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✨✨

PICK OF THE WEEK: ELLI INGRAM: ' SWEET & SOUR'

ELLI INGRAM, from gigging in small-town colourful Brighton to rocking a crowd of over 10,000 at Glastonbury, Elli Ingram is making them tidal waves in the music industry, and her time is very much now.

Ingram approaches music with a fearless and fiery attitude, which bursts through in her recorded music and live performance. This week’s Pick of the Week is ‘Sweet and Sour’, a flavoursome tune by the fast emerging young musician AND set to support Tom Grennan in our very own The Academy, Dublin this Saturday, 27th October. 

Backed by uplifting beats and joyful melodies, ‘Sweet and Sour’ takes us on an explorative journey through a winding relationship – the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, the Sweet and Sour. Elli provokes thought and reflection in her words in a unique way that remains fun and playful throughout and we find ourselves both uplifted by it’s endearing qualities and taken back by the raw honesty. In just one track, she manages to showcase many different angles of her insane talent. We witness an eclectic vocal range and a unique diversity in playing around with it, mixing alternate tones and tempos throughout. Elli delivers maturity and sophistication, while maintaining playful creativity in her craft. 

Owning a style which we describe as a modern blend of RnB, soul and jazz, Ingram creates a track that elevates the listener to a higher musical experience, stirring the kind of response every artist aims to achieve in their audience. We listen, we sing, we dance, and we feel.

Written by Aoife Chaney

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

TRIBUTE: MAC MILLER

A little over a month ago saw the release of 'Swimming', which would become the last album ever released in the short lifetime of rapper, singer, and record producer Mac Miller. A ground-breaking album and arguably his best one yet, 'Swimming' reveals a vulnerability in Mac which he openly explores through painfully real lyrics and unveiled vocals. The themes we hear throughout are packed full of heartbreak, however the talented young rapper succeeds in delivering every song with a sense of zen that spellbinds his audience, and a cheeky boyish charm that wins our hearts entirely.

In this self-produced final record Mac showcases every angle of his musical talent, with his before-unheard vocals playing as big a part as the spoken prose that kicked off his career in early 2010. Wistful soul sounds echo throughout allowing for easy breathing while funky beats bounce in and out in an attempt to uplift, making the listening experience of 'Swimming' an emotional rollercoaster on which we become warped.

To those who have followed Mac Miller from day one, 'Swimming', although not without sadness, felt undoubtedly like the start of something really special in terms of Millers career. No different to his previous work, the album highlights the well-respected singers amiable dedication to always bettering himself and his music. Now, the album represents a different kind of special.

It represents the successful career of a well-deserving star. It represents the human behind the celebrity. It represents the songs we will always sing and the ones we'll never hear. It represents the legacy left behind by a life cut short, and most of all, it serves as a precious gift to us from an angel flying high.

"Take my time to finish, mind my business

A life ain't a life 'til you live it

I was digging me a hole big enough to bury my soul

Weight of the world, I gotta carry my own

My own, with these songs I can carry you home

I'm right here when you're scared and alone."

Written by Aoife Chaney

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!