Every month we take a look back at the best new releases from Northern Ireland in our featured playlist. A showcase for the sheer amount of talent coming out of the North, and a playlist worthy of repeat listening. This month’s cover artist is Gender Chores.
Featured tracks
May Rosa – Ceasefire Baby
‘Ceasefire Baby’ was born out of anger, sadness and disbelief regarding the lack of support, awareness and funding on the suicide epidemic in NI. Despite an average of 6 people per week dying by their own hand every week here, only 5.5% of the healthcare budget is allocated to mental health services.
The track is much more raw than my other stuff. I wanted it to be stripped back to put the emphasis on the lyrics and narrative, so it worked in my favour that we had to record it remotely over lockdown. May Rosa
Gender Chores – Night in the Woods
Gender Chores sound invigorated and motivated on their latest. Upped production gives this track a 90’s skate punk/riot grrrl urgency. “I’d rather die anywhere else” rings out as an unintended rallying cry on this record, which soundtracks Gender Chores stepping up a level. Ben Magee
Lemonade Shoelace – Autopilot Paradise
The standout from this years scratch is a zeitgeist capturing, bliss-filled record that flows effortlessly between indie-pop, psych and lo-fi, Sun-bleached and saturated, this debut from the Newcastle artist has movie soundtrack written all over it. Ben Magee
Riley Holland – Say It First
Accomplished, mature pop track from the pop singer. Sounding like it would be equally comfortable on BBC Radio 1 as it would be on COOL FM, Holand shows some interesting potential as songwriter and a vocalist. Ben Magee
Vivamagnolia – 990 Miles
Gentle acoustics from the Belfast songwriter. Keys allow a little country tradition to bleed through as the track slowly builds into a sweeping widescreen Americana. Ben Magee
GILMORE – Here
Alternative electronica fused with D&B and garage is always an enticing recipe. Gilmore looks to continue Belfast’s high standard for electronic artists. Eerie sounds and synths are just an added pleasure to the mix. Ben Magee
Travi The Native – LDSAC
Travis Gilbert is a man of many talents and on LDSAC he manages to serve up a new single that covers a huge amount of ground in one single track. Opening with dreamy, wandering piano and building incrementally through each verse it feels and sounds epic – a song that actually seems like it goes somewhere and leaves you in a better place than where you started from. A big sound but also warm, soothing and engaging. Michael Barbour
Anna Leyden – I Don’t Like You
An enthusiastically expressive and animated new single from Glasgow based songwriter Anna Leyden. Jazz inflected piano and Leyden’s own Northern Irish vocals carry the tune amongst vibrant bursts of instrumentation. Aaron Cunningham
