It’s that time again when you sit back, think of the year gone by and look ahead to the one to come. It’s been a slightly mixed one from a musical point of view. From the tragic losses of David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Prince and, most recently, George Michael, to name but a few, 2016 will go down as the year that took so many great icons from us.
Thankfully their music can’t be taken from us and world is the better for it. Another positive note, has been all the great new music to hit the scene. So we have put together 16 artists we just couldn’t stop listening to throughout the year. Sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy the music!
YouthMass
Starting off and in no particular order is YouthMass, the brainchild of four friends from Trim. Formed in 2010, the band has since released an album and an EP, both to much acclaim. Their live shows especially come in for very favourable reviews. We had the pleasure of catching them live at Whelan’s, Dublin and this track is something we just couldn’t get enough of this year!
Kevyn
Kevyn are an exciting and emerging Indie-Rock quartet from Dublin. Their debut single Scars was launched on the Whelan’s Main Stage in February, which was also a track we spotlighted here at beatvyne. We instantly loved it! Check it out and you’ll know what we mean!
Future Generations
The slightly enigmatic Future Generations are a current favorite of ours and this is one tune we cannot turn off! Equally we like their thinking and their recent virtual reality performance at YouTube Space New York deserves a big blue thumbs up from our point of view!
The New York based indie pop band, has been getting attention for their debut single, “Stars”, while their self-titled album is available now! Do yourself a favor this year and get in the know about these guys. Surely big things to come!
The Mushburgers
Avant-Garde instrumental surf, distinguished by reverb-drenched electric guitars played to evoke the sound of crashing waves, largely pioneered by Dick Dale and The Ventures in the US and the Shadows in the UK. Yep, these guys are great to dance to! Watch them play at our Surf/Pulp Fiction party at the Generator Hostel in Dublin and lets see if you can resist to move!
Orchid Collective
Orchid Collective are responsible for creating rousing alternative folk-influenced rock that would resonate with those who are fans of Villagers, James Vincent McMorrow and Bon Iver. Through their own distinct use of vocal harmonies and searing layers of reverbed guitars, Orchid Collective make themselves known as a band that set themselves apart from their contemporaries, offering a bold new imagining of the indie genre. We were lucky enough to see them at Wigwam in Dublin as part of the Hard Working Class Heroes festival back in October.
Oh Wonder
A writing duo from London, they believe that everyone is equal, that we are all human and that we all deserve the world. They also state openly that we can build that equality by sharing what love, knowledge and magic we have, with others. Catching their live set at this years Electric Picnic, we can openly say that they indeed have a lot of love to give to their audiences. Well worth checking out!
Buffalo Sunn
Buffalo Sunn incorporate sounds from the 60’s right up to the present day, mixing big reverb-laden harmonies with carefully placed guitars to take the listener on an epic journey through their songs.
After months spent in the studio rehearsing, writing, and recording in Sunset Sound Recording Studios, Los Angeles – with renowned American producer Joe Chiccarelli (recipient of no fewer than 8 Grammy awards, and noted for his work with My Morning Jacket, Beck, The White Stripes and Morrissey) – they are back with their brand new single “Idle Man”. Additionally, the lads were part of our #BankOnMusic project in conjunction with Bank of Ireland, backing emerging Irish artists.
BARQ
BARQ are a high energy four-piece, shoving groove into the belly of the rock-beast and creating agro-soul. This is music to dance dangerously to. In March 2016, BARQ released their debut single “Gentle Kind of Lies” to critical acclaim and a surge of media attention. The track was picked up by Spotify’s new music playlist in both the UK and Brazil, as well as being included on IASCA’s playirish USA, and two of Goldenplec’s Goldenstereo playlists. We caught up with them at The Grand Social in Dublin supporting ROCSTRONG. Make sure you get along to see them ASAP!
The Underground Youth
Started in 2008 as the creative project of Craig Dyer, The Underground Youth’s discography explores a blend of darkly cinematic psychedelia and raw post-punk music. We first heard them at a cool little café, Mish Mash, over a delicious coffee!
Morcheeba
Paul Godfrey has been involved in the music industry for over 25 years, starting out as DJ Klear, a founding member of the underground Hip Hop group First Down. By the time he reached the age of 21 in 1993, and heavily inspired by Bristol Trip Hop, Paul conceived and formed Morcheeba. Another song we first heard while sipping on coffee in the music loving Mish Mash on Capel Street, Dublin.
The Pale
The Pale – 20 years ago – made their major label debut with “Here’s One We Made Earlier”, an album that introduced a band that, from then to now, has succeeded in blindsiding their audience with music that is equal parts eminently melodic and utterly singular.
TADGH
TADGH is a new brand of Pop to the Irish Music scene. Writing and arranging all of his own songs and having favorable production skills, his music takes a fresh and original approach to pop with elements of R&B, Funk, Soul, Hip-Hop and even Rock. TADGH was also another of the five chosen artists for the #BankOnMusic project in association with Bank of Ireland backing emerging Irish Artists. We were also happy to sponsor their MoveMeLoveMe tour across the country this year!
Fí
This is one of our most recent discoveries and one we think is gonna hit 2017 hard! A pulsating dance track with strong vocals from this alt pop band from Mullingar. We’re looking forward to seeing them live!
Sun.Set.Ships
Sun.Set.Ships aim to write and perform honest, uplifting, lyrical music. Their mission is to share their stories and their new found unique sound with all you fellow music lovers. We believe they have achieved their objective and are well worth listening to.
Young Earth
Young Earth are a brand new Indie-Pop band from Dublin formed in late 2015. Drawn to big productions from the years before such as The Beach Boys, The Zombies, Phil Spector and Paul Simon, he (? band or solo artist) developed a love for the gossamer sounds of summer, along the way picking up traits from guitar bands such as Vampire Weekend, Arctic Monkeys, The Stone Roses, Mac DeMarco and The Black Keys.
Exploding Eyes
Another song we just couldn’t get enough of this year was from the self-proclaimed ‘band of post-pubescent misfits’. Yes, Exploding Eyes are the bomb and a must listen to. Catch them live ASAP! We did at Mary’s Bar on Wicklow Street during the Live Music Trails for First Music Contact and were not disappointed!
The above is just a snippet of the amazing talent on the scene these days and a huge part of what made 2016 a great year for music! We hope you enjoyed the listen and let us know what discoveries you made this year.
Oh, and if you want to get along to see some of these artists and many more play the more unusual music venues (or wanna be showcased with your own music…?) then register as a fan on www.beatvyne.com and reimagine your music experience.