music
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
For years, the debate around gender representation in Irish and British music has been marked by a familiar frustration. Artists raised concerns. Campaigners published reports. Broadcasters defended their decisions. Industry bodies launched initiatives. Yet despite the conversations, progress often felt difficult to quantify. Even when representation reached parliamentary agendas and policy discussions, a fundamental question…
-
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…
-
For centuries, the sound of Ireland’s original brass-wire-strung harp was lost to history. This July, audiences in Kilkenny will have a rare opportunity to hear the instrument that shaped Ireland’s musical identity and inspired the national emblem brought back to life by pioneering musicians and researchers. When most people think of the Irish harp, they…
The Industry Review 