Music Reviews
Albums, singles and live performances analysed beyond the hype. We explore artistry, authorship and the systems influencing what gets heard.
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Irish songwriter Conor Kilkelly discusses the losses behind his second album, the strange instruments lurking within its arrangements and why direct patronage may offer independent musicians a way out of streaming’s economic dead end. Kilkelly, the musical project of Irish songwriter Conor Kilkelly, has never been especially interested in taking the well-lit road. Rooted in…
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The acclaimed Irish songwriter gives one of her most cherished songs a new visual life ahead of her appearance in RTÉ One’s Trinity’s Treasures The music industry is perpetually hunting for the next thing, sometimes so frantically that it forgets a great song does not expire simply because release week has passed. Eleanor McEvoy understands…
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On her debut album, the Northern-Irish-Ghanaian artist moves confidently through soul, disco, electronic pop and folk, creating a record about desire, identity, community and choosing light without denying the darkness. Artist: Winnie AmaAlbum: DEKALabel: WAMA MusicRating: ★★★★½ There is something quietly defiant about an artist refusing to choose between the different parts of herself. The…
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On her exhilarating second album, Nia Archives tears down the walls between jungle, indie-pop and confessional songwriting, proving that emotional vulnerability and ferocious breakbeats belong in the same room. Artist: Nia ArchivesAlbum: Emotional JunglistLabel: Hijinxx/Island RecordsRating: ★★★★½ The music industry is fond of celebrating women who break through barriers, provided they remain grateful, marketable and…
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The Belfast musician and visual artist discusses growing up during the Troubles, the radical power of empathy and the city of warmth, wit and creativity at the heart of his new single, ‘Belfast (Place of My Soul)’. For Paul Archer, Belfast is more than a birthplace. It is a creative force, a spiritual anchor and…
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Katy Perry Watch It Burn Watch It Burn After a period of intense public scrutiny, Katy Perry returns with Watch It Burn, a single that feels less like a comeback and more like a statement of intent. Rather than chasing trends, she leans into a darker, more cinematic sound, pairing brooding production with a vocal…
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This week’s selection spans powerful songwriting, bold artistic reinvention, viral momentum and socially conscious storytelling. From Ireland to the international stage, these are the songs that have caught our ear and sparked conversation across the industry. Lola Young – “From Down Here” Fresh from a remarkable period of professional success and a well-earned rest, Lola…
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Why Century Artists Might Be One Of The Most Interesting New Irish Music Projects This Year What happens when one of opera’s most rebellious female characters collides with contemporary Irish rap culture? Dublin producer Louis Ryan’s new project Century Artists is betting that the answer lies somewhere between Georges Bizet’s nineteenth-century opera house and the…
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With the release of her new instrumental single “Golden Hour” set for June 12th, Nashville-based singer-songwriter and fiddler Jessica Willis Fisher returns to the Irish musical roots that first shaped her artistic identity. Inspired by her experience winning the Grúpaí Cheoil competition at the 2012 All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Cavan, the track captures a pivotal…
The Industry Review 