WORKSHOPS, INTERACTIVE SESSIONS, SCREENINGS

INTRO

TRACK:    THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOUND

Sound plays a profound role to set our mood, influence our perception and, when combined in complex patterns to form music, these psychological effects can be enormously amplified. We’ll look at how sound and music has an influence on our wellbeing, its use across multiple disciplines, from film and gaming to marketing and retail, and how it operates as an impacting instrument for social good.

This timely documentary reveals the true cost of the so-called free internet, who is really benefitting, and the impact on our society. Over 20 years since the once idealistic free internet movement coined the phrase “information wants to be free”, Unsound considers the unintended consequences of the most transformative technology in history.

Throughout history humans have used sound and rhythm for healing. The innate need for music can drastically improve a person’s wellbeing, from boosting the body’s immune system to mental health, to helping people living with dementia and similar medical conditions to feel and live better. We’ll explore how technologies cater for the use of music for wellbeing and just how powerful it really is.

Sound plays an impacting role on the human body and has tremendous effect on the recipient. How can sound set the mood and bring you into other worlds through film and gaming, induce sensations with a clear purpose within marketing and retail and what are its implications on other industries such as the automotive industry, facing challenges with noiseless electric vehicles?

Do you like Star Wars? Virtual Reality Games? Neon? Of course you do! Then jump inside the surrealistic neon noir environment of Beat Saber and slash musical blocks representing musical beats with a pair of red and blue light sabers. How cool is that! 

Bring out the popcorn, it’s movie time! Take your seat and immersive yourself in the virtual world with a selection of virtual reality films. 

TRACK:    ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artificial Intelligence has made a radical entrance into the media and entertainment landscape. Combined with Big Data it revolutionises networking and search, powers personalised experiences, replicates your favourite artists and opens new opportunities to unlock creative potential and speed up processes. But what are the implications for human intelligence, independence and livelihood?

As claims that AI can mimic human creativity are met with fierce debate, this keynote will explore the facts and fiction behind the argument. From a review of the basic tenants of AI, to how it has been applied in the creative process of making music, we will explore the art of the possible and look at how AI will enhance, not take-over, the music industry. From a peak into award winning producer, Alex da Kidd’s, use of IBM Watson to analyse huge volumes of data to produce a song which captured the current zeitgeist; to how AI can help music lovers discover their next favourite artist, this session will inspire debate and intrigue in equal measure.

Artificial Intelligence has made a radical entrance into the media and entertainment landscape. Combined with Big Data it revolutionizes networking and search, powers personalised experiences, replicates your favourite artists and opens new opportunities to unlock creative potential and speed up processes. But what are the implications for human intelligence, independence and livelihood?

Draper Esprit Venture Partner Brian Caulfield will lead a Q&A session on the world of startups, investment/funding and what it takes to build a sustainable company while maintaining a work/life balance.

TRACK:   LEGISLATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE

In an age of ‘exposure’ and free-for-all perception of content, copyright is experiencing big shifts with the Music Modernisation Act signed into law and the European Copyright Directive under the spotlight. Is this European initiative a brave step towards fairer remuneration for creatives or, as some say, a threat to a free and open internet? What are the ramifications for creators that based their success on foundations within Youtube and other creator platforms?

The internet has transformed the world. We now have access to the history of the world’s music, books, films, and media that have taken lifetimes to create. But at what cost? From piracy threats to creative content, hacking to fake news, ‘Unsound’ explores the unintended consequences of the most transformative technology in history. Turns out the ‘free’ internet isn’t really free after all.

In an age of ‘exposure’ and free-for-all perception of content, copyright is experiencing big shifts with the Music Modernisation Act signed into law and the European Copyright Directive under the spotlight. Is this European initiative a brave step towards fairer remuneration for creatives or, as some say, a threat to a free and open internet? What are the ramifications for creators that based their success on foundations within Youtube and other creator platforms?

This workshop will introduce Vital Neuro, the next generation of brain technology coming to market in 2020. Vital Neuro’s Neuroguided Meditation™ is leading a breakthrough in brain wellness technology addressing the global epidemic of stress and burnout, and more. Vital founder & Chief Product Officer Alex Doman will introduce Vital, demo the technology, and facilitate a Q&A.

HOW VITAL WORKS

The Vital brain sensing headphones transforms user’s real-time brain activity into personalized sessions using sound, music, and visual feedback algorithms as a guide to help rewire the brain to help achieve deeper states of meditation, relaxation, and focus.

Vital’s proprietary platform utilizes innovative neurotechnology to monitor & deliver real-time brain derived stress measurements and training sessions through an AI powered cloud-based app.

