Carrie Baxter – Pray

Star quality.

That’s what Waterford-born, London-based R&B singer Carrie Baxter has in spades. Her single Pray was a big radio hit that Amy Winehouse would have been proud of, and comes with a seductive, atmospheric video.

Now Carrie has teamed up with rapper Nealo and producer edbl for latest single Without You.

Carrie says:

“If I had made a video for this, it definitely would have included me walking away down a long street in a pair of high heels with my suitcases!”

Nick says: Carrie on Carrie.

Carrie Baxter

Bobbi Arlo – Feel It

Pop in the name of love.

The new single by rising Irish newcomer Bobbi Arlo (top) is an infectious blast of pure pop with pristine production by Adam Shanahan and Alex O’Keeffe.

Bobbi says:

“Feel It is an infectious feel-good anthem for anyone who remembers the feeling of falling in love unexpectedly. When writing the song, I wanted to portray how it felt to fall in love with someone I never thought I would fall for. When I hear the song, it reminds me of how amazing that feeling really is.”

The lyric video comes courtesy of Cyrus Scenes Visual.

Nick says: Bobbi on the beat.

Bobbi Arlo

Fears – vines

And for her next trick…

Budding indie-tronica artist Constance Keane (top) aka Fears goes from strength to strength on the new single from her forthcoming debut album Oiche, out on May 7.

The video features the megalithic portal dolmen at Ballybrack, south county Dublin.

Fears says:

“This track was written before a breakdown. It chronicles a stage where one blames themselves and sees that it is only them that is the problem in a situation. Listening back, I hear myself drowning in confusion as to why I can’t control my feelings and want to shed those thought patterns.”

Nick says: Cheers for Fears.

Fears

New Pagans – Yellow Room

The North will rise again.

Belfast-based New Pagans have a fresh, edgy sound that makes their debut album The Seed, The Vessel, The Roots And All highly anticipated.

Released on the Big Scary Monsters label on March 19, the album features new single Harbour as well as the video featured above.

The group are: Lyndsey McDougall (vocals), Cahir Doherty (guitar), Claire Miskimmin (bass), Conor McAuley (drums) and Allan McGreevey (guitar).

Nick says: Ulster says yes.

New Pagans

Strand – Stole A Train

Can you hear that lonesome whistle blow?

This polished gem of a song can be found on Strand’s album Can’t Trust The Rain and features Niall F Toner (vocals, guitar), Duncan Maitland (guitar and vocals), Ger Kiely (guitar), Les Keye (bass, vocals and production duties), Kevin Malone (drums) and Darragh O Ceallaigh (keyboards).

The video by Liam Grant features archive footage of Buster Keaton and pleasing geometric shapes.

Nick says: The right side of the tracks.

Strand

Sun Mashene – The Righteous One

They’re bringing shoegazing back.

A wondrous wall of sound envelops Sun Mashene’s new single commenting on cancel culture.
It comes with a quirky and unsettling video directed by Ste Murray and featuring Annie Ryan (top) and Alana Horgan Smyth in a sort of Kubrick nightmare shot in Kilfane House, Kilkenny.

Great work all round.

Nick says: Sun worshipper.

Sun Mashene

John Spillane – We Come In The Wind

Sail away with me.

Cork’s finest, John Spillane (top), is back with a fine new single from his new album 100 Snow White Horses, due on April 2.

The atmospheric ballad features ethereal backing vocals from Pauline Scanlon and was produced by John Reynolds.

The press blurb says:

“We Come In The Wind’ is based on the 3 Imramma or Wonder Voyages of Irish literature: The Voyage of Bran; The Voyage of Maeldun; and The Voyage of St. Brendan. It’s a fairytale dream journey inspired by some of John’s favourite old Irish stories.”

Nick says: A mighty wind.

John Spillane

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