We don’t envy the Choice Music Prize judges this year…
There’s something in the creative waters lately, because a lot of our favourite artists are about to drop big projects in the coming months. Doomy folk, introspective shoe gaze, rip roaring trad, boundary pushing hip hop, country-infused pop… We really do live on a beautifully weird little island when it comes to tunes.
Our pay checks have been severely dented with all of these vinyl pre-orders and tour dates…
SPRINTS
LETTER TO SELF
New year, new Sprints. The punk outfit are ready to unleash their debut album ‘Letter To Self’ on January 5th. They follow that up with a massive European, UK and Irish tour too.
NEWDAD
MADRA
Another January debut as the rapidly ascending NewDad revealed last week that ‘MADRA’ is coming on January 26th.
“We’ve poured our hearts into this record and it’s taken time to get it perfect for you. Thanks to everyone for being patient while we got this right!”
THE MARY WALLOPERS
IRISH ROCK N ROLL
If the Dundalk outfit’s last record is anything to go by then ‘Irish Rock N Roll’ is going to kick you in the face, make you weep and grasp a pint tightly. The new cut is out on October 6th.
KOJAQUE
PHANTOM OF THE AFTERS
Cabra’s Kojaque has spoken about after sessions on previous records, but now he’s about to haunt them. ‘Phantom of the Afters’ was revealed with a number singles over the last few weeks and if the artwork alone is anything to go by, the Dublin rapper is once again ignoring hip hop conventions.
He’s also recruited some major features including NYC’s Wiki and the incredible Biig Piig, with the project coming on October 27th.
MELINA MALONE
APHRODITE
A mainstay on the Irish music scene, it’s been a long time coming since Melina’s debut record, but now it’s set to arrive on October 6th.
‘Aphrodite’ is “an ode to womanhood” and her Greek-Irish heritage, and she explains it as “the most challenging but worthwhile thing I have ever ever done”.
JOHN FRANCIS FLYNN
LOOK OVER THE WALL, SEE THE SKY
John seemed to have come out of nowhere with his debut 2021 record ‘I Would Not Live Always’, but for those in trad circles he’s been a mainstay.
‘Look Over The Wall, See The Sky’, will be released on November 10th. We’re still trying to get over the density, intensity and beauty of his last record, we’re not sure we’re ready…
CMAT
CRAZYMAD, FOR ME
At the beginning of her career CMAT proclaimed herself as a “global pop star”, and it didn’t take long for her to prove she wasn’t wrong. Worldwide recognition, a collaboration with John Grant, magazine covers, an iconic Glastonbury set and even a recent appearance on Never Mind the Buzzcocks. She spoke it into existence.
Her new album ’Crazymad, For Me’ arrives on October 13th.
JAPE
ENDLESS THREAD
Irish staple Jape announced over the summer that his forthcoming record ‘Endless Thread’ would arrive on homegrown imprint Faction on September 29th. A project three years in the making, Jape is also taking to the road throughout Autumn.
OFFICA
HOKAGE
A multi-part project from one of Ireland’s most viral exports, the unconventional drill artist will debut ‘Hokage’ on October 6th. Offica twists and turns in a genre that can sometimes be formulaic, it’s his layerings of surprise that make him one of drill’s most exciting artists.
ØXN
CYRM
If you want to know where we’ll be on Halloween night, it’ll be at ØXN’s debut show in The Sugar Club. Because who else could encapsulate the pagan folk spirit of Samhain than a band like this? An incomparable mix of Lankum’s Radie Peat, Percolator’s John ‘Spud’ Murphy and Eleanor Myler, plus Katie Kim, their album ‘Cyrm’ will arrive on October 27th via Claddagh Records.