TRACK:    BLOCKCHAIN

While democratisation was the buzz of the Web 2.0, today’s 3.0 edition sees decentralised platforms as a means to give even more power to the people. With no need for intermediaries, artists, fans and all forms of digital content creators have access to greater autonomy, faster remuneration and streamlined digital rights management.

While democratisation was the buzz of the Web 2.0, today’s 3.0 edition sees decentralised platforms as a means to give even more power to the people. With no need for intermediaries, artists, fans and all forms of digital content creators have access to greater autonomy, faster remuneration and streamlined digital rights management.

Robert Quirke, CEO and President of the ROQU Group, will discuss how the very essence of what inspires us in music can make seismic changes to social and economic development.

TRACK:     VOICE CONTROL & SPATIAL AUDIO

The continuing rise of Voice Control and Spatial Audio will radically shape our lives, opening up whole new possibilities in how we consume, communicate, interact and discover music and other digital content. In order to maximise its potential as an effective virtual assistant personalisation will play a huge part but are people willing to give up some privacy for an easier life?

The continuing rise of Voice Control and Spatial Audio will radically shape our lives, opening up whole new possibilities in how we consume, communicate, interact and discover music and other digital content. In order to maximise its potential as an effective virtual assistant personalisation will play a huge part but are people willing to give up some privacy for an easier life?

LIVE MUSIC

FINTAN MCKAHEY Indie Folk, Ambient, Chillout

Today FM’s Play Irish Artist of the week – Fintan McKahey’s new GOD GAMES EP is an eclectic, down tempo, altpop production, in the style of Ben Howard and Chet Faker. The sound has developed from his more folk-based, percussive style debut EP, Two Lifetimes Late, which was well received and launched at DeBarras Folk Club in 2016. His new EP, GOD GAMES, is inspired by both the rugged landscape of his own homeland, and influenced by his travels through Kenya, Thailand and Peru, where Fintan spent time with indigenous cultures exploring alternative belief systems. The title track ‘God Games’ is a love song, which invites the listener to transcend the mundane, venture forth and imagine other realms. Fintan grew up in West Cork and is continuing the family legacy, as the son of Stump drummer, Rob McKahey and the nephew of Cousteau singer, Liam McKahey. A multi disciplinary artist, Fintan continues to work as a performer and enjoys collaborating with other artists across the mediums of film, photography and dance. He has enjoyed supporting The 4 Of Us, Thanks Brother and Leo Stannard on their Irish tour dates at Live at St.Lukes and Whelan’s in Dublin. Ahead of its Spotify release, ‘God Games’ title track has received radio play on Corks Redfm (‘Local Legend’ – Dave Mac’s Drive ) Corks96fm, KCLR (Song of the Week on Roddie Cleere’s Irish Music Show), WLR, 8Radio, Eirewave (Best Irish Indie Playlist), DublinRadio and more.

TRACK:   5G & EXTENDED REALITY

With 5G on our doorstep, the future of immersive technology experiences are about to enter a new level. High speeds, massive bandwidth and super low latency open up unparalleled possibilities of creativity and freedom for technologists across all creative industries. Explore how 5G enables deeper, richer experiences in Extended Reality, IoT and Virtual Instruments to excite creators and reach audiences in whole new ways.

Magic Leap, together with Sigur Rós set out to discover and manifest the DNA of the band’s sound in a new reality. The result of that collaboration is Tónandi, which translates to sound spirit in Icelandic, an interactive audio-visual exploration of the sounds and spirit of Sigur Rós. The first version of Tónandi was launched summer 2018 and this February won the Dice award for ‘Immersive Reality Technical Achievement’.

NIALL MC GUIGAN  Rock, Folk

Niall Mc Guigan is a musician and practicing music therapist from Castleblayney, Co.Monaghan, Ireland. Specializing in medical ethnomusicology, Niall has researched the topic of music & healing within shamanic & neo-shamanic traditions and also the development of therapeutic presence as a music therapist.

As a musician he has performed in a variety of bands ranging from metal, grunge, rock, traditional Irish music, funk & reggae and also at festivals such as Electric Picnic, Glastonbury, Earth Garden & The Bubble festival (Malta). ​

The debut album “Awareness” is a collection of songs written over a period of six years expressing experiences of travel, education and self-discovery. Similar to the idea of songlines, a term used in aboriginal culture to describe songs that create a map, each song has a distinct story, life lesson or meditation that guides attention within, towards self-discovery and connection with the heart. ​

The album incorporates many musical styles including reggae, folk, rock, and Khoomii (Mongolian throat singing). This is fused with a variety of cross-cultural influences ranging from South American shamanism to eastern meditation practices. ​

