General News / January 31, 2020

Irish music you should bump today

General News / January 31, 2020

Irish music you should bump today

A number of artists who were relatively quiet in 2019 have stepped up to the mark this week.

You know the drill by now, new music Friday is stacked pretty much every week now with fresh tunes and Ireland has fully bought into this trend.

January is frequently seen as a time for new beginnings and many creatives use this opportunity to take a different approach. Others who have been less prolific may have made new year’s resolutions regarding productivity and this is certainly reflected in the new music released this week.

We’ve got some household names sharing their first tracks of the year, transatlantic collaborations and a long awaited EP.

Holly Road – 7th Obi

7th Obi has dropped his first single of the new decade. Following much of the same formula that gained him early plaudits, he’s added a hint of jazz to the usual spacey and futuristic approach.

Examining a past relationship he highlights his newfound realisation and bolsters the claims with the subtle sounds of a sax in the background. There’s a self-assured tone that reflects on some of the past missteps of youth illustrating a marked display of maturity.

Listen below:

DemiGosh – IRE

For those unfamiliar, DemiGosh has been part of the afro-Irish creative powerhouse ‘Blackfish Collective’ for a while now. Following the release of his stunning debut single ‘Technicolour Flowers’ the eclectic artist played shows in Belfast, The Camden Roundhouse and the O2 Academy Islington.

He’s got undeniable talent and flair, it’s just a matter of being able to match his impressive first outing. With his newest single Demi has managed to do that and more.

‘IRE’ borrows from his Yoruba roots and Irish upbringing and builds beautifully into an almost destructive ending.

We could use superlatives all day, but it’s best to watch the video below:

Sequence – Misunderstood

New Eire founder, videographer, rapper and all round creative Sequence has dropped the ‘Misunderstood EP’. The five track project is a demonstration of his ability to balance a myriad of styles and flows in a coherent project.

Sequence has a real knack for melodic hooks, it’s no more evident than on ‘Pimpin’, the record’s stand out track. There’s a deliberate pace created on the piece using the various tracks to usher the listener towards dance-inducing ‘Shine’.

It’s short in length, but provides a snapshot of what’s to come.

Listen below:

Sourfruit – Candlelight

Sourfruit are a thoroughly modern group. There’s shades of Brockhampton throughout their catalog, exhibited by the fact it’s hard to box them into one distinct genre. They initially drew attention with their creative use of strings, autotuned vocals and spoken word quips.

They’ve shared their first single of the new decade and it’s confirmation of our gut feelings about their potential. With a larger project on the horizon, ‘Candlelight’ comes as a welcome opener, displaying the full array of talent in the group. Feeling inspired by the likes of Deb Never and Sufjan Stevens it’s an emotive effort, detailing the pitfalls of love.

Listen below:

Hare Squead – Minor Gangsters

Ahead of their European tour, Dublin duo Hare Squead have dropped ‘Minor Gangsters’. Inspired by the ridiculous claims from tory MP Rory Stewart that the pair were ‘Minor Gangsters’, they’ve fired back with their latest single.

It sees Hare Squead flow nonchalantly over a string led instrumental, reflecting on harder times and showing their determination. It’s clear they aren’t intimidated. Roll on their new EP.

Listen below:

Tomike – Need To Go

Tomike has wasted no time following up her debut EP ‘Stage Of Love’. One of Ireland’s rising RnB stars has provided a confident, meandering cut in the shape of ‘Need To Go’.

The song derives from the need to escape the corporate world and pursue her dreams of success in music. Having already performed for Hilary Clinton on a visit to Dublin it’s clear the future is bright for Tomike.

Listen below:

ROGAN X ØMEGA – Murder She Wrote

Rogan and ømega had both released music as solo artists before, but  the decision to team up is seeming more sensical with each subsequent release.

‘Murder She Wrote’ stays true sonically speaking to the sound they’ve committed to as a duo, using a knocking instrumental and aggressive, exasperated delivery. Definitely one to bump in the whip.

Listen below:

Shiv – Golden (Nealo Remix)

Nealo has hopped on a remix of Shiv’s ‘Golden’. Her soft vocals are complimented by the nostalgic bars from Nealo creating a thoroughly warm track.

It’s a comforting track that’s emerged at the end of January feeling like a sonic helping hand out of the year’s most depressing month.

Listen below:

Photo:  Timo Bruederl