DAN ONKAR- 'STORIES'

Dan Onkar is a London-based alternative RnB singer-songwriter, who often describes his sound as ‘moody’ and his voice, ‘unorthodox’. This description sits comfortably with his vocal tone and impressive lyrical delivery.

Being influenced by musicians like James Fauntleroy, Asa, Prince and Luther Vandross, Onkar’s music tends to follow a similar pattern of authenticity and vulnerability. Songs like, ‘Fall For Magic’, ‘Step Into The Ocean’ and ‘Falling High’, show his musical range and writing prowess.

Coming off the release of his second EP, UnStable, Singer/Songwriter 'Dan Onkar has returned with his latest single “Stories”, which dropped on the 18th of April 2019. On this record Dan tackles his battles with mental hindrance along with obstacles he overcame throughout the process.

Stories is a Saturday morning cleaning-the-house-buzz with a hint of Fela and some J Dilla, while you get distracted attempting to mess around with some Latin-inspired chords✨✨

ELKAE: 'SOLD' (PREMIERE)

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This Thursday, we are delighted to be able to bring you an exclusive first peak into the first release of Electro-soul artist, ELKAE with her debut single, ‘SOLD’.

ELKAE’s sound is a combination of upbeat electronic rhythms, soulful vocals and undeniable hooks. Even before its release, ‘Sold’ has claimed notable attention from the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) shortlisting the track in the top 10 for the Christie Hennessy Songwriting Competition, as well as SPIN 103.8 tipping ELKAE as their ‘One To Watch’.

In the opening air of the single, Laura Keane aka ELKAE describes the instant attraction between herself and a new flame after their first date together. The girl she is dating hasn’t come out to anyone yet and through an element of secrecy, she feels this instant connection - ‘There’s so much space between us, come closer now there’s no one here to see us’.

As the song unfolds and hits the chorus, now bubbling with musicality, ‘butter me up’ is a metaphor for this girl sweetening and complimenting ELKAE on the most personal part of herself, her music. And with ease, she is sold.

ELKAE celebrates the release of ‘Sold’ with a single launch in The Sound House on Friday, 16th November before joining us later in the month for a set with Oíche at our Ambient, Soul and Electro themed event on Thursday 29th November.

SOLD is a testament to how far Laura Keane has come as a musician, and for ELKAE to have established what is her own unique sound for this debut single. We believe it’s only a tantalising glimpse at what is to come for a promising artist and her career in music.

Written by Emily Shaw

RELEASE RADAR - TANJIER: 'LIGHTS'

The summer is well and truly over, but with Tanjier’s new release 'Lights', the sweet festival vibes are still pleasantly lingering. A perfect track to get us over the mid-week hump and reminding us of the raw Irish talent by which we are surrounded, 'Lights' is an exploration of indie pop and electronic melodies that mingle into a magestic track. This year the Dublin-based trio have been selling out shows and making festival debuts, which is why we are buzzed to have them come headline our next event at Bello Bar, Dublin. Their live performance promises to incorporate unique audiovisual and light shows - an onstage spectacle not to be missed. Today we are listening to 'Lights' on repeat and visualising it unfold on the Bello Bar stage on 29th November, and we cannot wait to witness it. It's an exciting time for Tanjier, Oíche, and the future of Irish music.

Written by Aoife Chaney

PICK OF THE WEEK: GEEJAY - 'FLOWERS'

With the release of their first single ‘Horizon’ back in February of this year, UK soul sensation GEEJAY caught our attention and have held it tightly ever since. Fresh onto the music scene and already boasting supporting gigs with Plan B and Joel Baker (not to mention an unforgettable performance with us at The Soul Tree this Summer), Gina and Jacob are absolutely killing it with their live performances and late-night jam sessions. Their on-stage chemistry is a must-see for all you music lovers, but for now we are happy to introduce you to today’s ‘Pick of the Week’, FLOWERS, which you can feast your ears on without catching a live show. 

The track is an innovatively-reworked classic, and the result is a blossoming ballad packed with powerful vocals and vintage melodies. Sweet Female Attitudes ‘Flowers’ is sampled, stripped back and infused with elements of neo-soul, modern jazz and urban hip-hop in a way that only the most talented of musicians know how, and the unique rendition works absolutely perfectly.