Niall is currently touring Ireland & Europe with his experiential concert “Discovering stillness through music & self-enquiry”. This is an experiential music concert which offers participants the opportunity to recognize our natural state, a state of “being” through music, dialogue, and group voice work. ​

The interactive nature of the concert and introspective focus unlocks our ability to observe and question the psychological mind using awareness and the natural curiosity of self-discovery. ​

Music is an incredible tool which helps us to access a deeper connection with the heart as it is through the heart that we deepen our sense of “being”. Through this connection, self-enquiry can begin to uncover our true nature, the heart of reality and an ever present stillness within. ​

The album “Spiritual Anarchy” is a return to Niall’s rock roots mixing his folk & world music influences together with a message of self-actualisation and personal freedom.

Camille Donegan will speak about the Power of Virtual Embodiment, how VR is hacking brains, what’s happening at a neurological level and how we can use this for good.

Camille Donegan in conversation with Rafael Pagés, CEO and Founder of Volograms, a volumetric capture studio in Dublin, discussing technical and philosophical viewpoints on telling stories with volumetric characters and spatial audio. 

RUNABAY  Folk

Founded in the Glens of Antrim during the stormy winter of 2014, runabay are six musicians who through a passion for musicality, innovation and melody have been writing and recording ever since. A two-time 2018 ‘Irish Artist of the Week’ on Today FM, runabay is at the forefront of fresh, new music in Ireland.

Following the success of recent singles ‘Blink of an Eye’ and ‘Symmetry’ both of which saw the band earn a stream of national radio plays across RTE and Today FM, the band released its debut album on the 24th May 2019, with the lead single ‘Dig’ featuring spoken word poet Stephen James Smith.

Runabay have featured on and been championed by the likes of Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music), Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music), Ed Smith (Today FM), Ralph McLean (BBC Radio Ulster), Dan Hegarty (2FM) and Mathieu Norry (RTE Radio 1). They have also gained plenty of accolades including being nominated for ‘Irish Single of the Year’, along with a string of glowing press features from Hot Press Magazine, Chordblossom and Culture Hub NI.

The band’s live performances at festivals such as Stendhal, Sunflower, Moira Calling and Dalriada have been hailed as ‘joyous’, with influences including Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and Radiohead. Attendances at the band’s live shows grow in scale year on year, leading to consistent sell out audiences across various venues in Ireland.

TRACK:    VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS, BCIs & IoT

Virtual Instruments, Brain Computer Interfaces and the Internet of Things put a twist on artist creativity, performance, fan engagement and give liberty to fans to delve into music creation themselves and and allows them to be an active part of the experience.

In early 2016 one of the most exciting briefs in the 12 year history of Studio Waldemeyer arrived in the form of a phone call: Can we redesign the stage appearance of Jay Kay, front man of Jamiroquai.

With the background of Jay Kay’s tradition of eccentric head gear and the pangolin’s stunning scaled skin as a starting point we set to work. The song ‘Automaton’ gave a futuristic design direction, approved and inspired the use of some of the world’s most advanced modelling tools. Shape shifting thanks to robotic scales and with full control over every LED pixel, information pills this 3D printed hat is the most advanced piece of millinery on the planet today.

Virtual Instruments, Brain Computer Interfaces and the Internet of Things put a twist on artist creativity, performance, fan engagement and give liberty to fans to delve into music creation themselves and and allows them to be an active part of the experience.

FALLEN LIGHTS  Electro-Pop

Fallen Lights are an Electro Pop band from Mullingar Co. Westmeath. Together 4 years the band have been releasing music commercially since early 2018. The band have had huge success on Irish radio since then with their last 3 singles amounting to over 30 Million radio impressions and their first single of 2019 ‘Extra Time’ has been listed in the top 5 most played independent releases of 2019 so far this year by Radio Monitoring Ireland. Known more prominently for their high energy live performance Fallen Lights have just completed their own headline tour of Ireland to a sold out crowd at Dublin’s iconic Whelan’s, where the band left the stage to a full house calling for more! It is this high energy performance that seen Fallen Lights rewarded with their TV debut last November on RTE’s Late Late Show. The band are currently on a press tour for their current single ‘Karma’ which was released on July 19th, since then the track has almost 2 million impressions on Irish radio and has been chosen as single of the week on Today FM, 98FM, Beat 102-103, iRadio and included on playlists on RTE 2fm and RTE Radio 1. The band can be seen performing live at a multitude of festivals over the summer including Beat on The Street, Waterford Sproai and a headline slot on the Sunday night at indiependence festival Cork. Having played support shows in all of Ireland’s biggest venues including, The Olympia, The 3 Arena and The INEC Killarney to name a few, Fallen Lights are set to release their biggest headline show to date very soon which will be accompanied by the news/release dates of a debut EP, make sure to keep an ear to the ground as the rumble has only just begun for these 4 young men.

