Taking to Instagram to announce the news at length, Denise said; “So I will tag people later and make an official post but GUYS I am not fine. I’m ecstatic. I’m harassing my mom at work and crying a lot. We won. The Choice. Oh. My goodness.”

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The show is usually held live at Vicar Street in Dublin, the announcement was made on Thursday afternoon, the 4th of March on RTÉ 2FM by Tracy Clifford and U2’s Adam Clayton. There were also pre-recorded performances by the acts which were shown on the RTÉ Player. Denise will receive €10,000 for her winnings, provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA).

Other albums that were nominated include Fontaines D.C’s A Hero’s Death, Róisín Murphy’s Róisín Machine, Pillow Queen’s In Waiting, Ailbhe Reddy’s In Waiting, Bitch Falcon’s Staring at Clocks, JyellowL’s  2020 DIvision, Nealo’s All The Leaves Are Falling, Niamh Regan’s Hemet and Silverbacks’ Fad.

Huge congratulations to Denise Chaila on winning #RTEChoicePrize Album of the Year for her debut ‘Go Bravely’. An incredible album and a deserving winner. pic.twitter.com/QWkRoHuxtR

— RTÉ Choice Music (@choiceprize) March 4, 2021

In other news with Denise, she released her new single today Water with Narolane artists God Knows and MuRli. The song features a perfect blend of the three artists musical flare and a perfect joint first single for the group.

Taking to Instagram to announce the news, Denise said; “It feels like it’s been 700 years since I last came to you with an offering, and I’m sweetly giddy about the prospect of making space for this next… moment. ⁣I have nothing clever or even particularly poetic to say. I’m just smiling to myself about the fact that ‘Water’ was my first word, and I get to read something symbolic in that if I want to. Which I absolutely will.” 

Denise Chaila has been all over the Irish music scene over the last year, Go Bravely, her debut mixtape, came out in October and included songs such as Chaila, Holy Grail and Down. Along with her RTÉ win, Denise was also announced this year as Ireland’s highest-charting female soloist this year. She also has Hot Press’ Top Track of the year and performed on The Late Late Show in September, Perspectives: Imagining Ireland. Speaking Up, Singing Louder in National Concert Hall, Dublin in February and Other Voices: Courage, in May 2020.

Water is out now on all platforms

Ian Brown took to Twitter to announce he will no longer be headlining the Saturday night of the festival as he doesn’t agree with making being vaccinated a condition of entry to the event. He wrote; “My Saturday night headline show at NHBD Weekender Festival will now not happen! I refuse to accept vaccination proof as condition of entry. Refunds are available!”

My Saturday night headline show at NHBD Weekender Festival will now not happen! I refuse to accept vaccination proof as condition of entry.Refunds are available! X

— Ian Brown (@ianbrown) March 3, 2021

This isn’t the first time the ex-Stone Roses frontman has spoken out against this solution to hosting live events during the pandemic. Last month, Ian tweeted saying he would “NEVER sing to a crowd who must be vaccinated as a condition of attendance.NEVER EVER!”

In a statement on their social media, Neighbourhood Weekender said; “Like all festivals this summer, will comply with the conditions outlined by the Government through the Local Authority. No decisions will be taken by Government until 21st June at the earliest. We are working with other festival organisers and look forward to a safe return to open-air events this summer.”

Ian has been replaced by James. Other acts on the line-up include Friday headliner Gerry Cinnamon, Sunday headliners Catfish And The Bottlemen, plus Sam Fender, Circa Waves, Shed Seven, The Wombats, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, Pale Waves, Miles Kane, Easy Life and more.

Wireless, Latitude, Brighton’s Great Escape Festival and Standon Calling have all announced they will also be going ahead this year. All tickets previously purchased for the Neighbourhood Weekender festival will still be valid for the new dates. Refunds are also available for people who can no longer attend. You can also still purchase tickets at the festival’s official website.

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The amazingly gripping video tells the story of the child version of Kojaque who is moving through the world alone following the passing of his father. While his mother comes to grips with her grief, the child learns to manage his life using no hands, as he cycles through the Dublin landscape. The profits from No Hands will support the Irish charity Pieta House, who work to help thousands of people in suicidal distress or struggling with self-harm.

