Francie Conway – Staycation

Holiday in the sun*.

Kerry stalwart Francie Conway (top) is back with a summer song bestolling the virtues of the Emerald Isle as a great place to spend the holiers.

In fairness, who wouldn’t want to be on that beach right now?

The band comprise: Vivienne Boucherat & Chris White (Vocals); Dom Torche (Hammond Organ); Peter Miklos Erdai (Bass); Matt Kelleghan (Drums & Percussion); Rory Conway (Vocals and shaker).

Francie’s latest album Hidden Gems is out now.

Nick says: It would be so nice.

Francie Conway

 *Terms and conditions apply

Ra Gerra – Indecisive

Let’s go for a drive.

Ra Gerra is a collaboration between electronica musician and producer Kobina (aka Sean Arthur) and hip-hop artist MuRli (aka Mawuli Boevi).

Indecisive is the third single from their new album New Vessels, out on July 16.

Kobina says:

“New Vessels is all about pushing one another to dig deeper within ourselves and to look for new ways of communicating with and navigating our relationships with ourselves and the world around us.”

MuRli says:

“There were no rules. I was just laying down whatever came naturally to me wherever I’d find myself writing. There was no specific direction I wanted to go into with this project. I was exploring new ways of writing and performing and this is the result.”

The video was directed by POB (Peter O’Brien) of Motherland productions and stars Kwaku Fortune as a man on a journey to an unknown destination, picking up passengers along the way.

Nick says: This wheel’s on fire.

Ra Gerra

Maria Kelly – Good Enough

Special K.

Delicate and poised, with a raw confessional quality, Maria Kelly (top) has released the latest single from her forthcoming album.

Maria writes:

“I’ve been going to therapy on and off for years, and ‘good enough’ is a track that came from a lot of learning. For me, the song is a turning point – a moment of looking at the painful parts of my life and giving myself permission to feel them – not ignore, or escape, or distract, but to really feel them.

“The main emotion is anger; anger for what was handed to me, frustration for the way that I’m wired – but there’s an undercurrent of understanding too. If I now know where these things came from, and how much they truly weigh, it’s up to me whether or not I want to continue to carry them with me for the rest of my life.”

Nick says: Well said.

Maria Kelly

Afterbliss – Remnants

Lost and found.

The new video by anthemic synth-rock ensemble Afterbliss is a rousing floor-filler with an intriguing video by Kim Farrelly.

The band are: Evan Cassidy – Lead Vocals; Alex Burcea – Lead Guitar, Synths, Backing Vocals; Ally Pender – Drums, Percussion; James O’ Gorman – Rhythm Guitar; and Shane Waldron – Bass Guitar.

Nick says: Evan help us.

Afterbliss

SJ Talbot – Easy For Me

Anyone for tennis?

Relationships are a racket for soulful Dublin electro pop newcomer SJ Talbot (top) as she serves an ace in her new video directed by Fionnoughla Madden and Robert Montgomery.

The 23-year-old Clontarf singer is a graduate of the Dublin BIMM college.

Nick says: Net prophet.

SJ Talbot

Brendan Tallon – The First Time I Saw You

The Brendan voyage.

Erstwhile Revelino frontman Brendan Tallon (top) makes us swoon with the joyous new single from his debut solo album Love In These Times, out today on Mercenary Records.

The video was shot in Brendan’s home studio and edited by Rory McDonald.

Nick says: That wild mercury Revelino sound.

Brendan Tallon

The Next New Low – How To Make Nothing

“And everybody wants to help
But no one can.”

Once the lead singer with cult ’90s indie rockers The Idiots, Brian Mooney (top) returned with the masterpiece that was last year’s EP ‘And As For Loss‘.

Now he’s continuing his creative resurgence with How To Make Nothing, which has echoes of John Lennon or Pink Floyd in its plaintive melancholia.

Brian writes:

“Audio recorded on my phone with additions in Logic 2020. James Smith added funky bass and keys. Video recorded in the kitchen on my phone with additions by Delphine Velut.”

Nick says: A tale told by an Idiot.

The Next New Low

HAVVK – Home

Home is where the art is.

Grunge-pop trio HAVVK soar away on this single from their forthcoming album Levelling, due on September 17.

The video was shot and directed by Tim Shearwood.

HAVVK are Julie Hough (pictured top on Vocals and Bass), Matt Harris (Guitar) and Sam Campbell (Drums). Julie and Matt are also the founders of Dublin-based label VETA Music – home to Maria Kelly Sive, DYVR and St. Bishop, as well as HAVVK themselves.

Julie says:

“Home’ is about the freedom of youth and being oblivious to the protections you have around you. It’s about appreciating the people who have always been there for you even when you were at your worst – even if you weren’t grateful for it – and who’ve helped you get back up again every time. I feel really connected to this song right now.

“Over the past year, we’ve all had our social structures pulled out from underneath us and we’re missing the basic nourishment of human connection. I do miss the obliviousness of normal life (and dancing, and gigs, and hugs!), but I hope I’ll go back to the world a bit more grateful – far less transactional – and really value the humans around me.”

Nick says: Home truths.

HAVVK

A Ritual Sea – Because You Hate To Care About

My life as a dog.

Thirsty boxers Chloe and Liliy are the stars of the show in the new video by Irish dreamwave acolytes A Ritual Sea, which was directed by Niko Bikialo and edited by Donna McCabe.

The single is from their debut self-titled album, due in the Autumn on the French indie imprint Icy Cold.

Donna says:

“Lyrically, the song is about that moment after a heated argument; knowing you’ve both said things you regret, trying to find a way to say sorry, wanting to get back to that feeling of harmony. Musically, we tried to bring that blissful feeling to life.”

The band’s line-up is: Florian Chombart (Lead guitar, vocals); Donna McCabe (Vocals, synth); Nina Ruminska (Guitar); Donagh O’Brien (Drums); Finn McCarthy (Bass).

Nick says: In the clearing stands a boxer…

A Ritual Sea

Blue Fish Diamond – Free

I’m as free as a bird now.

Dublin indie folk troupe Blue Fish Diamond celebrate the optimism of a post-pandemic opening up in this single from their new album Frozen Stars On The Night, due on October 28.

The band are clockwise from top left:  Matilda O’Mahony (backing vocals), Jim Murphy (rhythm guitar & lead vocals), Laura Ryder (piano), Shay Sweeney (drums), Axel McDonald (lead guitar) and Ronan Quinn (bass). Not pictured: Ella Ryan (backing vocals)

Jim says:

“This last year has been a very challenging time for all of us. Thankfully there is hope on the horizon. Our song Free looks forward to that time, when we can embrace ‘sweet life once again’.”

Nick says: Diamond life.

Blue Fish Diamond