TRACK:    NEW LIVE EXPERIENCES

Ever since the digital revolution, live events have become an adventurous escape for fans across multiple sectors from music to circus, gaming and more. Live Music has transformed into the lifeblood for musicians, eSports and gaming tournaments are more popular than ever while holograms can revive nostalgic eras which we considered lost. Discover how the general desire for extraordinary experiences inspires artists to enhance their artistic expression through technology, design and deeper levels of access to connect with their audiences.

From making wearable sound mixing desks for Elton John fans on his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour, to exploring new forms of narrative using experiential design, to creating a virtual entertainer who writes, sings and performs. Join the panel for a chat about emotions, collaboration, creativity and what happens when digital meets the real world.

YONA is an auxiliary human (auxuman) made by Ash Koosha and Isabella Winthrop. Auxumans are virtual people driven by artificial intelligence and digital technologies. They bring you emotional content and further humanise machine generated art.

SUN MAHSHENE  Indie Rock, Shoegaze

What started off as a solo project by guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Nathan Henderson, soon turned into a collective of talented musicians, bringing Dave Murray on board for drumming duty and Ian McGinn on rhythm and lead guitar. With a mutual ambition to create something special they decided to merge their wide range of influences and joined forces with Darren Hughes on Bass and Ryan Daffy as third guitarist. What soon would follow is a fresh take on dark-tinged psychedelic indie rock. Having been described as sounding like somewhere between The Jesus And Mary Chain and Ride it’s no wonder Sun Mahshene are creating a stir. In order to produce an ethereal, mammoth wall of sound the band employ an arsenal of three guitarists to maximum effect, backed by heavy bass grooves and powerful drums. Their key focus is to capture the sonic assault and fueled aggression of their studio sessions and take it to the masses!

TRACK:    CIRCULAR ECONOMIES & SMART PRODUCTION

As one of the main strands of the leisure industry that requires huge infrastructures across multiple fields to cater for touring artists, elaborate productions and the enormous footfall at large scale events, the entertainment industry plays a key role in applying more sustainable models to reduce our carbon footprint. Events and festival ecosystems provide lucrative testbeds for circular economies, from localisation and the strive for efficiency across resources, waste reduction and energy consumption to sustainable event management and smart power.

As one of the main strands of the leisure industry that requires huge infrastructures across multiple fields to cater for touring artists, elaborate productions and the enormous footfall at large scale events, the entertainment industry plays a key role in applying more sustainable models to reduce our carbon footprint. Events and festival ecosystems provide lucrative testbeds for circular economies, from localisation and the strive for efficiency across resources, waste reduction and energy consumption to sustainable event management and smart power.

THE OCELOTS  Indie Folk

Originally from Wexford, 22 year old twins Brandon and Ashley combine to create The Ocelots. They have crafted their songwriting and musical experience together to produce a forceful blend of rich harmonies and bare, raw acoustic folk. Their music perfectly embodies the breezy effortlessness of early Bob Dylan, and Simon & Garfunkel.

PURSUED BY DOGS  Electronic, Indie

Pursued by Dogs are a three-piece from Dublin, Ireland who make electronic dark-pop with loud guitars, lush key arrangements and the striking vocal harmonies of Suzanne Purcell and Andrew Brennan – all doused in slick electronica thanks to Ro Marr’s live production skills. Their disparate influences mix to make music that maybe shouldn’t work – but somehow it does. Think Radiohead meets Christian Löffler. U2 meets Stimming X Lambert. The National meets Tale of Us. “We love electronic music that has real, live instrumentation in it – and that obviously ties into the way we work,” say Pursued by Dogs. A lot of bands try to do what Pursued by Dogs are doing by mixing electronica with indie music, but few pull it off with such apparent ease. Their incendiary shows have quickly earned them a formidable reputation as a live band that you just cannot afford to miss – their track record of sell-out shows is testament to this.

OUTRO

SYLK  Noir Pop

SYLK are a female noir-pop duo based in Dublin, Ireland. Laced with an underground aesthetic SYLK are industrial, bass heavy and lyrically dark. It is the blend of these elements that create SYLK’s signature darkwave sound, which compliments their energetic live show where they incorporate intensive visuals. From analogue synths, distorted baritone guitar riffs & a multitude of soundscapes created from manipulating taylor’s vocals, SYLK (taylor & bebhinn) take a DIY approach to their art. You will find them in a dark neon-lit bedroom creating and producing music about what they feel and music about what they don’t feel.

