Best known as the guitarist of Choice nominated band Come On Live Long and Dirty Dreamer, Dotts O’Connor’s new solo project is a departure from his previous work with the aforementioned groups. Having spent the past decade performing and collaborating with his bandmates, it was moving from Dublin to Cavan that provided him with the freedom to work on his own material.
On his solo project, Dotts found himself working alone in a spare room following his intuition. Thus allowing himself to be guided by small thoughts and daily observations in his approach to songwriting, a departure from working alongside the collective of a band.
His upcoming solo EP, ‘The Coney E.’P, is a culmination of this solitary time spent working on his craft. Throughout the writing process, he had only one rule.Does the song stand on its own with vocals and guitar?
What If?is the first single from the EP set to be released on March 2nd.
Dotts comments on the song:
What If is a song about moving out of your comfort zone, taking a chance and ignoring that negative voice which so often makes the decisions in our daily lives. Told through humorous ‘What If’ scenarios The song is underpinned by Dotts’ subtle guitar fingerpicking which allows the vocal to ask the question, What If? The song was recorded at Wolfhound Sound in Dublin with Ken McCabe. The song was produced by Dotts with additional production from Stephen Kelly who also mixed and mastered the song.
The E.P. was recorded in Wolfhound Sound Studios with his bandmate and friend Ken McCabe. Every Sunday for 3 months Dotts would travel to Dublin and record for the day. He used the time spent in the car to decide which direction he wanted each song to take without overthinking the process. The result is a 5-song project dealing with themes of sense of place, longing, and death with Dotts’ distinctive guitar playing creating a safe place where each song can tell its story.
Bringing a unique brand of alternative rock to the Irish music scene, Under Starling hail from the Viking City of Ireland. The band’s reverb-soaked melodies and dark distorted riffs, euphoria envelops the listener. A powerful rhythm section provides a rocky undertone to their pop-laden music. Sonic influences include Biffy Clyro, Foals, and The Japanese House.
Through their energetic live shows, this gritty four-piece is rapidly growing its fan base. Recent singles Arrows and Icarus from their Mongrel EP have been praised by the likes of Hot Press and RTE.
From high-octane crowd-surfing, energetic mosh pits, and frontman Danny’s interaction with his fans during the show, the band is one to watch for 2023. The escapism offered by their music and live shows brings people together like a flock of starlings. “We are like murmurations”
The first musical offering from the band of 2023 is the new single “Trick of the Light” which is a metaphor for the fantasies of a hopeless romantic, set to be released on Feb 17th, 2023.
“Throughout the song, we tether the line between the dream world and reality. Rather than following the classic Hollywood trope, the underdog does not get the person of their dreams. The closing message is one of self-growth and learning how to move on”.
The song was a result of Danny’s involvement in Charlie Puths Monthly course. One of the tasks was to challenge yourself by creating a composition out of your comfort zone. And so, this alternative synth-pop song was born.
While creating the record the band used a number of vintage recording techniques. A Roberts 770x tape recorder brought a retro effect to electronic samples, while a Hammondorgan paired with the timeless Leslie speaker introduced a warm analogue feel to the track.
Duran Duran have announced their Irish, Dublin Show for May 7th 2023! Closing out a landmark year for Duran Duran, last week the band announced that the FUTURE PAST tour will extend with five huge headline arena shows across the UK and Ireland through the Spring of 2023. The dates have been met with phenomenal demand.
Duran Duran’s six headline FUTURE PAST arena shows will begin at Manchester’s AO Arena on April 29th, marking the band’s first-ever performance at the venue, followed by two dates at London’s The O2 Arena, Leeds’ First Direct Arena, Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, and the 3 Arena in Dublin. More activity is soon to be announced.
Simon Le Bon said:
“2022 has been an extraordinary year for Duran Duran – mainly down to the incredible fans we have around the world. In July we celebrated our years together at Hyde Park as part of the British Summer Time Festival. Next Spring we will be back on home soil once again to continue the party. It’s remarkable to me that as a band, we are still hitting new milestones, still able to introduce the sound of DD to new generations of music lovers. We are truly grateful that we get to do what we do on a daily basis, and that we still love our job as much as we did when we started out some four decades ago.”
2022 has seen Duran Duran celebrate a landmark year. The band have just been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, a career peak that follows a summer live season of epic proportions – headlining London’s Hyde Park, performing at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, closing the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in their home town of Birmingham, a headline tour across North America which included sold out shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden and three nights at the Hollywood Bowl, and the cinematic release of new docu-concert film, ‘A Hollywood High’. All this after the huge success of new studio album FUTURE PAST, hailed as Duran Duran at their best by critics and fans alike, four decades into their rich and storied career.
