodies make his tracks dangerously addictive. If his velvety tone and earnest songwriting alone doesn’t pique your interest then his rich musicianship and irresistible melodies will get you for sure.
Breakout Irish rockers N.O.A.H have released their new single ‘The Way We Are Told’.This new single follows the highly regarded debut EP Echoes of the Night, which features collaborations with the likes of the Irish hip hop duo, Hare Squead as well as New Orleans style brass band Booka Brass. The EP was produced by the Grammy-Winning Ruadhri Cushnan in Camden Studios and mastered by John Davis of Metropolis studios London. With word spreading fast and the ever-growing press, N.O.A.H signed with Natasha Bents’ newly founded Mother Artists Live Agency (Foster The People, Idles, CMAT). The band even made their first TV appearance on RTÉ Six One News to talk about their story and quick rise within the industry.
Laced in passionate melodies and cinematic instrumentation, ‘The Way We Are Told’ boasts the mesmerising sound of N.O.A.H. The band surge warm Americana rock over a bubbling indie backdrop of sharp guitars, rippling drums and 80’s – esque synths to create a gripping listening experience. N.O.A.H’s sonically lush sound is boundless and boasts an array of genres and tantalizing textures for listeners to indulge in. On each subsequent listen the track’s lush soundscape reveals little musical gems throughout from emotive musicianship to compelling songwriting. ‘The Way We Are Told’ is an excellent example of fine musicianship; the production, arrangement, lyrics and vocals all blend together spectacularly. N.O.A.H is an exciting and immensely talented band to keep an eye on.
Dublin’s newest indie-pop band, St Francis have released their new single ‘These Days’.The Dublin four-piece are graduates from BIMM Institute, giving them a huge head start in highlevel live performances and musical sensibilities.So far, the band have released their well-received debut single ‘Over & Over’, which has set the table for These Days to take them to the next level. No strangers to the live scene, St. Francis are booking shows for the rest of the year. The band are just off the back of their pre-release shows at The Grand Social and The Workmans’ Cellar and will soon be announcing more gigs for the upcoming months
‘These Days’ is a luscious guzzle of indie-pop that displays the energetic and irresistible sound of St Francis. The band create a lustrous soundscape of bright guitars, buoyant rhythms and driving bass lines while shimmering synths chime in the background. It’s a heartfelt tune saturated in earworm melodies as the band discuss the complexities of relationships through refined musicianship and expressive songwriting. ‘These Days’ is a joy to listen to and beckons repeat plays, and is a fine example of the exciting sound of St Francis. Looking forward to hearing more from this talented band.
On These Days, frontman Will Ryan said: “These Days is an important song for us, not just because of the meaning and arrangement, but because it was the first time we got to be a band in the studio. Forming just before the pandemic meant we had to wait a little longer to really show what St. Francis is about, and we can’t wait for people to finally hear that”.
Driven Snow have released their debut single, ‘Trying’. Little by little Driven Snow began to emerge in the shape of a collection of songs that are at odds with, yet informed by, their collective musical outings (Kieran as a lynchpin of Delorentos and Emily as a vocalist with Republic of Loose and Stars On Fire). The pair decamped (with children, grandparents and all) to Donegal, taking their musical sketches up to Tommy McLaughlin’s Attica Studios (Villagers, S.O.A.K., Pillow Queens) and encouraging them to grow into simple, gentle tunes with a big heart and a common soul.
With just gentle guitar accompaniment and lush harmonies ‘Trying’ is a beautiful piece of music that displays Driven Snow’s ability to express emotion through delicate instrumentation and meaningful songwriting. The spacious elements within the song gently draw the listener into the track’s ethereal soundscapes and expansive atmosphere while the soft buoyant rhythms add a bite and lift to the song. The track slowly builds throughout while the sweet tone of Kieran and Emily’s vocals coo lyrics that deal with anxiety and yearning to overcome the fears we all experience while navigating through life. The duo gracefully translate these feelings through a few short yet powerfully evocative words “My dreams get dark at three am and I’m not so zippy, like I pretend but I am trying”.
‘Trying’ is a charming tune that provides an exciting glimpse into the talent of Driven Snow. Looking forward to hearing more little gems from this duo.