SYLK began their musical journey with the release of ‘Am I Alone’, in early 2017 followed by their acclaimed EP ‘nwyr’, which led to standout appearances at Forbidden Fruit Festival, Body & Soul, Hard Working Class Heroes, Electric Picnic as well as headlining the legendary Button Factory- to name a few. Ireland’s foremost music blogger, Nialler9, described them as an exciting “cross between Massive Attack and FKA Twigs”, and the premiere music magazine Hot Press classing the duo as ‘having already established a reputation for themselves as being a darkly mysterious, neon-soaked duo. SYLK are doing everything musical to establish themselves as an emerging Irish act.’

SYLK’s 2019 release ‘All In Ur Head’ FT Daragh Locke is the first of many for 2019 and has gained mainstream radio play from RTE 2FM (track of the week & track of the day), 98FM and Today FM and described as JOE.IE’s song of the day as a ‘dark brooding banger of a track’.

9LAUNCH PARTY

Join us for the #MxT2019 Launch Party at the iconic Windmill Lane Recording Studios, Ireland’s premier audio production facility with a client list that includes a who’s-who of global superstars such as U2, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Hozier, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers, Depeche Mode, Snow Patrol, Kylie Minogue, AC/DC and many more.   Featuring stellar live music of top emerging talent, drinks and tech experiences, the #MxT2019 Launch Party creates plenty of room for meetings and chance encounters to spark the imagination and fuel the next big collaboration ahead of the conference.   #MxT2019 ticket holders only

9LAUNCH PARTY

Join us for the #MxT2019 Launch Party at the iconic Windmill Lane Recording Studios, Ireland’s premier audio production facility with a client list that includes a who’s-who of global superstars such as U2, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Hozier, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers, Depeche Mode, Snow Patrol, Kylie Minogue, AC/DC and many more.   Featuring stellar live music of top emerging talent, drinks and tech experiences, the #MxT2019 Launch Party creates plenty of room for meetings and chance encounters to spark the imagination and fuel the next big collaboration ahead of the conference.   #MxT2019 ticket holders only

9LAUNCH PARTY

Join us for the #MxT2019 Launch Party at the iconic Windmill Lane Recording Studios, Ireland’s premier audio production facility with a client list that includes a who’s-who of global superstars such as U2, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Hozier, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers, Depeche Mode, Snow Patrol, Kylie Minogue, AC/DC and many more.   Featuring stellar live music of top emerging talent, drinks and tech experiences, the #MxT2019 Launch Party creates plenty of room for meetings and chance encounters to spark the imagination and fuel the next big collaboration ahead of the conference.   #MxT2019 ticket holders only

Do you like Star Wars? Virtual Reality Games? Neon? Of course you do! Then jump inside the surrealistic neon noir environment of Beat Saber and slash musical blocks representing musical beats with a pair of red and blue light sabers. How cool is that! 

Do you like Star Wars? Virtual Reality Games? Neon? Of course you do! Then jump inside the surrealistic neon noir environment of Beat Saber and slash musical blocks representing musical beats with a pair of red and blue light sabers. How cool is that! 

Bring out the popcorn, it’s movie time! Take your seat and immersive yourself in the virtual world with a selection of virtual reality films. 

RUMI  Alt Electro-Pop

Rumi is an Irish singer and songwriter who produces a sound that blends nostalgic atmosphere with strong beats, with some style influences ranging from Electro Pop to Alternative Rock and everything in between. Rumi honed her craft and musical style during her time at Limerick Institute of Technology where she explored the world of music & tech.  “Moi”, Rumi’s latest single and video has been described by blogger Nialler9 as – “a craftily assembled dance track, showing a lot of creativity in its dry vocals, detailed hi-hat patterns.” Along with Rumi being added to Nialler9’s Irish Times - “Artists to Watch” piece.   The track has garnered a lot of attention over the past month, being chosen as “Track of the Day” by Joe.ie and has also caught the attention of the likes of fellow Limerick native Blindboy who praised it with his plug of the booming Limerick music scene. Rumi has played to crowds in revered venues such as the likes of Whelan’s and The Button Factory in Dublin and has had a busy festival season thus far and is just off the back of Forbidden Fruit, Sea Sessions and Kaleidoscope.