Following an exceptional run of cinema screenings across 35 countries, with spectacular premieres at the legendary Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and the Vue West End Cinema in London, Duran Duran’s feature-length docu-concert film ‘A Hollywood High’ will stream exclusively on-demand globally via Veeps from December 18th – January 2nd.
The film immortalises Duran Duran’s peerless live show with a stunning rooftop performance taped in Los Angeles and brings to life the band’s deep and important relationship with the city through exclusive new interviews, behind-the-scenes video and unseen archival footage, charting their rise to becoming one of the most successful and influential bands of all time.
Fans around the world will be able to experience the film from the comfort of their homes via a premium, ultra-high-definition viewing experience through Veeps.com or the Veeps app on Apple TV, Roku, iOS, and Android.
‘A Hollywood High’ is the first Veeps show to be enabled with 4K / UHD, Dolby Digital & Atmos (the highest possible quality, cinema-grade sound and vision available), as well as closed captions and subtitles. Tickets for the stream are available at DuranDuran.veeps.com.
With each stream ticket sold via Veeps, special bundle packages are available, including A Hollywood High Cap, T-shirt, an exclusive poster, and a very special limited-edition movie program ‘magazine’, complete with two 7-inch Flexi discs, which feature ‘Ordinary World’ and ‘Tonight United’ live audio from the movie.
Closing an extraordinary year for Duran Duran, a deluxe edition of new studio album ‘FUTURE PAST (Complete Edition)’ is out now via BMG. The 2LP set includes all 15 tracks from FUTURE PAST plus Duran Duran’s cover of David Bowie’s “Five Years”. The first LP is red, the second is green. The gatefold package features a new silver/grey version of the cover art and also includes two 12″ x 12″ art booklets. Listen/order here.
April / May 2023 UK Headline Arena Tour Dates
April 29 – The AO Arena, Manchester
May 1 – The O2, London
May 2 – The O2, London – Extra Date Added Due To Huge Demand
Irish Pop singer and multi-instrumentalist Michelle Grimes arrived on the scene with a voice, panache and Pop / R’n’B sensibility that instantly set her apart from her musical peers. No stranger to the stage, Michelle has performed in Trafalgar Square to over 20,000 spectators as part of ‘Pride in London’, has sung for the King and Queen of Belgium as well as singing for The Taoiseach and the U.S Presidential party in June last year when they visited Ireland.
“Hailing from Limerick, Grimes has emerged as one of the country’s most promising pop acts of recent memory. After the release of her first single ‘Going, Going, Gone’, Hotpress nominated Grimes alongside the likes of Dermot Kennedy and Denise Chaila for Irish artist of the year and one to watch. Michelle’s debut single wowed Irish radio and she went straight onto playlists across the country from Fm104, Live95, LMFM, Corks 96 and C103 as their Select Irish Artist of the Month as well as gracing the airwaves across BBC (Track of the week), 2FM, Spin and many more.
Michelle smashed it at the overall International Radio Charts in Ireland landing on the Top 20 most-played Artists on Irish radio alongside Ariana, Joel Corry, Dermot Kennedy, Dua Lipa, and other stars. The track reached #3 in the breakers charts on Irish radio too.
With a sound that’s already been compared to the likes of Ariana Grande, Jessie J and Dua Lipa, the Irish star-in-the-making blends elements of pop and R n’ B, in her feel-good music.
Grimes comments on her latest track ‘Servin’ It Up’:
Is a fun, cheeky, sassy track from Michelle. This song is a celebration of love! “I love love and this song is about being able to love yourself for exactly who you are”.
‘Love is love is one of the most important lyrics in the song. We should be able to love freely regardless of sexual orientation or gender. and as Mama Ru says “If you can’t love yourself? How in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”
Produced: Danny Lanham, Dry Lane studios
Additional production and Mix: Chris O Brien, Graham Murphy, The Production Suite Dublin
Brass: Damien Moore
And Mastered: Richard Dowling, Wav Mastering, Limerick
“‘One Last Kiss’ wouldn’t feel hugely out of place on Mabel’s Ivy to Roses mixtape, Dua Lipa’s self-titled album or Mahalia’s Seasons EP – the dancehall feel makes it a fitting soundtrack for the summer months.” – OFFICIAL CHARTS
“One of the country’s leading pop prospects” – THE LINE OF BEST FITS
After releasing her highly praised acoustic pop banger ‘Not Ok’ which went on to win notable mention in the International Songwriting Award this year, Irish pop starlet KEHLI now returns with this poptastic, acoustically driven holiday tune aptly titled: ‘This Christmas (All I Want Is U).