Ten Hands High have released their new single ‘i don’t need a lobster’.Based in London, made in Leeds, Ten Hands High’s sound has evolved drastically since their inception in 2019. They have consistently sold-out headline shows in their two hometowns and have supported bands like Glass Caves and Luna Bay. Jack Saunders of BBC Radio 1 called their debut EP’s lead single called Sweet, “euphoric”. The band have been played on regional BBC Introducing, 6Music’s BBC Introducing Mixtape and Radio X’s X-Posure, as well as being featured on playlists like Spotify’s Students Union and Amazon’s Fresh Indie.
‘’i don’t need a lobster’ is a laid back listening experience that oozes sweet earworm melodies, sleek instrumentation and sunkissed tones. R&B elements twinkle between a luminous indie-pop soundscape while the lyrics suggest instead of putting pressure on the idea of a soul-mate, be present in a relationship and what will happen, will happen. ‘i don’t need a lobster’ is a fresh catchy tune that is a joy to listen to again and again. Enjoy.
How an artist chooses to portray their music within the live setting can add an exciting facet to their sound that allows listeners to experience the artist’s music in a whole new way. Such an experience occurred last Saturday when Daniel Fitzpatrick aka Badhands delivered a stunning performance of his new album ‘Far Away’ along with some of his beloved hits during his headline show at Whelan’s Dublin.
Support act Anderson took to the stage andassured the crowd saying “You never know I might be someone special. And you’ll never know if you’re not listening and you’ll never be able to say I was there. Trust me, inside info, you’re in the presence of someone f**king special” before delving into tender tunes that oozed elements of pop, country and indie. Anderson is the solo venture of Daniel Anderson, a charming musician who has the remarkable ability to hush the chattering of a crowd and enthral them with his witty banter and sweet melodies. “I’m here for Dan to celebrate his album launch just like you. I’d appreciate any applause you have saved up for him to share a bit with me and also attention if you could share a bit of that sh*t, always goes down well”. On the nightAnderson’s songs and tongue in cheek humour went down a treat, especially the short and melodically lush ‘I’ll get back to you when I’ve Got Nothing Better To Do’ and ‘Cecilia’s Sister Medley’ which musically pays homage to Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Cecilia’ and The Beatles ‘Get Back’ in the most spectacular way. It was a fun and light-hearted set with songs that not only showcased lush melodies and bright tones but lyrical substance as well.
The resounding rhythmic stomp of ‘They Know You Better’ announced the beginning of Badhands‘ terrific set. With the full band behind him, the set was a sprawling raucous affair. Each song came to life and overflowed with vibrant kinetic energy within the live setting. The tender ‘When I Think About You’ and ‘Quiet and Still’ filled the venue with swoon-worthy tempos, sensual bass grooves, twinkling keys and hip-swaying rhythms. On the album these songs exude a more delicate persona, however, live, they became dynamic and expressive – a nice surprise for all present on the night.
The band onstage ( Chris Barry, Tom Cosgrave, Aoife Ruth, Ken Mooney, and David Tapley ) played their instruments with admirable finesse and perfectly complemented Daniel Fitzpatrick’s warm vocal delivery through heartfelt melodies and rich musicianship filled with thrilling guitar riffs, rhythmic drum manoeuvres and wonderful violin embellishments. The crowd lapped up the energy, some embraced and sang as they swayed to songs from the artist’s EP project ‘Oceans’, (which was inspired by the unique nature of each of the world’s five oceans).
Badhands put on a show to remember, and an unexpected encore delivered a memorable moment for the audience. Daniel Fitzpatrick returned to the stage with violinist Aoife Ruth after chants for “one more tune” to perform a time-stopping performance that left the crowd in awe. It was a magical end to a night of exquisite music. Looking forward to seeing Badhands live again soon.
Following the recent hit ‘Champagne Butterflies’, Wild Youth are back with their new single, ‘Seventeen’. I caught up with vocalist David Whelan to chat about the new single, the band’s upcoming EP and what they have planned for the upcoming months.