AIKJ  Alt R&B

Born in Nigeria and raised in Dublin, the Singer/Songwriter brings together influences from the world of R&b with a pop flair. From releasing “Suite Life” in 2016 which stormed the airwaves of daytime radio in major radio stations across Ireland, AikJ has actively been a part of the conversations on the change of Irish music into mainstream media by notably being a “One to Watch” by The Irish Times, RedBull Music, District Magazine etc, and with diverse Live Shows in major festivals such as Electric Picnic, Castlepalooza, Forbidden Fruit with the likes of Mura Masa, Nao, Giggs etc. Releasing “Hidden Agenda” and “Heights” had AikJ in a promising position gaining over half a million streams on Spotify with Top 20 positions on the Viral Charts and ‘’Hidden Agenda” being in the ‘’Best of Sweet Soul Sunday 2017’’ playlist curated by Spotify.

JaXSON  Alternative Pop

JaXson is the brainchild of Wexford singer-songwriter Luke Jackson. Luke has been slowly climbing the ladder ever since he began playing under the moniker, JaXson, in January 2017 Some of his early highlights include played to a packed crowd at Vantastival 2018, playing Sofar Sounds in Dublin, supporting Little Hours in Waterford & landing a slot on the RTÉ 2FM Play The Picnic Stage at Electric Picnic! JaXson released We Were Born on 14th September, 3 days after a live version aired on Today FM’s Lost In Music. The track has been supported by Irish radio ever since and has received rave reviews from a number of blogs & magazines and was selected for Spotify’s ‘A Breath of Fresh Éire’ playlist as well as being pushed heavily on Discover Weekly & Release Radar. “He strikes a chord with contemporary neuroses and the worrying demand for self-perfectionism that has been spurred by social media.” – Hot Press 2019 started with JaXson being chosen as one of Golden Plec’s Plec Picks 2019 as well as announcing some support shows with Paddy Casey, Hudson Taylor, SPINN & Adam French. JaXson released 5am (Look What You’ve Done) on 5th April 2019 and was announced for festivals in Summer 2019 including Indiependence Festival, Vantastival & Claremorris Folk Festival.

MANI ORRASON  Indie, Pop

Máni Orrason’s second album “I Woke Up Waiting” was only released in the spring of 2018, and yet it seems to be an eternity ago. A lot has happened for the young artist since, including discovering new facets in his music and working them out alongside a producer on the EP. Intense months lie behind the 20-year-old, who not only found a new love, but also developed a new relationship with his musical work. The new EP »BABY ANGEL« is about falling in love and about what comes afterwards – despair, longing and other inevitabilities. It moves freely between dreaming and waking, brooding and letting go, and documents a significant personal as well as artistic development. “I wanted to get away from this four-piece-indie-band approach,” explains Orrason, who chose to step away from more traditional acoustic guitar songwriting, to work instead with synths, drum machines, and loops. It was the timelessness of the arrangements that shaped the sound of “I Woke Up Waiting”. Now, everything sounds much more modern. And just as he has experienced songwriting anew, the musician also experienced himself anew in the context of his romantic relationship. “I’ve changed,” he says, “I feel more hopeful, more stable, feel love for so many things around me”, he says happily. On the new record, Máni becomes tangible – at least for the moment. The 6 song EP is going through the big feelings – from the die-hard queer crush in “Cowboy Cold”, to the fears for the future in “I Swear It’s True” and the exasperated frustration in “Numb”, to the bigger questions about self that “Picture I Recall” poses. Even if we experience Orrason here in his most thoughtful moments so far: the cheerfulness doesn’t get lost in the synthie-darkroom. The EP shows Orrason in a new and exciting electronic environment in which he thrives. Producer Nikolai Potthoff, with whom Orrason travelled from Berlin to his old home in Spain, helped to tap the full potential of the new songs before they found their final form in Berlin. It has been almost five years since Máni Orrason became known in his native Iceland. With the pop-folk hit “Fed All My Days”, he came into the focus of the music world and secured his first festival appearances. His debut album “Repeating Patterns” and the subsequent “Wake Me Up” EP further testified to his musical class. »BABY ANGEL« shows an unusual and captivating young artist, who is not only ahead of his age, but also ahead of his time.

RACHAEL LAVELLE  Electronic, Classical, Baroque, Pop, Folk, Alternative

Rachael is a Dublin based Singer / Composer who creates music for people who are lost. Her performance has been described as ‘hypnotic’ and ‘intense’ blending electronic soundscapes, synth, samples with elegant piano, baroque harmony and arresting vocals. Rachael’s work is often in reference to life in the digital age, songs are inspired by the threat of hacking pacemakers and surveillance; ‘Are You Watching Me Through The Webcam?’, wellness mantras, ‘Eat Clean’ and Gmail’s; ‘Reply All’. Her work often explores the desire for intimacy and the experience of perceived failure and loneliness. Rachael Lavelle released an EP in 2015, Superman, and off the back of that she got to tour with Saint Sister and supported a number of Irish and International artists including Balthazar, Jack L, Moxie. She then did a masters in Music and Media Technology where I studied music production and composition with electronics. This time opened her eyes to new ways of making music with technology and she spent the last 3 years developing her skills in production and writing my debut album. As a composer she has written music for film and a number of ensembles including RTE ConTempo and Glasshouse ensemble. Rachael is currently producing her debut album, Reply All, set to be released in 2020.