Speaking about the meaning of the song to DIY, Kojaque said; “it’s about growing up. I wrote it on my 21st birthday so it’s a couple years old. I think I was just reminiscing on my childhood, trying to recount old memories. There seems to be a pretty universal feeling when you’re young and that’s wanting to make your parents proud. At least that’s what I remember, searching for approval, wanting that reassurance, the track for me say’s ‘look at me now, look how far I’ve come, imagine what else could happen’. “

“My childhood wasn’t exactly like everyone else’s, at times I really felt like an alien but it was happy, it’s all I knew. We lost my dad to suicide when I was a child. Although the song is about that loss of potential in my dad’s death, I’ve learned to see the potential in my own life. It’s something I’ve very much come to terms with, for me it’s a very hopeful song.”

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Kojaque will also be joining Denise Chaila, Unorthodox Coolock, Jessie Reyez, Junia-T and Savannah Ré on St Patrick’s Day, as part of JAMESON CONNECTS JESSIE REYEZ AND FRIENDS. Jameson Connects has announced the event with the aim to bring together some of the best names in Irish R&B, hip-hop and spoken word for a global celebration. The event will include immersive performances from around the world, as the event is striving to celebrate “hometowns and communities” on the day that celebrates the beauty of Irishness.

No Hands is Kojaque’s first release of 2021. Kojaque’s Choice Music Prize-nominated project Deli Daydreams in 2018 led to him working on a collaborative mixtape with Luka Palm on Green Diesel. He also supported Lana Del Rey at Malahide Castle in 2019. Kojaque is also the co-founder of Soft Boys Records, which is an independent label that is not afraid to push the boundaries. Their roster includes fellow co-founder Kean Kavanagh, Gaptoof, Five to Two, Luka Palm, Brién, Westfellow, Henry Earnest, jarjarjr and Matt Finnegan.

No Hands is out now on all platforms, you can check out the music video below.

Taking to Instagram to announce the news, Denise said; “It feels like it’s been 700 years since I last came to you with an offering, and I’m sweetly giddy about the prospect of making space for this next… moment. ⁣I have nothing clever or even particularly poetic to say. I’m just smiling to myself about the fact that ‘Water’ was my first word, and I get to read something symbolic in that if I want to. Which I absolutely will.” 

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This news comes after the announcement that Denise will be joining Kojaque, Unorthodox Coolock, Jessie Reyez, Junia-T and Savannah Ré on St Patrick’s Day, as part of JAMESON CONNECTS JESSIE REYEZ AND FRIENDS. Jameson Connects has announced the event with the aim to bring together some of the best names in Irish R&B, hip-hop and spoken word for a global celebration. The event will include immersive performances from around the world, as the event is striving to celebrate “hometowns and communities” on the day that celebrates the beauty of Irishness.

Denise Chaila has been all over the Irish music scene over the last year, Go Bravely, her debut mixtape, came out in October and included songs such as Chaila, Holy Grail and Down. Denise was also announced this year as Ireland’s highest-charting female soloist this year. She also has Hot Press’ Top Track of the year and performed on The Late Late Show in September, Perspectives: Imagining Ireland. Speaking Up, Singing Louder in National Concert Hall, Dublin in February and Other Voices: Courage, in May 2020. 

Denise also brought out a remixed version of Anseo with Zimbabwean-born Irish rapper, Jafaris in December, which saw Jafaris bring a new dimension to an already amazing song. Denis took to Instagram to talk about the new track, saying; “@jafarismusic blessed the beat with fire and I’m so proud of what we gave here. I believe there is power in play. I believe there is power in recalling your history. I believe that our future is built on our ability to dream powerfully. Together. The day we perform this with people present will feel… immaculate.⁣”

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Water will be out on Friday, 5th of March. You can register to be apart of the JAMESON CONNECTS JESSIE REYEZ AND FRIENDS virtual concert here.

The show will highlight the artist’s feelings towards the silence we’re experiencing on the empty streets and venues during the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. The show, which was organised by Sinéad Gleeson and Gary Sheehan, will be available to view for free on the National Concert Hall’s YouTube and social media channels this Saturday, March 6, at 8pm.