‘Seventeen’ is a cinematic tune that instantly rushes with passionate musicianship. Delicate keys flutter through suspenseful drums while supple guitar chimes throughout as the band perfectly capture the adrenaline of youth through expressive instrumentation and wistful lyrics.
“ I think the lyrics sort of facilitated the whole song. We had so much time over covid to think about our childhoods and our easier, fun days where there were no worries, you know what I mean? Your biggest worry was whether you were going to beat your mate at FIFA on PlayStation that night, it was so easy. So, all the lyrics flowed very naturally. The lyrics really honed in I feel, on the energy and the drive of the song, and then it just felt right to just stick to it and make it an anthem. So yeah, it was more lyric drawn. “
The song was co-written with JC Stewart. Whelan explained to me how that collaboration came about.
“We know JC very well. We’re good pals with JC. We actually met JC when we were supporting Kodaline on the European tour. JC was opening the whole show and he was on his own. It was just him and his acoustic guitar and he was travelling around on buses and planes and all that sort of stuff on his own. So we just took him into our group and he’d come into our changing room backstage before we play gigs. We got really close and we stayed in touch ever since. We’ve wrote loads of songs with him. One of the lads in the band actually lived with him for a while in London. So me and Connor were in the studio in London with JC and that’s when Seventeen was born that day. We just started talking lets write a song about when we were younger and life was easy, and we weren’t always stressed and thats how it happened”
Co-writing allows for a fresh perspective on an artist’s music. We discussed the importance of collaborating with other songwriters, to bring diversity to an artist’s writing style or sound.
“Yeah, for sure. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it at all. I think you hit the nail on the head with what you said it does bring a different perspective. It’s very refreshing to sit down in a room and have a chat with someone and see what they do and see their thought process and there’s no right or wrong answer to any of this, it’s creation. You’re just throwing stuff at a wall and seeing if it sticks and if it feels good and it resonates and everybody has a different view on life. It’s so crazy actually when I say that out loud. Everyone has a different view and everybody has a lot of similarities. The human species, we can relate to each other very well. But you’ve lived a different life to me. I’ve lived a different life to you, but we can find that little thing that brings us together. So it’s cool. Yeah, it actually is really cool when you collaborate with somebody. You’re bringing two different views of a story together. It’s just fun as well. It’s fun being in a room with somebody and just bounce ideas and having the craic, music is good, it brings joy. So to share that with somebody in a creation process is cool”
‘Seventeen’ is the first single to be taken from Wild Youth’s upcoming EP. The song gives fans a sense of what the rest of the EP will sound like.
“I think it gives a little bit of a teaser to what’s to come yeah. We are actually in the studio now recording the next single, and it’s like Seventeen on steroids. It’s a beast so yeah, theres more like that to come.”
‘Seventeen’ showcases a different side to Wild Youth’s sound. I wondered was this the product of trying to capture the atmosphere the lyrics allude to or was it the band experimenting with their sound.
“ I think, it’s a bit of both. There’s definitely been a natural progression into that as well. Our first song we ever released All or Nothing that’s more indie, like electric guitar-heavy. We kind of went back towards that a bit, naturally, but also we wanted to. We definitely wanted to. The song had to be like that, Seventeen, that’s the way it had to be heard and we love that sound. So yeah, it’s a bit of both a bit of a natural progression and our own choice”
The pandemic affected everyone in the music industry in different ways and Whelan explained how it affected the band with writing and recording this next collection of songs.
“Yeah, it did in a way. A lot of studios shut down during covid. Connor’s in London, we’re here. So I was going back and forth. But then sometimes it was hard to because sometimes I couldn’t actually go over. So it did slow down the process a small bit. We found ourselves doing a lot of these zooms, which we all love. Yeah, it was different. It was definitely a change that we had to get used to. But we’re back now. So it’s all fun. We were in the studio yesterday with people and yeah, we’re back doing it like it should be done.”
Wild Youth’s Sold Out Spring Tour saw them take in venues across Ireland and the UK including The Academy in Dublin and Omera in London. They will also play support to Lewis Capaldi for his three sold-out Irish shows as well as support Westlife at their hugely anticipated show in Cork’s Pairc Ui Chaoimh as well as making headline appearances at Electric Picnic, Indiependence, Boat Yard Festival and more.
