Dublin alternative-rock newcomers TV People have released their debut EP, ‘Nothing More’, via Blowtorch Records. The band worked alongside an all-star team including Dan Doherty at Darklands Audio (Fontaines D.C., Vulpynes), Christian Wright at Abbey Road Studios (Radiohead, Blur, LCD Soundsystem) and Grammy award-winning Caesar Edmunds (QOTSA, St. Vincent, PJ Harvey).
‘Nothing More’ is an intriguing EP that displays TV People’s intricate and brooding sound in all its dark, gritty glory. The band blend magnificent guitar refrains with moody melodies and tight rhythmic elements to create a cohesive and utterly thrilling wall of sound. From the aching of ‘Shallow Minds’ ( which blossoms into a wonderful explosion of angst-filled frustration enhanced by crashing guitars and raw bass rumbles ) through to the intense and evocative ‘Out of the Silence’; TV People’s sound flows with immersive atmospherics and deft musicianship.
Within each track, the light and dark elements balance to create awe-inspiring soundscapes that draw the listener in with each hypnotic note. Fine examples of this are ‘Nothing More’ and ‘String’. Both tracks pulse around a deep seducing bass and rhythmic pound on drums to create a dark and eerie grunge-laced backdrop for the sweet, elegant guitar melodies to elevate off. The unique blend of instrumentation within each track entices the listener and is quite the treasure on the ears.
TV People certainly have a way with words. Wrapped in the allure of first-rate poetry their masterful storytelling is powerfully evocative and the band use the spacious elements within each tracks instrumentation to great effect to enhance their poignant lyrical content. Each vocal pause, soft guitar refrain and instrumental build is deliberate and mirrors certain undertones within the lyrics while Donohoe’s sombre vocals narrate feelings of disconnection, angst and existential anxiety with a captivating nonchalance “I watched the Liffey bleed along the banks of distant quays, and I awaken when the feeling flows from out of the silence”. This wonderful blend of musicianship and eloquent lyrical content is a sublime example of the rich and consuming effect of TV People’s sound.
‘Nothing More’ is a sublime debut EP from a very talented band. There are moments of hope, despair and numbness beautifully presented through this five-track masterpiece showcasing a band in constant motion who create meaningful and thought-provoking tunes that reveal more with each subsequent listen. Press play and enjoy.
Bio: Waterford musician Eoin Devereux has released his new single called ‘Falling Apart’ which is a successor to ‘Going My Own Way’ and ‘Fall and Save’ both written and recorded alone in his bedroom in County Wexford.
Track: Falling Apart
Why We Like It: This brooding number balances bedroom pop with sulky R&B elements to create a satisfying tune for listeners to enjoy. The song is layered in luxuriant, spacious soundscapes with warm guitar weaving between simmering synths and whispered vocal elements creating a lethargic and sombre backdrop for Devereux’s smooth vocals to gently drift over. ‘Falling Apart’ is a spacey alternative pop tune masterfully crafted for repeat plays.
Bio: The Lathums have released their new single ‘I’ll Get By’ from their upcoming debut album, ‘How Beautiful Life Can Be’ which is set for release Friday 24th of September.
Track: I’ll Get By
Why We Like It: Bouncing on a chugging rhythm section while jangly guitars ooze a desert-esque warmth and vibrancy, the band have crafted a glorious ditty with ‘I’ll Get By’. The track is a joy to listen to and displays strong musical growth within the bands sound. A sweet 50’s hued melody is drizzled over soothing vocals and catchy refrains to create a wholesome, smile-inducing tune saturated in the heartfelt songwriting and charming musicianship of The Lathums. Press play and enjoy
Bio : The Crowleys have released their new single ‘Somnia’.The Crowleys consist of Cohen Wylie (guitar, vocals, production), Stuart Downie (drums, vocals), Giulianna Frontini (vocals) and brothers Justyn (synth, guitar) and Collin Horlick (bass, bass synth). Wylie, Downie and the Horlicks have been playing together for over a decade since bonding over music in high school. ’Somnia’ marks the first single to be released in preparation for The Crowleys debut full length album
Track: Somnia
Why We Like It: It’s a dynamic psychedelic pop tune saturated in kaleidoscopic melodies and textures. Shimmering synths weave between driving beats and chiming guitars creating an 80’s lush sound that exudes a dark undertone throughout. The song swirls with cinematic grandeur while an infectious rhythmic groove and heavy bass line ground the listener within the song’s dense soundscape. Filled with epic pines on guitar and brooding electronics ‘Somnia’ is a thrilling tune laced in The Crowley’s mesmerising musicianship.
Bio : Emerging Afro-Irish artist Xona has released his latest single ‘In My Head’.Having moved from Lagos to Ireland at the age of 10, he spent his teenage years mixing it up between the church choir and watching live performances of pop stars like Prince and Christina Aguilera on YouTube. Pursuing his dream of writing songs and being a singer Xona studied for degrees in jazz and popular music all the while making ripples in the Irish underground music scene. Xona began working with different producers and songwriters in London, Berlin, and Dublin. His influences emanate from the vast worlds of jazz, electronic, house, rock and even classical music.