Announcing the event on their Instagram, The National Concert Hall said; “As International Women’s Day approaches, Notes from a Quiet Land, supported by Arthur Cox, invites some of Ireland’s most exciting female voices in music and word to reflect and respond to the silence of empty streets, venues and lives led inside, as we collectively navigate our current way of living.”

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Speaking to Hotpress about the event, Robert Read, CEO of the National Concert Hall said; “An important part of the NCH’s remit is to encourage and engage artists in the presentation of new music and works, whilst also providing a platform for it to be performed and heard. At this time of crisis, the NCH is pleased to have the opportunity to offer a platform to support new and leading female voices, particularly as we approach International Women’s Day, to offer their musical and literary response to the times we live in.”

There has been a welcomed spotlight shone on the Irish music industry this last year as it has become apparent that there is not an equal representation for women. The gender disparity report issued by Why Not Her in November highlighted the huge disparity among the Irish music charts. The report was done by Cian Sullivan, under the supervision of Linda Coogan Byrne and used data from December 7th 2018 to November 6th 2020.

The report stated that in the Official Irish Albums Chart over the last two years, 73 Irish acts entered the charts and only 17 of them were female. It also showed that no female artist has entered the Top 10 Irish Single Chart since 2016, whereas five male acts have spent 51 weeks in the Top 10 with 12 singles over the last two years alone.

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Why Not Her have also created an Action Plan to guide radio stations on how to be more inclusive in their radio play. The action plan is full of statistics for the stations as well as changes that can be made to change the way the industry is treating women, this includes ensuring that the leaders of these companies actively make the commitment to give women more airplay and to set diversity and inclusion targets for the company to follow. The action plan also encouraged the stations to take a look at the research and use this data to diversify teams and create a space for women on their airwaves. The action plan also stated that real change is possible. Since the release of the first gender disparity report, RTÉ 2FM now has 40% parity, SPIN 1038 has 45% parity and BEAT 102 103 has achieved 35%

Watch Notes From A Quiet Land on Saturday, March 6th, at 8pm – streamed on the National Concert Hall YouTube and social media channels.

The British Music Embassy typically takes over a venue every year at SXSW in Austin, Texas, putting a spotlight on the best new music from around the UK. As the festival is virtual this year due to the ongoing global health crisis, the British Music Embassy has recorded live performances which can be watched on the SXSW portal. A selection of performances will also be made available after Easter for all to view on SXSW’s YouTube channel.

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The full British Music Embassy line-up for SXSW Online 2021 includes 404 Guild, Afronaut Zu,  Anna B Savage, Baby Queen, Beauty Sleep, Black Country, New Road, Chubby and The Gang, Connie Constance, Do Nothing, Drug Store Romeos, Ego Ella May, Enola Gay, Finn Askew, The Goa Express, IDER, Katy J Pearson, Lau.ra, Lilla Vargen, Matilda Mann, The Mysterines, Nayana IZ, Olivia Dean, Onipa, Penelope Isles, Phoebe Green, Porij, PVA, Ryan McMullan, Sinead O’Brien, Squid, Tayo Sound, TV Priest, Virginia Wing, Walt Disco and Yard Act.

Speaking about the event in a press release, Paul Pacifico, Chief Executive Officer at AIM said; “We’re delighted to be returning as a British Music Embassy partner for SXSW 2021. It has always been a key stepping stone for the careers of independent artists, and a valuable way to accelerate their journeys on the international stage. Although we can’t attend in person this year, the positioning of British Music within the virtual showcase platform is the next best thing and a crucial moment to showcase exciting British talent to the world.”

Northern Irish singer-songwriter Lilla Vargen shared her excitement about being on the virtual line-up saying; “The past year has been devastating for live music, and SXSW being able to go ahead in some form is a light at the end of the tunnel, and hopefully can signal the return of more opportunities like this. I can’t wait to head to Austin when it is safe to do so.”