“It was sick. We just finished our own tour. It was pretty beautiful to be honest. I got into this because I love performing. That’s the main reason why I wanted to be in a band I wanted to tour. I can’t sit still for too long. So being on the road is the perfect thing for me. I get itchy feet if I’m just not doing that. So yeah, it was absolutely phenomenal. Covid was crazy, for artists in general and a lot of people that work in the arts. We had crew affected by it. It was crazy for us because there was a few times in my mind during it where I was like, oh wow will we ever get to do this again. You know? That was a scary thought because I’ve never not done something like this. I’ve always done gigs or been in bands and, obviously, Wild Youth is my life. So this tour was just the most emotional, beautiful tour I’ve ever been on. It’s probably the best I’ve ever done. Personally, the most one I’ve ever enjoyed. I’ll never take any of this for granted ever again because I know how quick it was taken away by covid for that period of time and it was a shock to the system. I don’t want to ever feel that again. So it [the tour] was absolutely phenomenal”
Live shows can be overwhelming. The energy when performing is unlike anything else and performing can be an intense experience on the body and mind. Whelan explained what it was like for him to return to the stage.
“Yeah big time. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen us play, but we go crazy upthere we are very energetic. It’s like playing 18 football matches in a space of an hour and fifteen minutes. I’m not even joking. It’s very strenuous on the body. But we got ready for it. We were ready to go again whenever it was going to be allowed. So yeah, we were pretty ready. But that adrenaline feeling, that boost of adrenaline. I’ve never felt that anywhere in my life apart from there. That was crazy the first time I felt it again after the two and a half years. We played our first show and it was sold out and the crowd literally went crazy for the songs and I mean crazy. I was like, it was an overload, it was like a bunny overload, I thought I was going to have a heart attack or something, I didn’t know what to do. So yeah, that was something that I needed to readjust to again, being able to absorb all that energy that’s coming at you and not pass out”
Wild Youth have a big year ahead with an EP in the works and a lot of gigs to delight fans.
“We’re back in the studio. The next single is being done up right now. So newmusic will be coming and we’ve loads of gigs. Festival season is back so we are playing a lot of festivals. There’s a lot of gigging and a lot of new music. The fact that gigs are back now we just want to play all the time. So you’ll see us everywhere hopefully playing gigs and new music”
Wild Youth are constantly refining their songwriting and sound. ‘Seventeen’ is a sublime display of their ability to create engaging, energetic and heartfelt tunes filled with irresistible indie-pop. The band always delivers on a solid anthem and if ‘Seventeen’ is anything to go by the upcoming EP is set to be glorious.
Cork-based singer-songwriter SAL has released her new single, ‘Bullet in the Heart’.‘Bullet in the Heart’ was co-written by SAL with the late Scott English (writer of ‘Mandy’). It is the first release under the SAL pseudonym, as well as the first release since SAL signed a publishing deal with prestigious West Cork-based publishing company, AtSongs, and a management deal with London-based Charlie B Management. Having unveiled a host of new material at Liverpool Irish Festival in 2021, SAL is ready to perform her new songs, with live shows in Ireland (Whelan’s, Dublin 5th May; and Cyprus Avenue, Cork 2nd June) as well as opening for Mica Paris at Woolwich Works, London on 23rd April, and a 12-date tour of Germany through May.
‘Bullet in the Heart’ is a sweet 80’s infused alternative pop tune that surges with rich musicianship and irresistible melodies. SAL drifts her supple vocals over a dreamy melody while punctuated beats and shimmering synths flesh out the glittering backdrop. There is a soft sun-kissed atmosphere within the track as SAL uses rich electronic textures, warm guitar embellishments and R&B tones throughout – highlighting SAL’s deft musical prowess and emotive songwriting. Boasting glorious soundscapes ‘Bullet in the Heart’ is a joy to listen to and a sublime new single from SAL.
About the track, SAL said: “It’s a song about resilience in the face of loneliness and being in love…while still being fearless of all that life throws at you in the midst of chaos”.
Stream ‘Bullet in the Heart’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