Just seconds into the track we are introduced to bouncy beats and old-school intrumentalism that is typical of Jacob’s intriguing style of production. Gina’s vocals are both powerful and beautifully controlled from kick-off and remain so throughout, at times becoming raspy in all the right ways. Catering to a wide audience yet maintaining authenticity, ‘Flowers’ hold a perfect balance between attitude and romance. The combination of lyrics, melodies and vocals are a match made in heaven, highlighting the pairs unique talent and undeniable chemistry. 

In ‘Flowers’, the pair work together to create a groove that is unstoppable, and a track that is unmissable. Catch it here

ONE TO WATCH: HABLOT BROWN

Our One To Watch radar is tingling this week as we excitedly present to you RnB and Neo-Soul artists, Hablot Brown - an all-male group consisting of Linus Hablot and brothers Austin & John Brown. These guys are full of funky freshness and we were more than happy to uncover the many layers to their music.

What started simply as a hobby whereby three musicians sent one another tracks and dabbled in live performances, led to a decision to drop out of college and dedicate everything to the formation and establishment of ‘Hablot Brown’. A decision that we, for one, are most definitely on board with.

Since their debut singles "Gone" and "Just Called" were released in 2017, the band have managed to secure over 7 million streams on Spotify as well as landing a gig as the opening act for fellow soul brother, Tom Misch.

Much of the group’s success lies in their ability to flaunt a musical maturity that demands respect while also rocking a down-to-earth style that keeps them raw and relatable. Clear from the band’s work to date, is an impressive group dynamic where lyrical insights are greatly complemented by soulful rhythm and refined melodies. With a sound that is clean and polished, the young trio succeed in blending some vastly different genres and proving their worth as unique and credible artists.

We'll be right behind them with open ears as they continue this musical journey, and if the last 12 months are anything to go by, we are too enthused to hear what's next.

Written by Aoife Chaney

PICK OF THE WEEK: JAEL

JAEL is a singer-songwriter and UK-based wordsmith with a soulful voice amongst jazzy and Afro-beat instrumentation. Her music is a mixture of soft and upbeat, intertwined with a clear and soothing voice which makes Jael an artist suited as 'anytime music'.

Here is a snippet of her performing a version of Bob Marley’s ‘Is This Love’ which played at the We Welcome Party back in March earlier this year.

Jael can also be found featuring on Boadi’s track, ‘Grow’ which is well worth a listen. 

Her debut EP ‘ODYSSEY’ will be out on all platform in the coming days! For more, follow JAEL at @jaelthevoice.

PICK OF THE WEEK: BISHOP BRIGGS - 'RIVER'

This Monday, Oíche’s ‘pick of the week’ comes to you in the form of a bold and demanding ballad called ‘RIVER’ by British, Indie-pop and alternative rock songstress, Bishop Briggs.

‘River’ is that kind of song that gets easily stuck on the brain, not because it has a superficial melody or a campy hook, but because the sound smacks you right in the face. It starts off with a whipping percussion, transitioning into an explosive chorus and highlights Briggs's fierce and soulful-rocker vocals. Imagine a sound like Florence Welch, a vocal range like Adele and then for rawness, throw in a hint of Cat Turner. This track has been lingering all over our replay button and it looks like it is here to stay!

PICK OF THE WEEK: CLEO SOL - 'WHY DON'T YOU'

Having experienced some success in the music industry as a teen, West London soul singer Cleo Sol returns from her hiatus with a newfound maturity which shines through her comeback track "Why Don't You", proving to us that her time is, without a doubt, now.

Beautifully crafted and flawlessly executed, "Why Don't You" introduces the listener to an ultimate chill vibe the second the first drum beats. The instrumentation unfolds to become nothing short of an orchestrated masterpiece, with the introduction of a sweet and almost eerie string sound that soothes while it chills.

Cleo's lyrics are beautifully downbeat and painfully real, softened by some sweet harmonies dancing in the background. The mood is lifted a little into the second half of the track when she picks up the pace and educates us with her words-

"So I try every day and I grow a little bit

Read a little more so I can educate my fears

Reap for my soul and cleanse my spirit

Pray cus I'm ready for the bloom of the sea

Peace and serenity is all that I need"

A track packed with life lessons and the rawest of honesty, "Why Don't You” is tangible proof of Cleo Sol's growth as a credible artist. Every single listen provokes a heartfelt experience which stays with us after the final beats have faded away.

Written by Aoife Chaney