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The British Music Embassy is brought to you this year by AIM, BBC, BPI, the Department for International Trade, PPL, PRS for Music, and PRS Foundation, with further support from ATC, media partner DIY Magazine and Belfast City Council. Since 2008 it has hosted over 450 UK artists, positioning them in front of a global audience in order to help them to break into new markets and advance their careers. The British Music Embassy also uses UK-only production and equipment, giving artists from the UK an unparalleled platform on the world music stage.

Check out the SXSW showcase at The British Music Embassy through the SXSW portal or on SXSW’s YouTube channel.

Rina announced in an Instagram post that following her conversations with the BPI, starting this year the eligibility clause will be expanded. Artists will now be eligible for nomination if they have been a resident of the UK for five years, even without British citizenship. The nomination will also be possible to any artist with a British passport or was born in the UK. Rina went on to thank her fans who helped raise awareness and starting the conversation.

She went on to say; “Without your collective voice, this wouldn’t have happened. In my 26th year of living in the UK I’m so proud that I can help make this systemic change for future generations, so that in years to come we can see a more diverse definition of British musical excellence.”

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Rina raised this issue with Mercury last year after she released her debut album, SAWAYAMA, she was told that the rules would not change. The Japanese government does not allow people to carry duel citizenship, however, Rina has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, meaning she shares most citizens’ rights so she has kept her Japanese passport to maintain ties to her family who live in her country of birth, this includes her father.

At the point, Rina told VICE; “You get to a level when you don’t have to worry about your nationality and your status and whether you fit into this country. Things like that bring into sharp focus, like, whether I am even British.” She then added; “I fundamentally don’t agree with this definition of Britishness.”

Rina’s album SAWAYAMA was released on the 17th of April 2020 via Dirty Hit. The album included the amazing singles XS, Comme Des Garçons (Like The Boys), STFU!, Chosen Family and Bad Friend. The album peaked in the UK Indie charts at number 8. The album was produced by Clarence Clarity and Sawayama herself, with help from Bram Inscore, Nate Company, and Nicole Morier, creating a wide range of sounds and genres across the songs. Speaking to Consequence of Sound, Sawayama said “Everything kind of picks up from different bits of the 2000s. I think music was so diverse then.”

Explaining the decision, Orla said; “this was how @gretaisaac & I first imagined it, shot outside at golden hour. the forecast was grim for our first shoot day so we shot a plan B indoor version in a village hall – in the end we preferred that version.. idk, something about shooting the movement in a circle just felt right. the next day we shot this outdoor version in the field beside Gret’s family home & caught a rare moment of perfect sunlight on a freeezing december day.”

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This new version still includes the wonderful choreography from Elan Isaac and dancer Hannah Hornsby. The outdoor element adds a completely new vibe to the whole video, the natural light, nature and middle of nowhere feeling you get create an almost cosmic experience as the two character’s mannerisms begin to match.

The upbeat folk-pop track, which came out on the 13th of January, tells the story of Orla’s insecurities and feelings of inferiority. It is about constantly comparing yourself to other people and not seeing that they also have their own set of flaws and insecurities.

Speaking about the meaning of the song with Golden Plec, Orla said; “More Like You’ was born from a petty friend jealousy I have for my best friend’s other best friend. She’s someone who I only ever heard good things about, someone I wanted to hate until I met her and – of course – I didn’t. I loved her,” 

“When you don’t have much access to someone it’s easy to put them on a pedestal and forget that they have their own layered & complex life, you only see perfection. I became obsessed. I wanted to sing like her, I wanted to dress like her, I wanted to swap bodies with her Freaky-Friday style. So ‘More Like You’ is another song about identity, about yearning to switch lives with someone who makes it all look easy.”

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More Like You is the second release of Orla’s yet to be named, upcoming debut album. Pretending is the first single that came out in October. The song is about the act people put up to impress strangers and how exhausting it is to be talking to people and have none of it is real. Talking about the song Orla said; “I wanted the heart of the song to feel like you’ve separated yourself from the group and cut away all the chaos around you, only to be left with your own voice.”

More Like You is available on all platforms, you can check out the alternative music video below.