BRI  Folk

Brí is an Irish singer-songwriter based in Dublin. After releasing her debut single ‘Low Supply’ in June, making her debut at The Ruby Sessions, selling out her first headline show at Whelan’s and playing at RiverFest alongside acts such as Hudson Taylor and Chasing Abbey, Brí is already recording her next single, having just headlined another gig in her hometown of Tullamore to launch her ‘Low Supply’ music video. Inspired by haunting vocals and heartfelt lyrics from artists such as Birdy and Laura Marling, Brí’s songwriting draws on personal experience.

SYLK  Noir Pop

SYLK are a female noir-pop duo based in Dublin, Ireland. Laced with an underground aesthetic SYLK are industrial, bass heavy and lyrically dark. It is the blend of these elements that create SYLK’s signature darkwave sound, which compliments their energetic live show where they incorporate intensive visuals. From analogue synths, distorted baritone guitar riffs & a multitude of soundscapes created from manipulating taylor’s vocals, SYLK (taylor & bebhinn) take a DIY approach to their art. You will find them in a dark neon-lit bedroom creating and producing music about what they feel and music about what they don’t feel.

SYLK began their musical journey with the release of ‘Am I Alone’, in early 2017 followed by their acclaimed EP ‘nwyr’, which led to standout appearances at Forbidden Fruit Festival, Body & Soul, Hard Working Class Heroes, Electric Picnic as well as headlining the legendary Button Factory- to name a few. Ireland’s foremost music blogger, Nialler9, described them as an exciting “cross between Massive Attack and FKA Twigs”, and the premiere music magazine Hot Press classing the duo as ‘having already established a reputation for themselves as being a darkly mysterious, neon-soaked duo. SYLK are doing everything musical to establish themselves as an emerging Irish act.’

SYLK’s 2019 release ‘All In Ur Head’ FT Daragh Locke is the first of many for 2019 and has gained mainstream radio play from RTE 2FM (track of the week & track of the day), 98FM and Today FM and described as JOE.IE’s song of the day as a ‘dark brooding banger of a track’.

REEVAH  Indie-Folk

Derry songwriter Reevah (AKA Aoife Boyle) grew up surrounded by music and art – her mother is an artist and her father is a musician. Her acclaimed debut EP ‘Hummingbird’ was self-released in June 2018 and aired on RTE Radio One and BBC Introducing amongst numerous others. She has supported acts such as SOAK, Lisa Hannigan, Wyvern Lingo, and Duke Special and has played at various events such as Other Voices, The Ruby Sessions, Output Festival, BBC Fringe Festival and Stendhal Festival. In 2018 Reevah completed a collaborative project with The Ulster Orchestra based on the Civil Rights Movement of ‘68’, she released two tracks ‘River Flow, River Divide’ and ‘Heart over Head’. Throughout the summer of 2018 she toured with the orchestra debuting the collaboration, featuring at various showcases and festivals such as main stage at Stendhal Festival, St Columbs Hall, Derry and The Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast. In September 2017 Reevah was selected as one of five up and coming Irish musicians to take part in the Oh Yeah Music Centres prestigious ‘Scratch My Progress’ talent development programme. The yearlong initiative which sees hundreds of applicants apply is recognised as promoting and nurturing strong emerging talent both locally and to audiences, industry and festivals on a wider level. In October 2017 she travelled to Warsaw, Poland to represent Northern Ireland at the PROM Kultry where she performed over the festival. Reevah’s music is immersive and reflective allowing the listener a chance to escape the speed of life. But it’s her voice, pure, understated and fearless, that stays in the heart and the mind long after the music is over.

GARY O‘NEILL  Folk, Irish, Songwriter

Gary burst onto the Irish music scene in 2015 with his hard-hitting sophomore EP- ‘Gracefully With Haste’. The following year saw the release of his live LP ‘Live At The Unitarian Church’ as well as his debut album ‘Around The Robin’ – a body of work that saw the “progression and maturity of this promising, young Irish songwriter”. After gigging extensively across the country, his move to Chicago would follow in May 2016. “…his charm, his talent and his power encompassed the whole room. This was a man who was destined for greatness, with songs written to stun people…” Pure M Magazine Years on the road traveling, writing and touring across Western Canada & North America – Gary now resides in West of Ireland, where he is working on his biggest, most exciting record to date. With a string of releases due later this year, expect this young Kilkenny native to be on everyone’s watchlist by the end of 2019.