Track: In My Head
Why We Like It: This intoxicating tune is wrapped in cinematic soundscapes as Xona creates a heart rushing pop tune filled with passion and emotion. His soulful vocals and velvety tone caress the nostalgic melody while building electronics, intricate rhythms and punctuated beats flurry in the background to create a rush of adrenaline throughout. The production is clean and precise while Xona’s emotional songwriting and expressive vocals lift the track to celestial heights. ‘In My Head’ is an impressive new tune sure to revolve in the listeners head for days.
Bio : Nottingham six-piece, For The Girl are back with their brand new single ‘The New Dance Movement’.
Track: The New Dance Movement
Why We Like It: It’s a swaggering single from the six-piece, the track exudes a catchy anthemic melody that showcases the bands raucous indie rock and lyrical depth in all its glory. Epic guitar refrains whirlwind around pulverising drums and a groove-laced bass while passionate vocals highlight the tracks lyrical content of being stuck in a rut and trying to find a way out. This vigorous anthem is a fine example of For The Girl’s refined and boisterous musicianship. Enjoy.
Candy’s Guilt have released their new single ‘blue ivory’. Candy’s Guilt is a four-piece band from North Dublin. The band was founded by Sean Walsh (guitar) and John Kennedy (vocals) when they met in secondary school. The band also consists of Oscar Geraghty on drums and percussion and Pearce Fitzpatrick O’Donovan on bass.
‘blue ivory’ is a melodically lush tune from Candy’s Guilt. The band craft the song around mellow twinkles on guitar and soft percussion while supple soundscapes exude a majestic sense of euphoria throughout. The song has a retro 50’s-esque quality within the melody as Candy’s Guilt take a minimalist approach to the song to create a dreamy and pacifying listening experience for listeners to indulge in. ‘blue ivory’ is an intriguing and enjoyable display of musicianship from Candy’s Guilt. Looking forward to hearing more from the four-piece.
London singer-songwriter Luka Powell has released her debut single ‘Hindsight’. Born in Derby but raised in Bahrain, Australia and the UAE, Luka cites her exposure to a divergent range of cultures and music for her eclectic sound. While Luka’s Australian upbringing is notable in her distinctive, aggressively joyful, indie-rock sound the Southern Hemisphere seem to do so well, her musical taste has always been rooted in London where she now resides. Learning to sing busking on the streets of Brisbane, Luka gained traction on Soundcloud amassing over 180k streams which led her to perform at festivals including Virgin Radio’s Redfest in Dubai, appearing on international radio shows and performing for the Australian Prime Minister.
‘Hindsight’ showcases the effervescent sound of Luka Powell through refined musicianship and deft production. Teaming eerie soundscapes with desert pines on guitar, the artist creates a lofty and edgy backdrop for her lush pop melodies and warm vocals to flourish in. The track is well crafted and builds superbly through haunting backing vocals, choppy guitar embellishments and intricate percussive elements that create a smoky and dark undertone throughout. Exuding an indie rock n roll persona mixed with soft country tones and sweet pop sensibilities, ‘Hindsight’ is an enticing and compelling debut that marks Luka Powell an artist to keep an eye on.
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.”
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.”
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.
Dublin based alternative pop band The Crayon Set have released two new singles: ‘Summer Song’ / ‘Rock Star’, taken from their upcoming album ‘Downer Disco’. Filled with the diverse and infectious sound of The Crayon Set, ‘Summer Song’ and ‘Rock Star’, showcases two different facets of the band’s style to create a dynamic listening experience for listeners to enjoy.
Boasting twinkling guitars, a steady beat and dreamy melodies, ‘Summer Song’ displays the sweet psychedelic side of The Crayon Set’s sound. This light ditty flows upon subtle bright soundscapes while ethereal keys chime throughout, creating a soft hue within the song’s atmosphere. The Crayon Set showcase their ability to capture emotion and a suspenseful sense of euphoria within ‘Summer Song’ and it is simply divine.
Showcasing jangly jazz stained keys, jaunty guitar refrains and punchy drums, ‘Rock Star’ exudes the band’s swaggered, indie rock bravado. Kate Dineen’s vocals are the constant throughout both releases. She sweetly coos with a lulling compelling tone in ‘Summer Song’ and croons with a slight edgy rasp for the energetic ‘Rock Star’. Her beautiful vocal blends perfectly with each tracks instrumentation and highlights the bands refined musicianship.
The Crayon Set are developing their sound beautifully, crafting songs that surge with vivid emotion and glorious lush instrumentation. Their ability to produce irresistible earworms that ooze edgy, indie rock sensibilities is awe-inspiring and marks them as a band to keep an eye on.
Stream ‘Summer Song’ / ‘Rock Star’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
