Niamh Regan – Late Nights

Falling for a dancer.

Galway songsmith Niamh Regan (top) enchants with the new single from her EP In The Meantime.

It was written while Niamh was living in the Galway village of Kilrickle during lockdown.

Niamh describes Late Nights as being about “navigating family guilt, growing up and leaving behind little bits of yourself as you enter a new chapter of thinking.”

The strikingly shot video was filmed and directed by Laura Sheeran with choreography and dance performed by Robyn Byrne.

Nick says: Come dance with me in Ireland.

Niamh Regan

Skinner – The Slump

I’m a slacker, baby.

Introducing Skinner (top): “a 24-year-old DIY slouch rock musician based in Dublin, who writes, records and produces songs about growing up and overcoming a dirt-flecked 21st century existence.”

Skinner writes:

“The song channels a feeling of nothingness and attempts to see the humour in it. Everyone goes through periods where every day feels like a slap in the face so I wrote this weird disco song to distract myself from the monotony of it all. I was trying to escape everything and make something fun, something you could dance to.”

The Slump is out now on Faction Records and follows the Gunge EP on 12” vinyl, a collection of five singles released from 2019 to 2021.

Nick says: With added sax solo.

Skinner

Eoin Jordan – Amber

Jordan: the comeback.

Cork singer/songwriter Eoin Jordan (top) will pique the interest of roots and Americana fans with his impressive latest single.

The press blurb says:

“‘Amber’ tells a tale of discovery of who and what you can become and more importantly in coming to terms with it. Amber as a crystal is known for its healing properties, and this is a key facet of the composition and the underlying premise of the song.”

The song features the slinky slide guitar of Declan Sinnott.

The video, which stars Aoibhinn Byrne Jordan, was filmed and edited by James Walsh and was shot in Ballinacurra, county Cork and Wallis’s Town Hall Bar, Midleton, county Cork.

Nick says: Southern comfort.

Lauren Ann – Blatant

Don’t go breaking my heart.

Irish grunge-pop raconteur Lauren Ann (top) dissects affairs of the heart on this single from her forthcoming EP on Faction Records.

Lauren Ann writes:

“‘Blatant’ is about a blunt end to a relationship that you cared about. It’s about being let down by someone you didn’t think (or rather didn’t want to believe) could hurt you. It’s about being left out in the cold, yet you still care for them even though they don’t care for you anymore.

“My songs are centred around heartbreak and anger. I didn’t want to write love songs as it’s not who I am. So I ended up doing break-up songs instead.”

Nick says: I know it’s over.

Lauren Ann

Abbacaxi – Endless

Lord of the trance.

Multi-instrumentalist Abbacaxi (top) adds dancefloor beats to a mellow melody on the title track from his new EP Endless.

The mind-expanding animation is by Des Garvey.

Abbacaxi writes:

“I experienced a lot of highs and lows in a short period of time but I realised I wasn’t the only one around me feeling depressed from time to time. For every really bad experience, there is an amazing one waiting around the corner. Life is so much easier when you remember that.”

Nick says: Good advice.

Abbacaxi

Una Keane – Kyiv Not Kiev

Masters of war.

Acclaimed Dublin composer and pianist Úna Keane has just released her powerful artistic response to the Ukraine crisis on her bandcamp page.

Una writes:

“I wrote this track in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on 24th February 2022. I wanted to do something to help, something meaningful. So I set about writing this piece of music the week beginning Monday 28th February, and released it on Friday 4th March. A special thanks to Dublin based Artist / Graphic Designer John Brady for allowing me to use this powerful image as artwork for the track.”

Una plays Piano, Soundscapes, Electronics + Spoken word

All revenue from sale of track will be donated to UNICEF – Ukraine.

Nick says: A city under siege.

Úna Keane

Gavin Fox – Lay Down Low

Fox news.

Irish singer/songwriter Gavin Fox (top)has words of encouragement on the new single from his forthcoming album Awakened.

Gavin writes:

“I spent a long time in my head, with my own thoughts, at times with fear and anxiety. But then I experienced a kind of awakening, to be honest. I met my true self for the first time and decided I wasn’t going to listen to negative thoughts anymore.

“This song is about rebelling against that, fear and anxiety, and not being afraid to be loud about it. It’s about being yourself.”

Nick says: Fantastic Mr Fox.

Gavin Fox

Ryders Blü – As Long As I Got You Babe

Blü Monday.

Sonny and Cher, eat your heart out.

Ryders Blü are an indie-pop band based in Newbridge, County Kildare. They are a two-piece: PJ O’Neill on guitar and vocals, and Jake Carrick on drums.

PJ writes:

“For right now… we’re writing really happy pop music. To escape the mundanity of what life can be like. That’s the first act for our project. The second act… well you’ll just have to wait and see.”

Nick says: Ryders on the storm.

Ryders Blü

EMMO – Still

Enduring love.

Cork newcomer EMMO (top) turns heads with a rousing anthem celebrating a certain four-letter word.

EMMO writes:

“The same exhausted tropes are always in love songs – be it new, lost, unrequited love etc. But what about Love that is resolute? My aim was to credit the actuality of persistent and unfaltering love between couples who have been together for a long time despite the odds. Funnily enough, the song started as a slow moving piece but became this anthem like ballad after my guitar was knocked into a strange tuning from being loose in the back of my car. After some experimenting, the lyrics sprang to life with the new energetic sound from the accidental tuning.”

Recorded in Camden Studios, Dublin, produced by Cian Boylan & mixed by Conor Brady with Darren Beckett (from the Killers) on drums, Dave Redmond on double bass and Kealan Kenny on lap steel guitar.

Nick says: A Corker.

EMMO