An original holiday song from KEHLI, the track showcases her heartwarming falsetto’s through to her soaring powerhouse crystal vocals as the choruses erupt into a seriously infectious hook.
The refreshing bed of acoustic and electric guitars render a breezy, upbeat, and uplifting song that’s sure to tug at heartstrings and command a few head bobs this Christmas.
Speaking of the track and her reason for releasing it, Kehli says ‘
‘Christmas to me is about being with the ones you love so this is about that one person you wish you could have that means more to you than all the material things. The track comes equipped with easy visuals sure to set the tone for festivities ahead of the season.’
Originally from Dublin, Ireland, KEHLI is a 21year old vocalist and performer with a soulful, passionate and unique interpretation of contemporary pop music. She spent her early years at stage school, where from age 5, she studied music and dance including contemporary, hip hop and ballet.
Her evolving passion for music and performance encouraged 14 year old KEHLI to try her hand on a couple of TV music shows (usual suspects The Voice/X Factor etc.) which, at such a tender age, provided invaluable experience and gained her a small cult online following
It was this experience that led to an introduction with New York / London based songwriter/producer, MSRD, who worked closely with KEHLI along with a few other key collaborators to create her sound.
With 3 original releases over the past year, KEHLI has been hotly tipped as ‘one to watch’ by the Official Charts UK, charted top #5 in 3 commercial charts as listed by Music Week and, has received support from national radio stations including BBC Radio 1, Kiss FM, & RTE 2FM.
Her last single ‘Not OK’ received editorial playlist support from Spotify including New Music Friday UK and was featured on ‘New Pop UK’ for several weeks. It also was used in a nationwide campaign for the Irish charity, Pieta House to highlight awareness about mental health wellness in young adults.
In total, previous releases have received 14 editorial playlist adds including Pop Remix (3Million listeners) on Spotify. The tracks have been added to Apple Music’s New Music Daily, YouTube Music’s Pop Fresh, & Filtr UK’s New Music Weekly playlist, amassing over 1.5Million streams across all platforms and over 13 Million national radio impressions in Ireland alone. KEHLI has been featured in multiple mainstream press looks including Wonderland, Clash, Earmilk, Record of the Day, Irish Times & Hot Press Spotlight.
She made her national TV debut on The Late Late Show with Ryan Turbidy, where she sang with the IWIH (Irish Women in Harmony) group. Playing to crowds of over 4000 people at the likes Independence festival and Sea Sessions festival this year, KEHLI is putting finishing touches to her forthcoming music which is an urban-infused pop EP with edgy ear-catching tunes.
The future is on track to be an exciting one for KEHLI.
“Phenomenal… sometimes you have a moment where you hear greatness”
— Dominic King, BBC radio kent
“There is an unmistakable buzz about Blánid”
— fresh on the net
“Well on her way to stardom”
— earmilk
BLÁNID’s hauntingly powerful voice and confessional, folk-infused songwriting style have been causing a stir in her native Ireland and beyond.
Her first two singles were met with critical acclaim, with combined plays on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Kent and RTÉ 2XM. BLÁNID was also the featured vocalist on Netflix’s anime Witcher film soundtrack (The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf).
Her new offering ‘Bad Decisions’, co-written with fellow Northern Irish songwriter Ciaran Lavery, is an arresting indie-folk/indie-pop track, full of drama and darkness. Beginning with soft, delicate vocals from both Ciaran and BLÁNID, the song’s introspective and poetic lyricism rings with the quiet shame and regret associated with the titular ‘Bad Decisions’. With an increasingly intense build throughout the song to a dizzying climax, it culminates in a cathartic almost religious finish, with a beautifully-crafted choral, melodic pay-off.
“I wanted to write about the exhausting and seemingly deterministic experience of self-destruction, the inescapable feeling that you are destined to fail and the overwhelming shadow that a depressive state can cast. But there is a beauty and broken joy in it, even if this can’t be seen when you’re in the throes of it” said BLÁNID of the track.
Ciaran agreed, saying that the song
“deals with the very self-aware and shameful feelings of self-sabotage, like watching yourself speed headfirst into the burning building because you feel you deserve it, have to, need to – even though you know you are choosing this path.”