The expansion of the movement into Ireland was announced during a panel this week. The initiative announced James Foley as a Keychange Ambassador. Foley is the Lead, Editorial at Spotify UK and Ireland. Ireland Music Week are the Keychange partner coordinating and supporting activities in Ireland, alongside sponsors IMRO. Ireland Music Week is also the festival partner for Keychange in Ireland so will host 6 international Keychange participants, as well as the Irish participants in 2021.

Seven Irish organisations have signed the Keychange gender pledge including Choice Music Prize, Foggy Notions, The Folly @ Cullohill, Ireland Music Week, HearOne Music, Minding Creative Minds and Róisín Dubh. Ireland’s Keychange participants for 2020/21 include acts Pillow Queens, Elaine Mai, Mona-Lisa Das and SYLK, as well as Rubyworks’ Shauna Watson and artist manager/video producer Lia Liegho.

This Thursday, the 26th of February The Keychange Movement will be hosting a panel moderated by UK Keychange Project Manager, Maxie Gedge on ‘Community and Management.’ The panel will focus on the Benefits and importance of collaboration and creating your network. Maxie will be joined by Lia Liegho (artist manager and Keychange participant), Ceri Dixon (artist manager) and Ismay Bourke (music PR), will be broadcast on the Keychange Facebook page.

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Speaking about the movement, James Foley said; “Even though the statistics on gender equality in music continue to make for bleak reading, I am ever-hopeful for change when I see the impact Keychange is having and the potential we all have to do more. In my day to day role in the UK + Ireland music team at Spotify, I’m focused on how we can create a more equal platform, give under-represented voices a stage and open up our listener’s ears to different viewpoints.”

“I’m also keenly aware that gender equality in music is intersectional and can positively address other systemic inequalities. I take seriously the commitment to affecting change and connecting people who can unlock the challenges we face in making the industry a more equal place to exist. I’m really looking forward to working with everyone involved in Keychange as an Irish ambassador and I am excited about what’s to come.”

The Keychange Movement’s current list spans 40 countries and 400 organisations. Over in the UK, artists Violet Skies, Suzi Wu, Chagall, Tawiah, Poppy Ajudha, Anaïs, Islet and Machine Woman are already members of the movement. You can see the full list here.

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The album is set to explore the deterioration of Dublin’s nightlife and culture as well as looking and the horrifying housing and homelessness crisis that is ripping through Ireland. Through the use of spoken word and electronic beats, Jimbo illustrates the gentrification and emigration of his hometown. It captures a chaotic vision of the world within Dublin’s city limits. He uses a range of spoken word devices, including a reading of  James Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man over a beat to show the evolution of Dublin life.

Speaking about the creation of the album, Jimbo said in an Instagram post; “The first track for this album was written a year and a half ago after leaving Ireland in the midst of chaos centred around housing crisis protests. Over that time I have been letting my thoughts and ideas fester and have formulated these notions into songs.”

“Only during lockdown was I able to compile and curate these tracks into a detailed narrative of a rapidly decaying Dublin City; the premise of this album. I wanted this project to reflect the feelings of isolation and separation experienced by both myself, and many of my peers, due to the the rampant gentrification and emigration that is prevalent in Ireland; particularly Dublin city. I hope that these ideas resonate with many of you, or at the very least, translate.”

 

 

 

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The first track off the album, Who is Dubh Linn For? gives an insight into the decay of cultural spaces and constricted creative outlets in the capital city. Dublin has seen the closure of countless weekends markets and small businesses as well as nightclubs and cultural pubs such as the Bernard Shaw, all for the sake of gentrification as the Irish government seeks to fill the city with hotels. The song features samples from Emmet Kirwan and Una Mullally as well as recordings of sounds of the city, which fully takes you back to the streets of Dublin. The album will also feature samples from local creator Kojaque.

All proceeds from the album will be donated to CATU Ireland, a grassroots organisation that works as a union for communities and tenants such as; renters, council tenants, mortgage holders and people in emergency & precarious living situations.

The Heat Death of My Hometown will be out this Friday, the 26th of February. You can listen to the first track off the album Who is Dubh Linn For? on Jimbo Jones’ Soundcloud. The tracklist for the album is below.

Who is Dubh Linn For?
Almost Post Coital
Beware of Monkey Mind
The Many Body Problem
From This Position
Frain Bried
Fear of Cranes
DART