HAPPYALONE.  genre-fluid-alt-pop

FIELDS  Alternative, Atmos-folk, Indie-pop

FIELDS is an Irish collective, based out of Dublin. Their sound is innately inspired by the character of the Irish heartland – a sleepy and often maligned region, which is wide awake with spirit and charm, bursting at its borders with plots of parochial divide, understated romanticism and quiet malaise. Combining powerful synth-driven melodies, carefully-entwined harmonies and captivating guitars, the band bring energy and ambience together to make for a compelling journey. FIELDS will release their debut record titled ‘Postcolonial’ in 2019. The 12-track LP will feature singles ‘Get Worse’ and ‘Border Boys’, with further track releases expected over the coming months and tour dates to follow.

DOUBLE SCREEN  Electronica, Downtempo, Chill-out, House, Singer-Songwriter

Double Screen is the live electronica project from Dónal Sharpson, a Dublin based DJ and Producer. His energetic performance includes live processed vocals, drum pads, sample pads, effects and visuals. Dónal Sharpson produces a whole range of genres under different monikers including ‘Sharpson’, ‘Tooka’ and ‘Granny’. As well as DJing all over Ireland, holding residencies in Dublin City, he is also accustomed to playing abroad (UK, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta) with his multiple projects Apart from being a music producer, Dónal Sharpson works as a DJ, Music Teacher and media producer, having designed all of the Double Screen art and visuals.

VINCI  Indie, Pop

VINCI is an upcoming Irish band with a global sound, drawing comparisons to Coldplay, Imagine Dragons and Mumford and Sons, along with Irish acts such as U2, The Script, Hozier, and recent break-through, Dermot Kennedy. The band features vocals, acoustic/electric guitar, bass/bass synth, drums/pads and cello/keys. The balance and variety in their songs and sound, allows them to perform as a 3, 4 or 5 piece band. The name VINCI comes from the latin word, “vincere” meaning to defeat, to beat, to conquer, to overcome.

VINCI’s music embodies the archetype of the hero; creating a genre-defiant, cinematic-anthemic sound, that triumphs over tragedy; mimicking their own personal story. “Lions” is the brand new single by VINCI, which was mixed by Mark Needham (The Killers, Imagine Dragons, The 1975) The song speaks to this hero archetype, with lyrical nods to ancient history and mythology, speaking to the importance of timing. The timing is right for them, now. “Lions” is being championed by US agent Sat Bisla (A&R Worldwide/Musexpo) who has a track record of securing deals for UK/Irish artists in the US (Coldplay/Adele/Sam Smith/Keane/Lily Allen). This song has drawn comparisons to Hozier, Imagine Dragons, Rag’n’Bone Man, Mumford and Sons and U2.

Following a family tragedy, the band pulled together to fly to Los Angeles for an audition, and secured the headline spot at the 14th annual Oscar Wilde Awards at the Bad Robot Studios owned by JJ Abrams (Lost, Start Trek, Star Wars), a first for an unsigned band, where they were noticed and featured by The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard, along with mainstream Irish press such as RTE, TV3 and Hot Press. As a completely independent outfit, VINCI has sold out shows in Dublin, been invited to perform for the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, filmed the first ever music video at Dublin City Hall and earned national airplay support on RTE 2FM. VINCI, with good friend Mark Doyle, recently wrote, cast, produced and directed the music video for their single “When We Go Out,” which highlights the homeless crisis in Ireland and features Irish actor Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, The Wire, Bohemian Rhapsody).

AILBHE REDDY  Indie Folk

Ailbhe has been making huge waves in her native Ireland after releasing her debut EP ‘Hollowed Out Sea’ in 2015. This EP’s single ‘Distrust’ garnered critical acclaim and over 3 million streams on Spotify. She went on to feature on almost every major Irish festival line up in 2016 including Electric Picnic, Body & Soul, Hard Working Class Heroes and Other Voices. Her following EP and singles since have won her critical acclaim from the likes of Line of Best Fit, Clash Magazine, Nialler9, The Irish Times, Earmilk and Wonderland Magazine. In 2017 she was featured in season 15 of the prestigious RTÉ show ‘Other Voices’. The following summer she was on many of the coveted UK festival line ups, such as The Great Escape, Glastonbury, Latitude, London Folk & Roots and Cambridge Folk Festival. She is signed with boutique London-based publishing label BDi Music. She is currently recording her debut album due for release in early 2020.