Building on the success of her first two singles, BLÁNID releases ‘Bad Decisions’ on November 18th – the same date her UK tour with American folk icon Judy Collins begins. For BLÁNID, this is only just the beginning.
EP Launch and Dinner: Friday December 2nd, 7.30pm. No. 10 Bridge Street, Killorglin, County Kerry (Ticket link coming soon).
EP Launch and Signing: Saturday December 17th, 2pm. St. John’s Theatre, Listowel, County Kerry. Tickets here> https://stjohnstheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173633806
Guest Soloist – Wednesday, December 21st 7.30pm: ‘Christmas Carols for the Winter Solstice’. St. John’s Church Knockainey, Co. Limerick
Classical crossover singer Grace Foley hails from Killarney, County Kerry. At 14, she began vocal training and studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Noted for her vocal depth, unique style and heartfelt delivery…Grace released her first EP in 2018 titled “Unleashed,” which became a “Marty Recommends” on RTE Lyric FM. She toured Ireland in 2019 in venues such as the National Concert Hall, the INEC, and the Whale Theatre to critical acclaim.
Throughout the Pandemic Grace continued to record and release music, including her own self-penned song, ‘Together Apart’, a poignant version of ‘Danny Boy’, which received thousands of views worldwide, a Christmas E.P (Vol. 1) and her most recent album, ‘Unmasked’.
In addition to performing weekly online concerts, the singer performed live on National Television. In April 2021, Grace gave birth to her first daughter, Anna, and was determined to not only tell her to dream but show her how to chase and live it. She performed a song, especially for her baby on RTE TV’s ‘Last Singer Standing’ show in late 2021. Acclaim came in from Nicky Byrne of Westlife fame and judges Samantha Mumba and Nadine Coyle who gave her high praise for her performance.
Grace is a unique artist and largely draws inspiration from within but she is sonically influenced by fellow lumineers such as Glen Hansard, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Emer Barry and Mary-Jess Leaverland.
Throughout 2023, Grace plans to tour around Ireland and the UK, and has just announced Vol. 2 of her Christmas EP, scheduled for release in November on the 27th. The EP includes Christmas classics such as O Holy Night, Noel, Christmas Past and White Christmas. The EP was Recorded in Cauldron Studios and Produced by International renowned artist Bill Shanley.
Grace comments on the new Christmas EP Vol. 2:
It was an easy choice to record these song’s as part of my Christmas EP’s, as they are just so beautiful and universally loved. On Vol. 1 of ‘A Time for Christmas’ my final track was ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and the words, ‘until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow’ felt so poignant during a time when we were all just trying to survive the pandemic. ‘White Christmas’, which appears on Vol. 2, finishes by saying ‘may your days be merry and bright’. I truly hope we are all going to soon see a world with less pain and less hurt. It has not been an easy few years and it seems the suffering is endless so a song that can take us back to simpler times is one that I hope can give people hope for the future too.
You Can Follow Grace On Her Online Social Media Links:
The Adventures’ 1988 most played track ‘Heal This Broken Land’ is reimagined by Music 4 Ukraine to fund war relief efforts for families and animals in Ukraine. All proceeds from the charity single – downloads, streams and private donations – will be donated to families and animals affected by the horrific conflict in Ukraine.
‘Heal This Broken Land’ features the original artist from The Adventures and other iconic artists from the 80s such as The Christians, Nick Heyward, T’Pau, Then Jerico, Brother Beyond, Doctor and The Medics, as well as backing singers Kelly Barnes and Ben J A and accomplished production teams. The single received incredible reception on its symbolic launch at this summer’s animal welfare fundraiser Forever Young Festival to a crowd of 26,000 people.
The song was originally written to reflect on the tragic events of Northern Ireland during the Troubles, but now it has been adapted to reflect on the devastating conflict between Ukraine and Russia, marking 6 months since the ongoing invasion began. It has an emotive theme, powerful lyrics, and haunting melodies.
The collaboration organiser Dr. Sharon Alston, a veterinarian and owner of a fundraising festival (Forever Young Festival in Ireland) commented:
“Heal This Broken Land” is a charity single, released to raise funds and awareness of the desperate plight of the children and animals devastated by the horrific invasion of Ukraine by Russia. As the conflict rages on, orphaned children and pets need support and rehousing. Our mission is to raise funds and awareness to support the charities working in these heartbreaking and perilous situations.”
