World United Music: Dublin

Showing posts with label Dublin. Show all posts

Monday, April 28, 2014

Censor the Beast

About: Censor the Beast

Dublin based rock outfit Censor the Beast formed in 2013. The group, who are in their early twenties, spent the Autumn of 2013 writing and recording their first EP, "See Through Skin". The EP was recorded at Westland Studios and includes a diverse range of material spread across 4 tracks.

Band Members:

Rob Nolan, Andrew Martin, William Peart

Contact: censorthebeast@gmail.com

Censor the Beast - Soundcloud

https://soundcloud.com/censorthebeast
Censor the Beast - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/censorthebeast
Censor the Beast - Twitter
https://twitter.com/censorthebeast
Buy Music!
Censor the Beast - Bandcamp
http://censorthebeast.bandcamp.com/

Monday, December 23, 2013

Hozier

About: Hozier

What are the Twenty First Century Blues? And who shall we find to sing them?

From trivial first world problems to the seismic shifts in geopolitics, the modern Blues resonate down the years with the same eternal themes – loss, loneliness, longing and regret. New wine in vintage casks.

Born on St. Patrick's Day and hailing from County Wicklow, Hozier was raised on the building blocks of popular music: rhythm and blues, soul, jazz and the deep dark stuff stretching from Chicago to the Delta. He joined his first band when he was 15 years old, fronting a soul band with some older heads. Taught himself to play guitar and piano, and went to Trinity College to study music. Whilst there, he bagged a seat on the flight deck of the symphonic B-52 that is the Trinity Orchestra, fronting their missions into the world of classic rock.

However, four years looked like a long stretch, particularly when the goal was to write, record and perform his own music; so Hozier dropped out to concentrate his talents on the creative process full time. He tried out with a few different producers in various studios, experimented with genres; but never felt happy with the results. Home is where the art is, and a simple studio, set up in the attic proved to be the crucible where Hozier would forge a musical identity he could call his own. A place where Stevie Wonder and Billie Holiday are revered alongside James Joyce and Oscar Wilde.

He says: “Listen to any song, from any era; and you're looking through a keyhole into the artist's world as seen through their eyes. Art is, in it's simplest form, the reproduction of the world around us. All artists reproduce their vision of the world, and in doing so create a document that reflects the times they live in”. Which brings us back to the Twenty First Century Blues, and Hozier's unique, poetic evocations.

Hozier's first release is a 4 track EP. 'Take Me To Church' (the lead track) and 'Angel Of Small Death' reflect the gospel – soul gumbo at the heart of his music; 'Like Real People Do' is an Arcadian acoustic adventure and 'Cherry Wine' a raw emotional discourse, recorded live at 6am on an abandoned hotel rooftop; with accompaniment from the dawn chorus. Hozier played all the instruments (Fiachra Kinder helped out on drums), sang all the parts and recorded at home. Rob Kirwan (Depeche Mode, PJ Harvey) mixed the tracks in Dublin.

CONTACT: john@MCD.ie

Hozier – Official Website

http://hozier.com/
Hozier - Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/hozier
Hozier – Last FM
http://www.last.fm/music/Hozier
Hozier - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hozier/167555553297787
Hozier - Twitter
https://twitter.com/Hozier
VIDEO
Hozier – YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/HozierMusic
BUY MUSIC
Hozier - Bandcamp
http://hoziermusic.bandcamp.com/
Hozier - iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/ie/artist/hozier/id342260741
Hozier - Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Take-Me-To-Church-Hozier/dp/B00EB3NJD2

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Simon Fagan

About: Simon Fagan

An American sound with elements of Gospel, folk and acoustic rock, with comparisons to Ryan Adams, Ray Lamontagne and Paolo Nuttini; The truth is I grew up on a diet of Credence, Van Morrison, Miles Davis, Lizzy, Pink Floyd, and some Stevie for good measure. However, my influences stretch well beyond these icons.

My love for music started when I was very young, joining my local choir, followed by the local brass band and then on to school and Uni where I studied both Music and Trumpet. I also got to play with Irish Youth Orchestra of Ireland for a few years.

After college I came very close to joining the army brass band but failed to show up to the drug test! I know what you're thinking, but the actual fact is, I found the whole thing very formal and regimented. I wasn't looking for a pension job, but something more adventurous, where I could take my own risks and be in control.

I had been singing and playing guitar with a number of bands since I was 13 so the natural progression was to put my hand to writing my own music. In the last few years I have developed both as a songwriter and performer. For the first time ever, I can say with hand on heart, that I feel truly happy with the sound that's emerging. This is helped by a great backing band, who really get the music and make rehearsals and gigging seem effortless. I've had the pleasure of opening for the likes of Lionel Richie, Smokey Robbinson, Laura Izibor and more recently Ocean Colour Scene. In the last 18 months I've toured heavily throughout Ireland and the UK and even ventured as far as US, Canada and Egypt where the response was overwhelming.

I released a 4 track EP in March '09 called 'Hired and Fired' featuring brass and woodwind. As I started touring the EP my sound naturally moved away from the brass heavy arrangements and towards a more acoustic rock sound. Much of the new songs I was writing, were more acoustic based and didn't benefit from adding brass or woodwind.Â It was also during this period that I formed a permanent band. Up until know I had called in friends and session players to perform with me.

Having a regular band allowed the songs to develop naturally from gig to gig and by the time we entered the studio to record the album the overall sound was there, if a few songs were still unwritten!

The album 'Outside Looking In' was released in June 2010 in Ireland and online and is available to buy, in those places where you go to buy music. The album includes "Damn Honey", "Memphis" and "Love Don't Work", which have all just been shortlisted for this years International Songwriting Competition and last years winner of the Performance category "Never Really Cried".

CONTACT: info@simonfagan.net