Blue Fish Diamond – Sunshine In My Brain

At the end of a storm…

Blue Fish Diamond have some words of reassurance for those struggling with their mental health on their new single.

Singer Jim Murphy writes:

“We live in a time where anxiety and despair are increasingly commonplace but also a time where there is greater openness about mental health issues and where hope exists through communal support. A song for today’s world, I hope listening to Sunshine In My Brain has a cathartic effect against the challenges that we all face whether ongoing or from time to time.”

Blue Fish Diamond are Jim Murphy (rhythm guitar & lead vocals), Shay Sweeney (drums), Ronan Quinn (bass), Laura Ryder (piano), Axel McDonald (lead guitar), Matilda O’Mahony (backing vocals) and Ella Ryan (backing vocals).

Nick says: A ray of light.

Blue Fish Diamond

J Smith featuring Nnic – I’m Sorry

A new beginning.

Following the break-up of his band Gypsies On The Autobahn, singer James Smith (top) has launched a solo career and I’m Sorry is his new single.

James writes:

“I’m Sorry was written for a friend years ago. They had recently broken up with their long-term partner out of the blue and they felt they couldn’t deal with it. I got a call soon after, telling of their despair and that they had talked themselves out of doing something regrettable. “The song was a hand on their shoulder, to let them know that I was thinking of them, that I was trying to place myself in their shoes.”

James was joined in the studio by Dylan Lynch and Donagh Seaver O’Leary (Soda Blonde) and brother Daniel Smith (Gypsies on the Autobahn) as well as singer Naoise Fitzgerald (Nnic).

Nick says: Song Smith.

J Smith

Seamus Fogarty – Johnny K

What’s a musician to do in lockdown?

Play with himself!

Mayo-born, London-based tunesmith Seamus Fogarty (top) filmed himself playing a song from last year’s album A Bag Of Eyes using the miracle of split-screen technology.

The result? A 5-man band of Seamus Fogartys.

Nick says: Famous five.

Seamus Fogarty

David Donohue – The Barren Winter

You may remember that we concluded our You May Remember This series on underrated Irish artists last year with Carlow-born songsmith David Donohue.

Now David has released a retrospective of his work with The Floors on bandcamp called Six Long Years (top). It includes cult classics like Jesus Lived Six Years Longer Than Kurt Cobain and Love Song To My Guru and includes collaborations with the likes of Sonic Youth‘s Lee Ranaldo and Katell Keineg.

So it gives us the perfect opportunity to feature his beautifully written and sung The Barren Winter (above) with accompaniment by David Ayers and a nicely shot video by Amelia Caulfield.

Nick says: More please!

David Donohue

Breeda Murphy – Second Best

Cork singer/songwriter Breeda Murphy has an important message to anyone doubting themselves in these times: don’t feel like you’re second best.

Her new single wears its Jamaican influence on its sleeve. Producer Kenny Dread “pulls out the stops with old school B3 bubbles, skank guitar, and an African style Rhodes piano line”.

Nick says: Murphy’s lure.

Breeda Murphy

Jim McHugh – Dave

Dave is a four-letter word.

Monaghan singer/songwriter Jim McHugh‘s New Wave stylings call to mind the likes of XTC and even Richard Thompson.

Dave is the new single from his album Pretending To Wake Up, which is out on May 28 and features Paul McCabe (bass), Paul Sherry (Electric Guitar) and Butch McNeill (Drums).

Jim (top) writes:

“In an original story of misspent youth, Dave unveils my interactions with a friend who was known for being on the wrong side of the law on numerous occasions.”

Nick says: The name of the game.

Jim McHugh

John Buckley McQuaid – Girls Who Lived In Hell

Come gather round, people, wherever you roam.

For Dublin-born, Denmark-based singer/songwriter John Buckley McQuaid has a few things he’d like to say about Irish ways and Irish laws. You can hear them on his new album This Is Where I Keep My Dreams (featuring a schoolboy John, top), which is out on Monday.

The lead single, Girls Who Lived In Hell, is a coruscating critique of the cruelty and sadism of the Magdalene Laundries and the society which spawned them.

John writes:

“The song is inspired by Steve Humphries’ documentary, “Sex In A Cold Climate“. The very idea of a young girl being consigned to a Magdalene Laundry for stealing an apple from a convent tree is so outrageously unfair and unjust – the tip of a veritable iceberg of abuse and degradation.

“So many tragedies have been concealed by complicity, complacency and corruption on a personal and public level. “Girls Who Lived In Hell” makes visible on a visceral level, what the Catholic Church (no admission or apologies as yet forthcoming) and the Irish State (apologies notwithstanding) and certain people, not only wish to forget but to keep forever hidden.

“The last Magdalene Laundry closed in 1996. The Irish Government as a matter of some urgency, passed the “Mother & Baby Homes Bill” in 2020, sealing these archives for 30 years. Nothing ever changes in a land of polished haloes.”

Nick says: The Protest Song is alive and well.

John Buckley McQuaid

David Long & Shane O’Neill – Earth Moves

Flat Earthers, avert your gaze!

There’s a whole lot of NASA goin’ on in the new video by former Into Paradise singer David Long and former Blue In Heaven and Blue Angels singer Shane O’Neill.

The duo have been friends since they were knee-high to a Telecaster growing up in the Dublin suburb of Churchtown.

Long is now based in Kerry but the pair worked on their new album Moll & Zeis (top) remotely.

The album is available to buy on bandcamp.

Nick says: There’s a starman waiting in the CGI.

Sam Wickens – Murky Waters

Grey is the colour.

Sam Wickens delivers another soulful and atmospheric performance on his new single Murky Waters from his new 5-song Watson EP released today.

Filmed under a particularly ominous Irish sky, the textured monochrome video was made by DanDanDann productions.

Sam writes:

“Murky Waters is the realisation that I was raised and put through terrible circumstances. Constantly feeling alone through every obstacle that was placed in front of me.

Traumatic events seemed to follow me no matter where I ran, I started to believe that I was some sort of gatekeeper, that my purpose was to absorb the terrible things so others didn’t need too.”

The Bangor songwriter is due to play The Workman’s Club, Dublin on April 1. Fingers crossed.

Nick says: Play it, Sam.

Sam Wickens

Paddy Goodwin & The Holy Ghosts – Harvey

There aren’t nearly enough rabbits in rock’n’roll.

Step forward Paddy Goodwin (alumnus of the Trouble Pilgrims), top, who has a lot of fun with James Stewart‘s imaginary furry friend and pulls together some classic old movie footage to boot.

Nick says: What’s so bunny about peas, lettuce and understanding?

Paddy Goodwin & The Holy Ghosts