Dr Alston had already joined forces with other charities to get direct animal aid delivered to Ukraine. With the devastating invasion still going on and inspired by artists she had worked with for the festival in the past, Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, the charity collaboration became the obvious way to gain better reach and help those most in need. A timeless track delivered in the style of Band-Aid, it perfectly captures the current wave of retro revival. The dedication and drive of everyone involved in the collaboration are entirely philanthropic, aiming to achieve everything that’s possible to help the people and animals of Ukraine.
Follow Music 4 Ukraine across media for possible ways to support the noble cause:
Originally from the county of Wicklow, Padraig Mcgrath is an Irish singer and songwriter. He is a carpenter by trade, however, he has played the guitar and sung since he was a child, and he has been playing the guitar for nearly 20 years.
He started writing his own songs in 2020 under the guidance and support of renowned Irish producer, singer\songwriter and musician Gavin Glass. There are several tracks that he has recorded, and a five-track EP will be released on October 28th.
There are many genres of music that he is passionate about and this is evident in his songs and songwriting. Among his influences are The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Band, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Shane McGowan, Rory Gallagher, Janis Joplin, Christy Moore, and many others.
A sonic tapestry is woven throughout the EP titled ‘Succubus or Saint’ about an independent strong woman who had a difficult upbringing and had to fend for herself in a dangerous world, making her potentially dangerous if crossed. With the EP’s expansion, we are taken on a journey of sorts through the artist’s life experiences. Exploring how we change the world around us as individuals and as a collective. The EP concludes with ‘War Crying,’ which is inspired by Nick Ut’s famous photograph titled ‘The Terror of War’ taken during The Vietnam War in 1972.
What we have here is a songwriter coming into his own, with something to say, delivering it in a powerful way through his songwriting ability.
“Steo is set to join the likes of Damien Dempsey and Shane McGowan, as a Pioneering voice in Irish folk music.” – Hot Press Magazine
“He comes from the tradition, with a Contemporary feel to his singing. Steo Wall is worth a good listen” – Christy Moore.
A fast-emerging talent on the Irish music scene, Steo Wall is a striking wordsmith with a distinct musical style. After first breaking onto the Irish music scene in 2018, Steo is on an upward trajectory. Captivating audiences throughout Ireland and the UK, his live sets have been described by Damien Dempsey as pure alchemy.
Steo has an eclectic taste which shines through the multi-genre array of songs at his disposal, delivering something fresh and exciting with a mix of spoken word and folk-inspired melodies all woven together in an acoustic groove. His musical influences include fellow luminaries such as The Fureys, Bob Marley, Shane McGowan,Sinead O’Connor, Christy Moore and Tupac. The artists who were unafraid to tell the tales that needed to be told through their music.
Ten years ago Steo packed a bag and left Dublin. He headed out to the West of Ireland and quickly began to immerse himself in the vibrant local music scene of North Clare. Having honed his craft, he entered Malbay recording studios in 2016 and set about writing and recording his critically acclaimed debut album, Where I’m From! Having shared a stage with Damien Dempsey on national tours in 2016, 2017 and again opened Damo’s stage in Vicar Street in 2018. Damo quickly became a fan of Steo’s music and agreed to feature on his first single release called, What’s Wrong With The World Ma?
Now in 2022 after two years of drought Steo is gearing up to release his second studio album, ‘Street Wisdom For Lost Souls’. This all marks a very exciting next chapter for the artist. The first single to be released from the album is “More blacks more dogs more Irish” ft Toshín which is out Oct 28th 2022, and is an anti-racism/protest song written as a middle finger to anyone who looks down their nose on anyone else.
Steo comments on the song:
“I penned this song in response to a friend of mine receiving hate mail because she was advocating on behalf of some folks in a direct provision centre.
I think we as Irish people can have a very short memory when it comes to how we view the immigrant man or woman. We have been the economic migrants of the world for hundreds of years, we’ve spread out and sought food and work on the four corners. So we should be a bit more open-minded when it comes to us returning the favour.
This song also touches on the racism that Irish travellers face daily in our country, the line from the top to the bottom the system is still rotten, was written in reference to a politician who stood on a podium in Galway and told a traveller family that they were not welcome to settle in a new home built specifically for them his town. The song is a play on words taken from the old signs that used to hang on shops and pubs in England in the sixties and seventies that read, No black no dogs no Irish allowed in this establishment. It wasn’t that long!”
The official release date for the new album will be announced in early 2023. You can find out more about Steo Wall via the below Links:
